A cross of stone
Khachkar joins the Armenian khach, “cross”, and kar, “stone”. It is a stele, an upright stone slab, with a cross carved at its centre and surrounded by lace-like leaves, rosettes and geometric interlace.
Khachkars stand outdoors: beside churches, in cemeteries, at crossroads, or to remember an event or a person. Most are around one and a half metres tall and are carved from local stone, above all volcanic tufa.
How to read a khachkar
No two are alike, but almost all share a structure:
- The central cross. It often sprouts from below like a tree, with leaves or buds at its ends: a flowering cross, a symbol of life.
- The sun or wheel of eternity. According to UNESCO, the cross usually rests on a sun symbol or an eternity sign.
- The lace. Around it, plant and geometric motifs carved so finely that, in the best examples, the stone looks like fabric.
- Figures. Some show saints, animals or scenes.
UNESCO explains that they are carved with chisels, dies and hammers, then smoothed with fine sand, and that once blessed they are believed to offer protection, remembrance and help towards the salvation of the soul.
More than 50,000, and no two the same
There are more than 50,000 khachkars in Armenia, each with its own pattern. In 2010 UNESCO inscribed “Armenian cross-stones art. Symbolism and craftsmanship of Khachkars” on its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. What is protected is not only each stone but the living craft of carving them, passed from master to apprentice.
A khachkar in Madrid
You do not have to travel to Armenia to see one. On Pentecost Sunday, 19 May 2024, a two-metre khachkar was blessed and consecrated in front of Almudena Cathedral in Madrid. It was blessed by Archbishop Khajag Barsamian of the Armenian Apostolic Church and by the Cardinal Archbishop of Madrid, José Cobo. It was a gift from the Armenian Church and community, as a gesture of gratitude to Spain; reports differ on exactly who donated it but agree on its meaning. According to Alfa y Omega, the cross carries no crucified figure because the emphasis is on the Resurrection.
From stone lace to jewellery
The lace of a khachkar is, at heart, a jeweller’s problem: fine lines that cross, pass under one another and reappear. That same interlace is what Momik carries into metal. At jewellery scale, 3D modelling keeps every line at its thickness and depth before the piece is lost-wax cast in the family workshop in Yerevan.
In the family, the bond with stone goes back a long way: Samvel Hakobyan has spent forty years carving Armenian church maquettes in tufa, with their arches, capitals and crosses.
Frequently asked questions
What does khachkar mean?
It joins the Armenian khach ("cross") and kar ("stone"): cross-stone.
How big is a khachkar?
Most are outdoor steles around one and a half metres tall, though smaller and larger ones exist.
Is there a khachkar in Spain?
Yes. A two-metre khachkar was consecrated on 19 May 2024 in front of Almudena Cathedral in Madrid.
Are any two khachkars the same?
No. According to UNESCO, each has its own pattern; none is repeated.
Sources
- UNESCO: Armenian cross-stones art. Symbolism and craftsmanship of Khachkars (2010)
- Armenian Mirror-Spectator: Khachkar consecrated in front of Almudena Cathedral of Madrid (2024)
- Madrid City Council: consecration of the Armenian khachkar donated to Almudena Cathedral (in Spanish)
- Alfa y Omega: The Armenian Church thanks Spain for welcoming its faithful (in Spanish)