Epress.am News from Armenia
Armenian khachkars (cross-stones) were officially inscribed in UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, according to the RA Ministry of Culture website as well as the UNESCO official website.
Armenia’s nomination, titled “Armenian cross-stones art. Symbolism and craftsmanship of Khachkars,” was approved by twenty-four States members of UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, who met for the first time in sub-Saharan Africa, in Nairobi, Kenya, from Nov. 15–19. During its annual session, the Committee discussed and decided to inscribe four elements on the Urgent Safeguarding List and 47 elements on the Representative List.
The Committee agreed that the Khachkar satisfied the criteria for inscription on the Representative List, as follows:
- R1: The symbolism and craftmanship of Khachkars, Armenian cross-stones, are transmitted from generation to generation and continuously recreated to satisfy the artist’s creativity, constituting a distinctive symbol of the identity of Armenian communities at home and abroad;
- R2: Inscription of the element on the Representative List could raise awareness of intangible cultural heritage and encourage dialogue with other communities with similar crafts and practices;
- R3: Safeguarding measures are proposed focusing particularly on strengthening transmission, encouraging research and documentation, and providing public recognition, with the participation and support of Khachkar makers, institutions and authorities;
- R4: Master craftspeople of the Khachkar tradition participated in elaborating the nomination and provided their free, prior and informed consent for possible inscription, which also enjoys wide support of Armenian communities worldwide;
- R5: The symbolism and craftmanship of Khachkars are inscribed in the State inventory of intangible cultural heritage established by the Ministry of Culture.