Medieval Armenian Cemetery in Noradus, Armenia

The continuous destruction of Armenian cemeteries in Nor Jugha, Nakhijevan, Azerbaijan, Baku (Christian cemetery), Azerbaijan and the recent speculations about the possibility of demolition of the Armenian cemetery in Tbilisy, Georgia, got my mind wondering – when we, bloggers make all this frustrated posts and complain about the destruction of cemeteries – do we really care about them, or is just another newsworthy event?

Yesterday, on a trip to Vardenis from Yerevan, a friend pointed at the village of Noradus on the road, saying – there’s an interesting Armenian cemetery there. So went. Frankly, I didn’t expect it to be that(!) interesting, and I strongly urge you to visit, if you ever pass by those areas, especially if you’re a blogger consistently complaining about the demolition of Armenian cemeteries and destruction of khachkars.

Mediaeval Armenian Cemetery, Noradus village, Armenia © Artur Papyan, The Armenian Observer blog

There was also something of a “tourism-service” at the cemetery, represented by these lovely old ladies selling woolen socks and sour-sweets made right there on top of the medieval cemetery, as well as their grandchildren, offering to tell the stories of some of the tombstones, and modestly keeping silent of possible compensation, but ready to accept anything you offer, from 100 drams and higher 🙂

Mediaeval Armenian Cemetery, Noradus village, Armenia © Artur Papyan, The Armenian Observer blog

Some more photos can be found here.