Khachkar vs. Pinball Machine

I didn’t realize coming to Armenia would bring back floods of memories from my good ole’ Sahag-Mesrob days, but alas it surprisingly has. On the campus of my former elementary school lies (Yes, the same one is still there) a copy of an iconic, ancient Armenian art piece, the Khachkar. The word ‘Khachkar’ is translated as a “rock cross” and is literally a large (approx 5 to 6 feet) rectangular stone with a traditional cross carved into the façade. Let me tell you, there are a many a Khachkar in Armenia. One may say Khachkars are as plentiful as Jello® pudding cups in Bill Cosby’s fridge (He must have a whole fridge filled with pudding cups, he has to…it’s in his contract).

While at Armenian school, I was confused by function of the Khachkar that sat so ominously in the back of the school building. The only time that I would actually care or have the patience to look at it would be during fire drills (the concept of ‘Fire Drill’ + megaphones + Armenians = 45 minutes of standing in front of the Khachkar) so I would look at it and I never found it particularly aesthetically pleasing. I knew it had a religious significance, but I wanted something more fun to be the go to Armenian Christian art piece like a pinball machine with sparkly crosses and when you think you’ve lost the game Jesus pops up and says, “You are saved by Grace and Grace alone. You get an infinite life in Heaven. You win!” Ultimately, I wanted my art piece to be interactive and interesting. The Khachkar just didn't cut it and in my few years of Sahag Mesrob, it never moved me. It was only meant to be my eye candy (or vegetable) during the fire drills.

Well, I never really gave Khachkars much thought after that time until I got Armenia. Most of the Khachkars here are found in and around Armenian churches and they all have different designs and vary in size (3 to even about 7 feet). Some are more famous and considered more beautiful than others due to their specific workmanship. So if the population of Khachkars is the world population, the Khachkar that I saw at Goshavank, a church in the appropriately named town of Gosh, would be the Zachary Quinto of Khachkars (that’s for Madlyn). As I walked up to this Khachkar, I was immediately blown away by the incredible detail of the front and the time and energy that it must have taken to carve each of its groves. The entire façade possesses this gorgeous latticework that looked like someone had draped a dainty cross-made of lace over the rock. For me, I had a moment where I was proud to say that a Khachkar is a distinctly Armenian art piece. I couldn’t stop staring at it and I have to admit, I didn’t need a fire drill to force me to stare.

A Close-up Look...

Me hanging with my Siroon Khachkar