The St. Grigoris Church of the Amaras Monastery, in Martuni Region of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR/Artsakh), has modern-day plastic windows.
These are the sole indicator that human hand has touched this monastery in recent times, and which was built in the early 4th century.
Even though this house of Christian worship built centuries ago is still standing strong, the years have done their “thing.” This includes the church walls that were damaged during shooting in the years of the Karabakh War, as well as the chapel where Artsakh’s first bishop, Grigoris, is buried. (PHOTOS)
But the attempts to restore the monastery, 17 centuries later, have distorted the “face” of this ancient structure.
As per archeologist Hamlet Petrosyan, specialists need to be engaged in the restoration and renovation of this cultural and historical monument.
According to the relevant bodies, around 500 million drams (approx. US$1,053,190) are required for the restoration of the Amaras Monastery.
And according to Manushak Titanyan, the restorer of this monastery, the latter needs complete restoration, for which there is no funding yet, and the hope is placed on philanthropists.
