Khachkar (Cross-Stone) Masterclass

A khachkar, or cross-stone, is a type of Armenian monument and holy object. It is a stone slab carved with a cross. The word “khachkar” comes from the Armenian words khach meaning “cross” and kar meaning “stone.”

Khachkars are a symbol of Armenian identity and a national icon. They are unique to Armenia and cannot be found anywhere else in the world. They have become a symbol of Armenian culture.

Khachkars began to be carved in the early 4th century, just after Armenia adopted Christianity. Wooden crosses were first placed where pagan altars had stood or where churches and monasteries would later be built. Because wood does not last, it was replaced with stone, and from the 9th century, crosses were carved on rectangular stone slabs.

The art of expressing prayer and the soul in stone, which began in ancient times, continues to develop and flourish in Armenia today.

The khachkar masterclass gives you the chance to experience this UNESCO-recognised intangible heritage. In November 2010, the art of khachkar making, called “Symbolism and Craftsmanship of Khachkars, Armenian Cross-Stones,” was added to UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

During the khachkar masterclass, skilled craftsmen will tell the story of the most famous khachkars, the khachkar cemetery, and explain how the art continues today. Making a khachkar can feel like meditation or a kind of psychological therapy.

This khachkar masterclass gives you the opportunity to learn a new skill and perhaps even express yourself by creating your own design on stone.

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