Holy See of Echmiadzin strongly condemns consistent destruction of  Artsakh`s spiritual and cultural heritage by Azerbaijan

ArmInfo.  The Holy See of Echmiadzin expressed deep outrage at the news that Azerbaijani authorities razed the Church of St. Hakob (Jacob) in Stepanakert, as  well as the khachkars and monuments located in the adjacent area,  which the Azerbaijani side groundlessly declared illegal structures  subject to dismantling.

In a statement, the Armenian Apostolic Church added that the incoming  reports of the destruction of the Holy Mother of God Cathedral in  Stepanakert are also extremely alarming. "The Mother See of Holy  Etchmiadzin strongly condemns the consistent destruction of the  spiritual and cultural heritage of Artsakh carried out by the  Azerbaijani authorities. It is clear that the Azerbaijani authorities  continue to deliberately attack Armenian Christian shrines, seeking  to erase the Armenian trace from Artsakh," the AAC stated.

It is noted that this vandalism, carried out at the state level, once  again demonstrates that Azerbaijan's anti- Armenian policy has not  changed, which raises serious doubts about its stated intention to  establish a lasting and lasting peace with Armenia. "The Mother See  of Holy Etchmiadzin calls on the leadership of the Republic of  Armenia and government officials to take urgent and effective steps  to prevent the systematic appropriation and destruction of the  spiritual and cultural heritage of Artsakh. We also appeal to all  states and international organizations interested in the preservation  of cultural heritage, the peaceful coexistence of the peoples of the  region, and the development of cooperation, to take effective  measures to prevent the further destruction of Artsakh's cultural  heritage," the AAC added.

As a reminder, on April 21, it was reported that Azerbaijan razed the  Surb Astvatsatsin Church to the ground. Days earlier, it was also  reported that the enemy had destroyed the Surb Hakob Church in  Stepanakert. The cultural genocide in Artsakh is taking place against  the backdrop of the tacit encouragement of the so-called civilized  international community. Day after day, the Azerbaijani occupiers are  destroying sites that testify to the millennia-long presence of  Armenians on this land.

It should be noted that since the occupation of Artsakh, Azerbaijan  has completely destroyed or significantly damaged the following  cultural and religious sites. The Kanach Jam (Surb Hovhannes Mkrtich)  Church in Shushi was completely destroyed in April 2024, the  Ghazanchetsots Cemetery in Shushi was completely destroyed, the  village of Karintak was completely bulldozed, and monuments and busts  in Stepanakert, including those to Charles Aznavour, Hovhannes  Aivazovsky, Hovhannes Tumanyan, and Marshal Baghramyan, were  dismantled. The Marshal Khudyakov Museum in the village of Mets Tager  was destroyed. Today, approximately 4,000 Armenian cultural sites  remain under Azerbaijani control, including more than 370 churches  and 119 ancient fortresses.