Illuminations: Khachkars Discovered Beneath Soil Layers in Lorut

Employees of the Regional Service of Lori Province under the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of the Republic of Armenia, with the support of the principal of Lorut Secondary School, discovered three khachkars (Armenian cross-stones) beneath a thick layer of soil in the area adjacent to the school in the Lorut community (previously a cemetery) as part of the "New Life for Khachkars" program.

“The area near the school is a sanctuary of our cultural heritage and a burial site. We had long studied and decided that there are khachkars in the area that should be raised. Under the "New Life for Khachkars" program, we have accomplished the task before us,” said Hrach Marukyan, an expert from the Service for the Protection of Historical Environment and Cultural Heritage.

It is also noted that after cleaning the khachkars from soil and vegetation, the employees of the Regional Service of Lori Province erected them in the place where they were found. According to preliminary studies, the khachkars date back to the early Middle Ages.