Azerbaijanis vandalize Yerits Mankants Monastery in Martakert
The Yerits Mankants Monastery in the Martakert region of Artsakh has also become a target of Azerbaijanis. It has been subjected to vandalism. We learn about this from the “Artsakh Monuments” Facebook page. The publications show photographs of the damaged parts.
According to the source, the church models placed on the altar and the khachkar (cross-stone) leaning against the Holy Altar have disappeared from the monastery, which was built in the 17th century. It is noted that the lower section of the artistically carved khachkar has been shattered and lies on the ground, while the sculpture placed in the niche on the right wall has fallen face down.
The monastery is one of the important examples of medieval Armenian church architecture. It was built in 1691 in historical Jraberd by the Melik-Israelian princes. Many of the residential rooms of Yerits Mankants Monastery are ruined, while the others, which were used in the recent past, are still standing. Underneath the residential rooms are cellars that served as storage rooms, and possibly as hiding places.