Noratus Khachkar (Cross-Stone) “Forest”

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Coordinates: 40°22′48″N 45°10′48″E

Noratus Նորատուս
The village of Noratus, June 2009.
Noratus Նորատուս
Coordinates: 40°22′48″N 45°10′48″E
Country	Armenia
Province	Gegharkunik
Government
- Mayor	Murad Harutyunyan
Elevation	1,925 m (6,316 ft)
Population (2008)
- Total	5,893

Noratus (Armenian: Նորատուս; also Romanized as Noraduz) is a village in the Gegharkunik province of Armenia near the town of Gavar. It contains the famous Noraduz cemetery. The village also contains a monastery and church dated to the 9th century, and a ruined basilica built by Prince Sahak.

The medieval cemetery of Noratus with a spectacular heritage of early khachkars (Cross-stone) has the largest surviving collection of khachkars both within the present-day Republic of Armenia and Republic of Nagorno Karabakh, as well as throughout historic Armenia.

The cemetery covers a filed containing more than 500 khachkars, each with unique ornamentation and dating back up to the 10^th century.

Miracles/Legends:

Numerous miracles and legends are told about the cemetery. One of the legends is about the times of Tamerlane invasion. When his army reached the region, the villagers placed helmets on top of the khachkars and leaned swords against them. The khackars looked like strong, heavily armed soldiers and made Tamerlane's army to prompt its retreat.

Also, see the video:

http://www.baraaza.com/video/g1161.aspx

Today, I visited Noratus. I was impressed to see the "Forest" of Khachkars from a far and lower place in the village. I was informed that after the Armenian Genocide in 1915 Armenians, basically from Sassoun and Moush in Western Armenia, settled in this village