Arablu Hogh Estate :: ARTSAKH HISTORICAL MONUMENTS

Arablu Hogh Estate

Azerbaijan / Northern Artsakh / Gandzak / Gandzak / Kilisakyand

Description
1836 y․

The Estates of St. Hovhannes Church. Arablu Hogh was located “...within the borders of Gandzak City and extended from the north-east to the south covering an area of 1,560 dessiatinas ... It had a canal providing it with water.” In 1836 part of Arablu Hogh was purchased by the Hamaspyurians from Gandzak: “Fifty years ago, the late brothers Petros, Poghos and Taghveran from Hamaspyurian Family bought half of Araplu from Melik-Mejlum’s daughter-in-law, Lady Thamar, at 600 rubles...” The remaining part of the site was donated to St. Hovhannes Church: “...Some prudent, far-sighted and good-hearted citizens, including Mahtesies Hovakim Yesayants, Aghajan Isahakiants as well as Jehanbek Balughiants, Hovhannes-Bey Melikiants and others, bought the other half for 600 rubles and put it at the disposal of the sanctuary...”

“Meghu Hayastani,” 1886, No. 4, p. 2.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 49.

Historical Introduction
1885 y․

In 1885 some German immigrants intended to take possession of 90 dessiatinas of Arablu, then still belonging to Hamaspyurian Family. There was nothing surprising about it, for in 1886 Arablu lay in total neglect, having been reduced to “...some barren land belonging to the church.”

“Meghu Hayastani,” 1885, No. 94, p. 4.
National Archives of Armenia, fund 461, list 1, file 4, p. 12.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 49.

1898 y․

In 1898 Echmiatzin’s Spiritual Department rented out 33 dessiatinas of Arablu to the Armenians of Helendorf (some 3 to 4 dessiatinas of that land were intended for the construction of a church and a school). However, “...when everything had already been prepared and the representatives of both sides went to the notary to sign the contract, the spiritual powers raised some inappropriate questions which delayed it. That state of uncertainty lasted until August 1903, when Arablu shifted into state domination together with the church property.” In 1906 Helendorf’s Armenian community again applied to the spiritual leadership with the same petition which was met this time. In 1908 the trustees of St. Hovhannes Church, namely Abraham Temuriants and Sergei Aziziants on one hand, and Helendorf inhabitants Alexandre Mamikoniants and Grigor Yengibariants on the other, signed an agreement under which 15 dessiatinas of the church domains were allocated to Helendorf Armenians by an infinite period of time and an annual rent of 500 rubles: “...that plot extended to the arable lands of St. Hovhannes Church in the east; the royal road leading to Helendorf in the west; the farming lands of the Germans in the south, and the garden fence of Lok, a German in origin, in the north...”

National Archives of Armenia, fund 461, list 1, file 15, pp. 1, 4, 7-8, 11.
Also see “Murj,” 1898, No. 4, p. 565.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 49.

1907 y․

In 1907 Echmiatzin Synod decided to meet the petition of Gandzak’s Parish Assembly and allocate 5 dessiatinas of Arablu for the construction of some headquarters.

“Ararat,” 1907, p. 11.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 50.

1913 y․

In 1913 Georgia’s Armenian Consistory applied to the provincial authorities for permission to sell 200 dessiatinas of Arablu for the construction of Zhamharian School of Agriculture.

“Ararat,” 1913, p. 114, 1000.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 50.

1880 y․

Arablu also represented a famous archaeological site retaining monuments of pre-Christian period which were partly excavated in 1880.