Murut :: ARTSAKH LOCATIONS

6 Monuments

Azerbaijan (Country) / Northern Artsakh (Area) / Khanlar (District) / Murut (Village)

Location

The village is situated in a picturesque place, on the northern wooded slope of Mount Pand, 4 kilometres north-east of Voskanapat, 8 kilometres south of the district centre, between 1,190 and 1,310 metres of altitude above sea level.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 427.

Name Origin

The village name is believed to derive from a chapel once situated in the site of the local church of Sourb Astvatzatzin and retaining a khachkar which was, supposedly, blessed with chrism (‘Chrism’ is the English equivalent for the Armenian word ‘meron.’) by Mesrop Mashtots: “The father of Armenian translators, Mesrop Mashtots, blessed a cross with holy chrism: it is now set in the facade of the bema.”

Jalaliants, S. A Travel to Great Armenia, part 1, Tpghis, 1842, p. 170.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 427.

As legend has it, “A century ago, one of Gandzasar Catholicoses came to the site of what is the present-day village to spend the summer in the mountains. He blessed some holy chrism there, and that event made such a deep impression on the pious inhabitants of the neighbourhood that they named the place Myuronot” (‘Blessed with chrism’ in Armenian.)

“Nor-Dar,” 1892, No. 136, pp. 2-3.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 427.

The toponym is also etymologized as the slightly changed version of Morut (‘Mori’ is the Armenian equivalent for ‘wild strawberry’), i.e. ‘wood of strawberries,’ allegedly due to the abundance of that currant in the neighbourhood.

“Ardzagank,” 1886, No. 20, p. 294.
“Nor-Dar,” No. 136, pp. 2-3.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, pp. 427-428.

Construction Activity
1890 y․

As described by a visitor who saw the village in the 1890s, the gorge lying in front of it “...is shrouded in beautiful gardens. Murut has finely-looking houses, most of them boasting European furniture. The inhabitants of Gandzak generally spend summers here: indeed, but for its dampness, the village could serve as a wonderful summer residence.”

Lalayan, Yer. Gandzak District. In: “Azgagrakan Handes,” vol. 5, Tiflis, 1899, No. 1, p. 316.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 428.

Waterwork
1914 y․

In 1914 the local residents attempted to bring water to their village from a site called Pandajur and located within a verst and a half. The expenses of that project, however, amounted to an estimated 2,000 rubles which they could not afford to cover so that they had to give up that idea.

“Mshak,” 1914, No. 168, p. 3.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 428.

Population

The available topographical sources are not unanimous in mentioning the origin of the people inhabiting Murut: they are either considered “native inhabitants,” or resettlers: “...it is an old village comprising emigrants from various places who gathered here at the beginning of this century.”

Barkhutariants, M. Artsakh. Baku, 1895, p. 272.
“Nor-Dar,” 1892, No. 136, pp. 2-3.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 428.

1839 y․

Below follows a list of the families living in Murut in 1839:

“Hovhannes Yeghiazarian, his wife Kali, their sons Arustam, Andreas, Avetis and their daughter-in-law Anna;
Barsegh Gabrielian, his wife Mariam, their sons Muchael, Grigor and Tatevos; Barsegh’s brother Daniel and his wife Salbi;
Sahak Panossian, his wife Herik and their son Panos;
Petros Hovhannessian, his wife Javahir as well as their sons Panos, Aghajan and Hovhannes;
Tovmas Hovhannessian, his wife Mariam and their daughter Shamam.”

National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3800, p. 31.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 428.

1804 — 1912 yy․

The existing statistical records indicate that from 1804 onwards, the local inhabitants continually increased, reaching a maximum of 441 in 1912.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 428.

Great Patriotic War

Murut participated in the Great Patriotic War with 122 of its inhabitants, 67 of whom lost their lives on the battlefield.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 429.

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 1980 — 1982 yy․

Houses

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 1980 — 1982 yy․

Houses

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 1980 — 1982 yy․

Houses

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Black-and-white negative
Date 1980 — 1982 yy․

Houses

Below follow the available statistical data on the number of the village population in the 19th to 20th centuries:

Dates	Armenian Houses	Armenians (Male)	Armenians (Female)	Total (Armenians)	Notes	Source
1804	5	8	7	15		Collected Acts of the Caucasian Archaeological Commission, vol. 2, Tiflis, 1868, p. 596; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 428.
1839	5	16	9	25		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3800, p. 31; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 428.
1845		32	23	55		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3811, pp. 5-6; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 428.
1847		36	32	68		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3814, pp. 97-98; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 428.
1849		30	29	59		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3818, pp. 96-97; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 428:
1852		33	30	63		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3819, pp. 105-106; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 428.
1861	6					National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3835, pp. 147-148; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 428.
1866	12	44	26	70		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3848, p. 57; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 428.
1872		74	57	131		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3872, pp. 62-63; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 428.
1873				103		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3864, pp. 39-40. Also see file 3862, pp. 58-59; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 428.
1875				105		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3866, pp. 44-45; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 428.
1876				109		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3868, pp. 57-58; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 428.
1877		62	55	117		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3868, pp. 54-55; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 428.
1878		65	56	121		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3870, pp. 22-23; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 428.
1881		76	61	137		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3873, pp. 27-28; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 428.
1882		83	67	150		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3874, p. 30; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 428:
1883		78	58	136		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3875, pp. 56-57; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 428.
1886	34	131	107	238	Another source reports only 18 houses for this year (“Ardzagank,” 1886, No. 20, p. 294).	Yelizavetpol Province: A Statistical Survey Based on the Family Lists of Caucasia's Population. Tiflis, 1888, pp. 84-85; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 428.
1887		114	111	225		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3880, p. 73; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 428:
1888		124	114	238		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3882 p. 130; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 428.
1889		131	123	254	According to another statistical source, the village had 195 inhabitants, including 100 males and 95 females (National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3877, p. 29).	National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3884, pp. 226-227; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 428.
1890		141	124	265		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3887, p. 149; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 428.
1891		135	131	266		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3889, p. 148; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 428.
1892		132	135	267		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3891, p. 120; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 428.
1893		143	140	283		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3895, pp. 77-78; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 428.
1894		148	148	296		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3896, pp. 173-174; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 428.
1897		173	169	342		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3899, pp. 146-147; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 428.
1898		179	177	356		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3897, p. 168; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 428.
1899		189	185	374		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3903, pp. 126-127; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 428.
1900		198	194	392		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3905, pp. 91-92; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 428.
1901		201	197	398		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3906, pp. 97-98; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 428.
1902		207	199	406		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3907, pp. 22-23; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 428.
1905		210	200	410		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3912, pp. 265-266; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 428.
1906		175	144	319		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3915, p. 24; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 428.
1907				317		National Archives of Armenia, fund 56, list 1, file 240, p. 2; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 429.
1908	33	161	145	306	Another statistical source reports 392 inhabitants (Caucasian Calendar for 1910, Tiflis, 1909, p. 327).	National Archives of Armenia, fund 35, list 1, file 559, p. 9; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 429.
1909		213	207	420		National Archives of Armenia, fund Պ56, list 18, file 764, p. 116; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 429.
1910		182	159	341		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3917, pp. 57-58; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 429.
1912		223	218	441		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3919, pp. 61-62; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 429.
1914	31			340		Caucasian Calendar for 1915, Tiflis, 1914, p. 161. Also see “Mshak,” 1914, No. 168, p. 3; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 429.
1917	34			215		Avetissian, M. M. A Reference Book on the Settlements and Population Number of Nagorno Karabakh and Zangezur (1917). In: “Banber Hayastani Arkhivneri,” 1991, No. 3, p. 166; Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 429.
1940				500		As attested by Kirakos Khachaturian from Voskanapat. Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 429.
1983				133		As attested by Kirakos Khachaturian from Voskanapat. Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 429.