Founding Director of the RAA, Dr. Armen Hakhnazarian
Restoration of Historical Monuments The work of the Research on Armenian Architecture (RAA) non-governmental organization in the field of historical monument restoration is inextricably linked to its founding director, Dr. Armen Hakhnazarian, a scholar of architecture and technical sciences. Through his personal initiative and active participation, he made an invaluable contribution to the restoration of numerous Armenian historical monuments across Armenia, Artsakh, Iran, and Syria.
During the 1970s and 1980s, Hakhnazarian spearheaded the restoration of several historical monuments in the Artaz province of Historical Armenia, located in what is now the West Azerbaijan province of the Islamic Republic of Iran. For six years, he collaborated with Varuzhan Arakelyan to lead restoration efforts at the St. Thaddeus the Apostle Monastery, the St. Astvatsatsin (Holy Mother of God) Monastery of Dzorzor, and the St. Sandukht Chapel. With his direct involvement, the St. Stepanos the Protomartyr Monastery in East Azerbaijan was also restored.
Between 1982 and 1985, under his supervision, the St. Gevorg, St. Sargis, and St. Grigor churches in Tehran underwent successful restoration.
Additionally, in 1987, Hakhnazarian partnered with the “Land and Culture” organization to restore two churches in the Kessab region of Syria—including St. Stepanos in the village of Karaduran—and several private Armenian homes, most notably the Ashgaryan house.
Unfortunately, Hakhnazarian did not live to see the completion of one particular monastic complex, which remains under restoration to this day. On February 19, 2009, he passed away prematurely, leaving this and many other ambitious projects unfinished.
Continuing his collaboration with the “Land and Culture” organization, Hakhnazarian led the restoration of the 7th-century St. Minas Church in the village of Tatev, Syunik province, in 1995 (project architects: Samvel Ayvazyan and Amiran Badishyan). In 1997, under his guidance, the parish church of St. Stepanos (built in 1866 or 1868) in the border village of David Bek was restored following an initiative by the local community.
From 1998 to 2001, Hakhnazarian directed restoration works at Saghmosavank in the Aragatsotn province.
In December 2003, reinforcement began on the chapel of the St. Sargis monastic complex (5th–18th centuries) in the village of Ushi. Full restoration commenced in the spring of 2004 and was completed by the spring of 2005.
In 2006, restoration began on the church in Mets Parni, Lori province, where the roof was repaired, a new bell tower was constructed, and the surrounding area was landscaped and fenced (project architect: Samvel Ayvazyan).
Beyond these sites, Hakhnazarian worked with the “Land and Culture” organization to carry out restoration in the village of Karintak, located in the Shushi region of Artsakh.
As early as 1997, Hakhnazarian launched large-scale restoration efforts at the Dadivank monastic complex in the Karvachar region of Artsakh (project architect: Samvel Ayvazyan). In 2005, through the sponsorship of Magrit Hakhnazarian, the monastery’s bell tower was restored (for further details, see S. Ayvazyan’s book, The Restoration of Dadivank, 1997–2011).
In 2009, Armen Hakhnazarian and Samvel Ayvazyan were awarded first prize in the “Restoration of Monuments” category at the “Best Structure of the Year” all-Armenian competition-exhibition for their study, design, and implementation of the spiritual structures at Dadivank.
