Aragatsotn Province

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Literally meaning "the foot of Aragats" (the highest mountain of Armenia), it is named after the Aragatsotn canton of the historic Ayrarat province of Ancient Armenia, ruled by the Amatuni noble family under the reign of the Arsacid dynasty.

Gegharot waterfall near the village of Aragats

Aragatsotn Province occupies the northwestern part of Armenia and covers an area of 2,756 km² (9.3% of the total area of Armenia). It has internal borders with Shirak Province from the north, Lori Province from the northeast, Kotayk Province from the east, Armavir Province from the south and the city of Yerevan from the southwest. The Akhurian River at the west separates Aragatsotn from the Kars Province of Turkey.

Historically, the current territory of the province mainly occupies parts the Aragatsotn, Nig and Shirak cantons of Ayrarat province of Ancient Armenia.

Arteni mountains (2047 m.)

The northern part of the province is dominated by the Aragats mountain range. At the northeast and the east, it approximates the mountains of Pambak and Tsaghkunyats, respectively. The mountains of Arteni dominate the northeastern and the central eastern parts of the province. The tiny Akhurian valley occupies the eastern edge of Aragatsotn. Aragatsotn occupies the northwestern parts of the Ararat plain in the south and the southeast.

The altitude of the province ranges between 950 and 4,090 meters above sea level.

Mount Aragats (4,090 m.) is the highest peak of Aragatsotn and Armenia.

Besides the Akhurian river, the rivers of Kasagh, Gegharot, and Amberd are the main water resources in the province. Mountainous lakes including Lake Kari, Lessing, Amberd, Tagavor, and Kuraghbyur are found on Mount Aragats. Between 1962 and 1967, the Aparan reservoir was built on the Kasagh river.

The climate of Aragatsotn is deeply diversified due to the wide range of altitudes of the region. The annual precipitation level ranges between 400 mm (16 in) at the lower areas and 1,000 mm (39 in) at the mountainous territories.

The mountains of Aragats

The Holy Cross Basilica of Kasagh of the 4th century

The ruins of the Saint Paul and Peter Church of Zovuni, dating back to the 4th and 5th centuries

According to Movses Khorenatsi, Aramaniak -the son of the patriarch and founder of the Armenian nation Hayk- along with his clan, settled in the area of modern-day Aragatsotn. The cemeteries of Verin Naver archaeological site -located 3 km west of Ashtarak- date back to the 24th and 14th centuries BC.

Being situated at the heart of the Ayrarat province at the centre of the Armenian Highland, Aragatsotn was among the most strategic regions in the history of Armenia, especially since the establishment of the Kingdom of Armenia in 331 BC by the Orontid dynasty. Later in 190 BC, the Artaxiad dynasty took over the reign of the Armenian Kingdom. During the 2nd century AD, the towns of Casala (the Hellenized version of Kasagh, now Aparan), and Talina (now Talin) were mentioned by Ptolemy during the reign of the Arsacid dynasty of Armenia. The territory of Nig canton, including the area of Aparan, was under the administration of the Gntunyan Armenian noble family, while the territory of Aragatsotn canton, including the area of Ashtarak, was ruled by the Amatuni noble family.

Following the partition of Armenia by the Byzantine Empire and Sassanid Persia in 387 and in 428, Eastern Armenia including Aragatsotn became under the rule of Sassanid Persia. The 4th-century Holly Cross Basilica of Kasagh located at the outskirts of modern-day Aparan, is among the earliest surviving samples of the Armenian church architecture.

Cathedral of Talin, 7th century

In 658, Armenia was conquered by the Arab invaders. At the end of the 9th century, Aragatsotn became part of the newly established Bagratid Kingdom of Armenia. The Armenian noble families of Kamsarakan and Pahlavuni ruled over Aragatsotn under the Bagratid kings.

However, between the 11th and 15th centuries, Aragatsotn along with the rest of the historic territories of Armenia suffered from the Seljuk, Mongol, Ag Qoyunlu and Kara Koyunlu invasions, respectively. At the beginning of the 16th century, Aragatsotn became part of the Erivan Beglarbegi within the Safavid Persia. During the first half of the 18th century, Aragatsotn became part of the Erivan Khanate under the rule of the Afsharid dynasty and later under the Qajar dynasty of Persia. It remained under the Persian rule until 1827–1828, when Eastern Armenia was ceded to the Russian Empire as a result of the Russo-Persian War of 1826–28 and the signing of the Treaty of Turkmenchay.

Abaran battle memorial

After the fall of the Russian Empire in 1917, the Armenian, Georgian and Muslim leaders of Transcaucasia united to form the Transcaucasian Federative Republic and proclaimed Transcaucasia's secession. However, it was a fragile short-lived federation that collapsed in May 1918, while the Turkish army was advancing towards Eastern Armenia through Gyumri, Aragatsotn, and Sardarapat. On May 21, 1918, the Turkish forces attacked through Aparan in Aragatsotn trying to reach Yerevan. The Turks were opposed by the Armenian forces under the command of Dro at the outskirts of Aparan. After three days of fierce fighting, the Armenians launched a counter-attack on 25 May, and the Turkish troops were forced to retreat back to the north on 29 May. As a result of the decisive victories over the Turks in the battles of Sardarabad, Abaran, and Gharakilisa, the Armenians declared independence on May 28, 1918.

After 2 years of brief independence, Armenia became part of the Soviet Union in December 1920. From 1930 until 1995, modern-day Aragatsotn was divided into 3 raions within the Armenian SSR: Talin raion, Aparan raion, and Ashtarak raion. With the territorial administration reform of 1995, the 3 raions were merged to form the Aragatsotn Province.

As a result of the administrative reforms completed during 2019, Aragatsotn is currently divided into 9 municipal communities (hamaynkner), of which 3 are urban and 69 are rural:[9][10][11][12]

• A cross denotes a town (urban settlement), otherwise, the settlements are villages (rural settlements).

Many villages in Aragatsotn are currently abandoned or uninhabited, including Arum, Buravet, Karmrashen, Kasagh, Kyalashbek, Lusaghbyur, Nigatun, Shenik, Verin Kalakut and Zovuni.

The Armenian Alphabet park

The 17th-century bridge of Ashtarak on Kasagh River is among the interesting sites of the Aragatsotn Province.

The urban settlements of the province are home to cultural palaces and many public libraries. The house-museum of novelist Perch Proshyan founded in 1948, is located in the town of Ashtarak within the Proshyan family house. It was last restored in 2008.[21]

Aragatsotn is also home to the Armenian Alphabet park located near the town of Aparan.

The Ashtarak Walnut Festival is taking place every year during the month of October to promote the famous walnut of Ashtarak. It was first celebrated in 2012.

Talin has its local "Talin Ashkharh" weekly newspaper.

Fortresses and archaeological sites

Dashtadem Fortress of the 9th-century

• Ushiberd fortress of the Iron Age,
• Verin Naver archaeological site, 24th-14th centuries BC
• Amberd fortress of the 7th century,
• Dashtadem Fortress of the 9th century.

Churches and monasteries

Saint Christopher Monastery of the 7th-century

Yeghipatrush Church of the 10th century

• The Arshakid Kings Mausoleum and Basilica of the 4th century,
• Kasagh Basilica of the 4th century,
• Astvatsenkal Monastery, 4th-5th centuries,
• Saint Paul and Peter Church of Zovuni, 4th-5th centuries,
• Church of Saint John of Mastara, 5th century,
• Saint George Church of Garnahovit of the 7th century,
• Aruchavank Cathedral of the 7th century
• Saint Christopher Monastery of the 7th century,
• Artavazik Church monastery of the 7th century,
• Cathedral of Talin of the 7th century,
• Surp Hovhannes Church of Voskevaz, 7th century
• Tukh Manuk chapel of Lusagyugh, 7th century
• Saint Sarkis Monastery of Ushi, 7th century
• Yeghipatrush Church of the 10th century,
• Surp Hovhannes Church of Byurakan of the 10th century,
• Vahramashen Church of the 11th century,
• Tukh Manuk Chapel of Kuchak, 12th-13th centuries
• Tukh Manuk Shrine of Oshakan, 12-13th centuries,
• Hovhannavank Monastery of 1216,
• Tegher Monastery of the 13th century,
• Saghmosavank Monastery of the 13th century,
• Kosh fortress and churches, 13th-14th centuries,
• Saint Gevork Monastery of Mughni of the 14th century,
• Surp Astvatsatsin Church of Karbi, 17th century,
• Saint Mesrop Mashtots Church of 1879 in Oshakan,
• The churches of Spitakavor, Karmravor, Tsiranavor, Saint Mariane and Saint Sarkis in Ashtarak.

On the way to Ohanavan

The province is connected with the capital Yerevan through the Ashtarak highway.

The M-1 Motorway connects Aragatsotn with northwestern Armenia, including the city of Gyumri, while the M-3 Motorway connects the province with northeastern Armenia up to the Georgian border.

Radio telescope at the Ashtarak Institute of Radiophysics and Electronics

As of the 2015-16 educational year, Aragatsotn Province has 123 schools, out of which 119 are operated by the province administration, while 4 are under the direct supervision of the Ministry of Education and Science.[25] The total number of the schools includes the 20 schools that are designated for the ethnic Yazidi and Kurdish minorities. As of the end of 2015, the number of students in the province's schools is 17,010.[26] There is also one school for special needs in the province.

The town of Ashtarak is home to 2 major research institutions: the Mikael Ter-Mikaelian Institute for Physical Research[27] and the Institute of Radiophysics and Electronics.[28]

The village of Byurakan is home to the Byurakan Observatory operated by the Armenian National Academy of Sciences.

The house-museum of novelist Perch Proshyan founded in 1948 in Ashtarak, is among the most significant cultural centres of the province.[21]

Football stadium in the village of Parpi

Football is the most popular sport in Aragatsotn. The province was represented at the Armenian Premier League by FC Mika of Ashtarak until 2007 when they were relocated to Yerevan.

The Kasaghi Marzik Stadium in Ashtarak is the largest sports venue in the province. The sports centres in Ashtarak were entirely renovated and opened in July 2017, with an approximate cost of US$1 million. Ashtarak is also home to the Ayrudzi horse racing club.

It is planned to construct a modern sports complex in the village of Parpi. The football stadium of the complex was opened in 2013.

At the height of 2000 meters above sea level, the town of Aparan has a ski resort served with a ski lift.[29]

• Ghazar Parpetsi (circa 442-early 6th century), 5th to 6th-century Armenian chronicler and historian.
• Gevorg I of Byurakan (?-795), Catholicos of All Armenians.
• Abu Sa'id Bahadur Khan (1305-1335), 9th ruler of the Ilkhanate.
• Nerses V of Ashtarak (1770-1857), Catholicos of All Armenians.
• Perch Proshyan (1837-1907), Armenian writer.
• Smbat Shahaziz (1840-1908), Armenian poet.
• Norair Sisakian (1907-1966), Soviet Armenian biochemist.
• Gevorg Emin (1918-1998), Armenian poet.
• Emil Gabrielian (1931-2010), Armenian physician.
• Vardges Petrosyan (1932-1994), Armenian writer.

• Aragatsotn
• 
  Vahramashen Surp Astvatsatsin Church of 1026
• 
  Saghmosavank Monastery, 13th century
• 
  Saint Gevorg Monastery of Mughni, 14th century
• 
  Amberd fortress and Vahramashen Church
• 
  Amberd river valley

• Mount Aragats
• Yazidis in Armenia

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Aragatsotn Province.

• Aragatsotn guide with detailed descriptions, by Rick Ney
• Aragatsotn Tourist Guide
• Armenia news