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Mets Tagher village[/caption]
Mets Tagher is a village unknown to many located in the Hadrut district of Artsakh/Nagorno Karabagh. Legend has it that the community was brought to the area from Tigranagert, which is in Artsakh by a priest, Daniel Gzhetsi.
They settled in the village during the fifth and sixth centuries and joined the locals. It was here that the first "free" community was established and named Kazh, which today still shows evidence of civil architecture.
The road which heads to Mets Tagher is not too bad, although there are several spots which need repairs. The road from which you can access the village is a dirt road, but it is possible to get through it quite easily.
The scenery on route is spectacular, passing the cliffs one can see the village up ahead in the distance. As one draws closer, the Soorp Amenaprgitch (All Saviors) church comes into sight.
The inscription above the door of the church reads 1846. However, documents about the church indicate that it already existed during the thirteenth century. It was during the nineteenth century that the new church was built while preserving the elements from the original church. Hence, the date above the doorway represents the renovations which took place in rebuilding the church to become the existing building which stands today.
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The bust of Armenag Khudiakov is at the front entrance of the museum[/caption]
There is a family who currently resides in the house next to the church and are relatives of the U.S.S.R. Air Marshal, Armenag Khudiakov, who was head of the Soviet Air Force until 1950. Khudiakov was the highest ranking officer in the Soviet Union and he was born in that particular house in the village of Mets Tagher.
During Stalin's reign, Khudiakov was wrongfully accused and considered to be an "enemy of the state." Khudiakov was executed, but his trial was only held following the subsequent execution of the Soviet Secret Police Chief, Berria. He was found to be innocent, and his execution was a gross misjudgment.
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The fighter jet stands outside the museum in Mets Tagher to honor the heroes of Artsakh[/caption]
The village erected a museum in his honor and mounted his fighter jet outside the building, as well as a bust of Khudiakov. The museum along with the bust, and the fighter jet dedicated to Air Marshal Armenag Khudiakov were, however, only established once Artsakh gained its independence from Azerbaijan.
The museum not only has information regarding Khudiakov, but also his uniform which he wore during his days as an air marshal. On display are also plenty of photographs showing him and other freedom fighters.
The museum and the fighter jet which stands out front are not in the best condition, but its existence is there to honor and remember the heroes of Artsakh.
Mets Tagher village[/caption]
Mets Tagher is a village unknown to many located in the Hadrut district of Artsakh/Nagorno Karabagh. Legend has it that the community was brought to the area from Tigranagert, which is in Artsakh by a priest, Daniel Gzhetsi.
They settled in the village during the fifth and sixth centuries and joined the locals. It was here that the first "free" community was established and named Kazh, which today still shows evidence of civil architecture.
The road which heads to Mets Tagher is not too bad, although there are several spots which need repairs. The road from which you can access the village is a dirt road, but it is possible to get through it quite easily.
The scenery on route is spectacular, passing the cliffs one can see the village up ahead in the distance. As one draws closer, the Soorp Amenaprgitch (All Saviors) church comes into sight.
The inscription above the door of the church reads 1846. However, documents about the church indicate that it already existed during the thirteenth century. It was during the nineteenth century that the new church was built while preserving the elements from the original church. Hence, the date above the doorway represents the renovations which took place in rebuilding the church to become the existing building which stands today.
[caption id="attachment_2304" align="alignleft" width="221"] The bust of Armenag Khudiakov is at the front entrance of the museum[/caption]
There is a family who currently resides in the house next to the church and are relatives of the U.S.S.R. Air Marshal, Armenag Khudiakov, who was head of the Soviet Air Force until 1950. Khudiakov was the highest ranking officer in the Soviet Union and he was born in that particular house in the village of Mets Tagher.
During Stalin's reign, Khudiakov was wrongfully accused and considered to be an "enemy of the state." Khudiakov was executed, but his trial was only held following the subsequent execution of the Soviet Secret Police Chief, Berria. He was found to be innocent, and his execution was a gross misjudgment.
[caption id="attachment_2301" align="alignright" width="300"]
The fighter jet stands outside the museum in Mets Tagher to honor the heroes of Artsakh[/caption]
The village erected a museum in his honor and mounted his fighter jet outside the building, as well as a bust of Khudiakov. The museum along with the bust, and the fighter jet dedicated to Air Marshal Armenag Khudiakov were, however, only established once Artsakh gained its independence from Azerbaijan.
The museum not only has information regarding Khudiakov, but also his uniform which he wore during his days as an air marshal. On display are also plenty of photographs showing him and other freedom fighters.
The museum and the fighter jet which stands out front are not in the best condition, but its existence is there to honor and remember the heroes of Artsakh.