Julfa's Medieval Cemetery

The Julfa Cemetery

(also known as the Julfa Cross stones or the Julfa Armenian Cemetery) is a destroyed Armenian cemetery located in the current Republic of Azerbaijan, near the city of Julfa, which is the administrative center of the Julfa district in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic.

The cemetery was known for its thousands of Cross stones and stelae-shaped gravestones, dating from various centuries and decorated with intricate carvings and inscriptions. It was the largest cemetery of Cross stones in the world.

In 1648, according to the traveler Alexander Rodes, there were about 10,000 well-preserved Cross stones in the cemetery. However, after the construction of the railway in 1903-1904, most of the Cross stones were destroyed, and only about 5,000 standing and fallen Cross stones were recorded. In 1915 and 1928-1929, up to 3,000 Cross stones and several thousand flat, slanted, and stelae-shaped gravestones were recorded. According to the 1971 and 1973 surveys, only 2,707 Cross stones remained in the cemetery, with an additional 250 Cross stones and about 1,000 gravestones found in the areas of the churches and the Holy Savior Monastery.

The systematic destruction of Armenian cultural heritage began in the 1920s when Nakhchivan became part of the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic. Against the backdrop of the deportation of Armenians, Armenian historical and cultural monuments, including the Cross stones of Julfa, were destroyed.

After Azerbaijan's independence, the destruction of the cemetery became more active. In 2005, by order of the Azerbaijani government and with the involvement of the armed forces, the cemetery was completely demolished. Using heavy machinery, the Cross stones were uprooted, broken, and thrown into the Araks River, erasing this unique historical and cultural heritage. 

Location

The Julfa Cemetery was located on the western side of the city of the same name, spread across three small hills and the surrounding areas, which were separated from each other by small valleys. It extended from north to south, covering a long area, bordered by the Araks River and the high ridges and walls of the nearby mountains.
 The cemetery was distinguished by its thousands of Cross stones and gravestones. The walls and barriers were built to protect the cemetery from floods coming down from the mountains.

Cultural and Architectural Description

The Cross stones of Julfa are divided into three main groups based on their style of craftsmanship.

Early Period Cross stones (9th-13th centuries)
 These Cross stones are small in size, with modest carvings and inscriptions. They represent the initial stage of artistic development in Cross stone design.

Middle Period Cross stones (14th-16th centuries)
 This group is transitional, characterized by more complex designs, intricate carvings, inscriptions, and pictorial sculptures.

Late Period Cross stones (16th century-mid 17th century)
 These Cross stones stand out for their advanced craftsmanship, variety of decorations, complexity of designs, and artistic perfection.

The Cross stones of Julfa typically did not have pedestals and were directly placed in the ground, serving as grave markers. They were usually around 2 meters in height and gave the impression of rectangular stelae.

In the design of the Cross stones, the central part of the cross is carved in relief, often containing multiple (2-4) cross depictions arranged within arches. The upper sections frequently feature high reliefs of Christ, the Virgin Mary, Evangelists, or Sphinxes, while the lower parts often include inscriptions, images of Saint George on horseback, or sculptures of the deceased.

In addition to the Cross stones, the cemetery was also home to stelae-shaped gravestones, decorated with beautiful and diverse household motifs. The themes included human figures as well as animals and birds from the Armenian Highlands, plants, domestic and musical instruments, weapons, and tools of labor.

Destruction of History

During the Soviet era, when Nakhchivan was part of the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic, the Julfa Armenian cemetery was not included in the list of protected monuments and was continuously subjected to destruction. Under the auspices of the Nakhchivan ASSR Department of Monument Preservation, gravestones were often smashed and used as building material.

After Azerbaijan's independence, the policy of destroying the Armenian cemetery became more active. In November 1998, by order of the local authorities of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, the deliberate destruction of the Julfa cemetery began. Only the intervention of UNESCO was able to temporarily halt the destruction of the monument.

On November 9, 2002, the destruction resumed. Some of the Cross stones and stelae-shaped gravestones were destroyed, and the rest were relocated to an unknown destination. Photographs taken by eyewitnesses from the Iranian bank of the Araks River showed that no Cross stones were left standing in the cemetery.

From December 10-14, 2005, by order of the Azerbaijani government and with the participation of military units, the Julfa cemetery was completely destroyed. The destruction was carried out by approximately 200 Azerbaijani soldiers, who used heavy hammers and pickaxes to demolish the ancient Cross stones and gravestones, turning them into gravel and throwing them into the Araks River with trucks.

In March 2006, a shooting range was built on the site of the destroyed cemetery for the Azerbaijani armed forces, further evidence of the targeted destruction of the monument.

If you wish to learn more about the Cross stones of Julfa and their destruction, you can also explore the following links: