On September 2, the day marking the proclamation of the Republic of Artsakh’s independence, a ceremony was held at Yerablur Military Pantheon to unveil the Call of Artsakh memorial. The cross-stones of the memorial were blessed by Bishop Vertanes Abrahamyan, Primate of the Diocese of Artsakh, reports Sputnik Armenia.
The memorial is dedicated to all victims of the Artsakh wars, those buried in Artsakh, and those killed in the September 25, 2023 explosion at a fuel depot in Stepanakert. The idea for the complex was initiated by Artsakh President Samvel Shahramanyan and realized through the efforts of Artsakh’s Interior Minister Karen Sargsyan. Funding came from the family resources of major general Artur Vanetsyan, chairman of the Homeland Party, former director of the National Security Service. The land was allocated by the government.
At the opening ceremony, Bishop Abrahamyan stressed that the cross-stones are “not just carved stones” but symbols of the nation’s collective grief and pride.
“The God-given feelings of love, longing, memory, and loyalty have once again united us all today at Yerablur, in a common prayer to consecrate this majestic memorial dedicated to Artsakh. Yerablur, which we may also call the Hill of the Brave, was created alongside the struggle for Artsakh’s survival, becoming the final earthly resting place for thousands of Armenians and a place of pilgrimage for the entire nation. With the hope of resurrection, our martyrs resting here whisper daily into the ears of every conscious Armenian that the homeland is greater than mere visible reality,” he said.
He added that it was with this vision that the heroes resting at Yerablur entered the battlefield, carrying out a conscious and sacred mission.
On September 19, 2023, Azerbaijan launched a large-scale attack on Artsakh, subjecting the region to heavy shelling. One day later, on September 20, Artsakh’s leadership accepted the Russian peacekeepers’ ceasefire proposal, agreeing to Baku’s terms — disarmament of the Defense Army and dissolution of the Republic of Artsakh. Forced deportations began on September 24, displacing more than 100,000 people to Armenia. According to reports, only about 20 Armenians remain in Artsakh. On September 28, Artsakh President Samvel Shahramanyan signed a decree dissolving the Republic, effective January 1, 2024.
