Amaras Monastery, Where Armenian Alphabet Was First Taught, Under Fire as Azerbaijan Fails to Act

Wildfires burning for over a week in Azerbaijan-occupied Artsakh have endangered nearly 100 Armenian historical and cultural monuments, raising alarm among preservationists and Armenians. The flames are spreading across eastern parts of Nagorno-Karabakh, now under Azerbaijani control, and are damaging sites that represent centuries of Armenian history and identity.

The Artsakh Ministry of Culture has reported that fires have reached major landmarks including the Tigranakert archaeological reserve, the Amaras Monastery, and monuments near Talish, Nor Shen, Nakhichevanik, and Vardadzor villages.

These sites are not only places of worship or historical ruins—they are irreplaceable cultural centers that speak to Armenia’s ancient roots in the region. Their destruction would be more than material loss. It would erase centuries of history tied to Armenian presence and nationhood in Artsakh.

The Amaras Monastery, located near the village of Sos, dates back to the 4th century and is deeply linked to Armenia’s Christian identity. It holds the tomb of St. Grigoris, grandson of St. Gregory the Illuminator, and is the site where Mesrop Mashtots, creator of the Armenian alphabet, founded the first Armenian school in Artsakh during the early 5th century.

This monastery represents not just religious history, but also the birth of Armenian education in the region. It connects modern Armenians to their written language, their church, and their survival as a people. 

The flames have also approached Tigranakert, one of the most significant archaeological sites in Artsakh. Built by King Tigranes the Great in the 1st century BC, Tigranakert was a major Armenian city that combined military, economic, and cultural roles.

From 2006 to 2020, Armenian-led excavations uncovered vast remains of this ancient settlement. Researchers found advanced irrigation canals, artisan quarters, and a well-planned Hellenistic-style fortification system. The site also features early Christian structures, including sacred buildings carved into the surrounding mountains.

Tigranakert stands as undeniable proof of a deep and continuous Armenian civilization in Artsakh. 

Satellite data and on-the-ground reports confirm that the fires have already destroyed historic mulberry orchards in Nor Shen, symbols of rural Armenian life and silk-making tradition. Nearby Armenian churches and heritage sites in Nakhichevanik, and Vardadzor are also at immediate risk.

Despite its legal responsibility as an occupying power, Azerbaijan has failed to contain the fires. The Azerbaijani Emergency Ministry has admitted difficulties in firefighting, citing rough terrain and strong winds. But Armenian observers argue that Baku is showing no urgency in protecting Armenian heritage.

Under international conventions such as the 1954 Hague Convention, Azerbaijan is required to protect cultural heritage in the territories it controls. Armenia’s government and the exiled leadership of Artsakh have repeatedly called on international organizations to intervene.

“Azerbaijan must abide by international law and conventions on the protection of cultural heritage and ensure the preservation of cultural and natural heritage in the territories under its control. It must take urgent measures to extinguish the fires and to restore the damage caused,” the Artsakh government-in-exile said in a public statement.

So far, there has been no visible international presence or aid to assess or prevent further loss.

While Azerbaijan has taken no serious steps to contain fires threatening Armenian cultural landmarks—raising concerns that the inaction is intentional. Armenia has managed to deal with its own wildfire crisis. Over the weekend, a large blaze broke out in Ararat province, threatening the Khosrov Forest State Reserve. Armenian authorities deployed firefighting helicopters, police, rangers, and local volunteers. The fire was fully contained by Monday.

The contrast is striking. Armenia took swift, coordinated action to protect its natural heritage. Azerbaijan, despite holding power over historically Armenian land, has allowed the fires to grow, placing sacred sites in jeopardy.

The fires now sweeping through Artsakh are not isolated events. They are part of a broader trend: the systematic removal, destruction, or neglect of Armenian culture in territories seized by Azerbaijan. Since the 2023 displacement of the native Armenian population from Artsakh, concerns have grown over what many describe as a campaign of cultural erasure.

Monasteries, cemeteries, and villages that have stood for over a thousand years are now at risk of vanishing in days. And with them, the story of Armenia in Artsakh.

If the fires consume Amaras, Tigranakert, or the churches of the villages, the loss will not only be Armenian. It will be a blow to world heritage. These monuments do not just belong to Armenia—they belong to all who care about history, culture, and truth.

Every stone that falls, every wall that burns, every orchard that turns to ash, takes with it a part of Armenian identity. The silence of the international community, combined with Azerbaijan’s inaction, allows this destruction to continue.

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