Replica of Artsakh’s Iconic Tatik-Papik Monument Unveiled in Russia

A replica of Stepanakert’s iconic “We Are Our Mountains” monument was officially opened and consecrated on the grounds of the Saint Hripsime Church in the city of Yessentuki, located in Russia’s Stavropol Krai.

The opening ceremony was attended by Bishop Movses Movsesyan, head of the Diocese of Krasnodar and the North Caucasus of the Armenian Apostolic Church, along with representatives of the Armenian clergy from Vladikavkaz, Mineralnye Vody, Novorossiysk, Kislovodsk, Stavropol, Krasnodar, Armavir and Slavyansk-on-Kuban.

A traditional Armenian khachkar was also consecrated during the ceremony.

Originally created in 1967 by Armenian sculptor Sargis Baghdasaryan, the “We Are Our Mountains” monument, widely known as “Tatik-Papik,” (Grandma-Grandpa), became one of the most recognizable symbols of Artsakh. The monument depicts the stone-carved faces of an elderly Armenian couple and represents the deep roots and enduring presence of Armenians in the region.

Following Azerbaijan’s occupation of Stepanakert in September 2023 and the forced displacement of the city’s indigenous Armenian population, the monument came under Azerbaijani control. Azerbaijani authorities raised their national flag at the site, while concerns quickly emerged about the future of the landmark. Since then, multiple reports, photos and videos have documented acts of vandalism, including graffiti and offensive inscriptions directed at Armenians carved onto the monument. Azerbaijani public figures have also publicly called for the monument’s demolition, while others have sought to portray the landmark as part of Azerbaijan’s cultural heritage despite its well-documented Armenian origins.

For Armenians around the world, the monument remains far more than a sculpture. It is a symbol of Artsakh’s Armenian heritage, history and identity, making replicas such as the one unveiled in Yessentuki especially meaningful for diaspora communities.

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