Old Khot

Old Khot is located in the Syunik Region of Armenia, next to the current village, in the lowest place. Old Khot was one of the oldest settlements in Syunik region. It is located on the very steep mountain slope of the left bank of Vorotan, surrounded by gardens and inaccessible rocks. The village was mentioned for the first time in the 5th century, when Prince Babik of Syunyats dedicated the village of Khot to the Persian general Gori as a sign of his conversion to Christianity. In the certificate written in 881 by Bishop Solomon of Syunyat, it is said: ... "I learned that in the past, Father Gevorg had dedicated the Khoti manor to the Holy Icon, but due to some circumstances it was stolen. When I succeeded to the throne of this holy chair, I returned that estate to the church." The certificate mentions "Khoti estate-korvoyde", which makes it clear that the villagers, being attached to the estates of the monastery, fulfilled their tax obligations and gave the income they received to the monastery. This certificate is the first mention of Kori as a form of applicable tax liability. The name of Vasak's son, Khoti ter Grigori, is mentioned among the witnesses mentioned in the document; The village was also mentioned during the construction of the Tatev monastery (906), when the boundaries of the monastery were defined. Although Khot was one of the villages donated to the Tatev Monastery, this right was regularly violated in different historical periods, as evidenced by St. Orbelyan, noting that in 1006 Prince Dlen, the son of Khalgbak, donated the village and the large park of Khotaget to the bishop of Tatev, Ter Hovhannes, and Saint Nshan from his native domains. The fact of the violation of property rights and the restoration of the previous status is related to the 13th century memorial, according to which Tarsaiich Orbelyan returned six villages that were part of his domains to the Tatev monastery, including Khot. He left an inscription about it on the southern pillar of the St. Peter's Church, where he calls Khot a town and that he returns it with its borders, mountains and fields, with the gardens he planted around Khotaget.

From Ghevond Alishan's work "Sisakan" we learn that the church of Khot village was called St. Mother of God. The settlement had two churches, one of which was located on the southwestern edge of the settlement, in the northern part of the large cemetery, and is completely destroyed. The other church in the center of the village is in a dilapidated condition. Most probably St. Astsvatsatsin (XVII-XVIII centuries) is named after this church. More than a dozen khachkars and tombstones (XIII-XVII centuries) have been preserved in the area of the Great Cemetery, and several tombstones in the yard of the standing church of the village. The village was abandoned in 1960 due to water scarcity.

Photo By: Cosmo Deus