For Armenians, a people still living under the shadow of what they regard as "the first genocide of the 20th century” carried out against their ancestors who lived under the Ottoman Empire, the listing ensures protection of a small but treasured piece of their heritage. But a visit to the region today shows that, outside the walls of Ani, what remains of Armenian culture in Turkey is in danger of disappearing entirely.
Armenia's Broken Heritage
In July 2016, the ancient Armenian city of Ani, now in eastern Turkey, was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
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In Kars, the house reported to be the former home of the revered Armenian poet Yeghishe Charents.
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The Cathedral of Kars (bottom right) was the main place of worship for Armenians before 1915. In 1993, it was converted into a mosque.
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A chapel that was once a part of Bagnair Monastery, in the village of Kozluca, a few kilometers outside Ani. Signs describing the Armenian structures in Ani, and the villages around, avoid using the word "Armenian."
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A khachkar on the site of the now-ruined monastery in Kozluca. Khachkars are traditional, carved Armenian artworks that mark holy places.