Noratus (Cross-Stones)

Noratus village is one of the oldest settlements in Gegharkunik Province, as well as many monuments have been preserved here. Noratus is usually called a forest of khachkars. There is St. Astvatsatsin chrurch in the center of the village, St. Gregory the Illuminator and a large cemeteryon on the southeast edge. St. Astvatsatsin church was built by the Gegharkunik prince at the end of the IX century.

The southern cemetery of the village is famous for its numerous khachkars. Ancient monuments, fragments of obelisks and early khachkars are preserved on the territory. Most khachkars (XIII-XVII centuries) are mainly grouped and are part of the cemeteries of a particular family. Group burials were discovered near the Noratus cemetery, on the territory called Shor-Gel, in the mausoleums of the bronze and iron centuries. Bronze belts, arrows, bracelets, beads, an iron dagger, pottery, etc. were found in the mausoleums of Noratus.

According to the legend, during the next attack of the Mongol-Tatars, residents put soldiers' clothes over a hundred khachkars. Seeing this horrific scene, the enemy retreated. There is a small chapel on the territory of the mausoleum, due to which, according to another legend, an entire village had been saved. The Mongol-Tatars agreed with the village council that they would save lives of all those people who would enter and stay in the chapel. As the chapel had a secret exit, all residents managed to escape. The main commander of the Mongol-Tatar army, entering the chapel, was stunned. He saw only the praying council. One of the old men explained to the furious commander that the crowd had become pigeons and flew high into the sky.