KRASNODAR (Combined Sources)–Vandals desecrated a monument dedicated to Armenia’s who founded the town of Budenovsk in Russia’s southern province of Stavropol. The monument is housed in a complex dedicated the Founding Fathers of the City of Soorp Khach (Holy Cross).
Officially dedicated in October 2004–the complex houses an 8 meter-high arch–a khachkar (cross-stone)–and a stone composition. Krasnodar’s Yerkramas newspaper reported that the vandalism may be the result of recent anti-Caucasus sentimen’s in the area–or is an act by a cult.
Sanctioned by Russian Emperor Paul I–The city of Soorp Khach (Holy Cross–now Budennovsk) was founded in 1799 by Armenia’s and others who believed in the Armenian faith.
In a light hearted conversation that Gorky once had wit painter Barnett Newman, Gorky stated one of the reasons he came to America, “Well, when I was a young boy in Armenia, my mother used to take me to church. And every time I went to church , I was always struck by the fact that the devils were all black and the angels were all blonde. Then I heard that in the United States all the girls are blonde. So I figured they were angels. So I came to this country”.
In fact there is a sad anecdote, the childhood image of blonde angels and black devils had meant something profound to Gorky.
What I didn’t realize was the meaning of the three crosses, before acquiring this collection I had no idea of what a khatchkar was or how it related to Arshile Gorky.
If you look at the painting by Gorky while attending the Scott Carbee School are the blonde figures to the right Gorky’s “Angels” and the figures with black hair Gorky’s “Devils” and above on the hill or mountain three crosses.