Khachkars are carved stone plaques used for outdoor display. They are made in Armenia and among Armenian diaspora communities.
In the 20th century, khachkars experienced a rebirth as a symbol of Armenian culture. A number of khachkars have been placed throughout the world to commemorate the victims of the Armenian genocide. They have been displayed at the Vatican Museums, Canterbury Cathedral's memorial garden, St Mary's Cathedral in Sydney, the Colorado State Capitol, the Temple of Peace in Cardiff, the Christ Church Cathedral in Dublin, and others.
Khachkars often feature a cross surmounted by a rosette or solar disc. The stone face usually has patterns of leaves, grapes, pomegranates, and bands of interlace. Sometimes a cross is surmounted by a cornice that sometimes contains biblical or saintly figures. Initially, khachkars were built for the welfare of the souls of either living or deceased individuals, also to honor a military victory, a church's construction, or to provide protection from natural disasters. A memorial stone or relic can be used for worship, as a memorial stone, or as a relic enabling communication between the secular and the divine.
Each khachkar reaches 1.5 meters in height, has a cross in the middle, resting on the symbol of a sun or wheel of eternity, and is ornamented with geometric-vegetative motifs as well as carvings of saints and animals. Khachkars are normally made of local stone and carved with chisels, dies, sharp pens, and hammers.
Afterward, they are ground with fine sand. A plaster of clay or lime is applied to smooth out small breaks and rough surfaces, followed by painting. Once the Khachkar is complete, a small religious ceremony is held to raise it. Khachkars are believed to possess holy powers and to provide help, protection, victory, longevity, remembrance, and mediation towards the salvation of the soul once they have been blessed and anointed.
The traditional skills are passed on through families or from master to apprentice. In addition to traditional methods and patterns, regional particularity and individual improvisation are encouraged.
More than 50,000 Khachkars in Armenia are made, and one is alike. It is most common for early khachkars to be found in graveyards. Nowadays, however, Armenian gravestones have many other forms, and only a minority are khachkars. Most of the khachkars survive today. Many of them are freestanding, although those that record donations are often incorporated into the walls of monasteries. The tradition still exists today, and one can still see khachkar carvers in certain parts of Yerevan.
References
(https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/armenian-cross-stones-art-symbolism-and-craftsmanship-of-khachkars-00434) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khachkar)