Khachkar in Gliwice

The khachkar in Gliwice is an Armenian stone memorial stele standing in front of the Holy Trinity Church on Mikołowska Street. It was put up as a sign of remembrance of the Armenian genocide and is a gift from the Armenian people.

What a khachkar is

A khachkar is a traditional Armenian stone cross. The Gliwice example was made in Armenia to traditional patterns from red volcanic tuff. It is covered with rich ornamentation, and its central figure is the Armenian cross. It came to Gliwice through the "Art Without Borders" foundation.

Unveiling and location

The unveiling ceremony, in mid-July 2011, marked the unveiling of the fifth khachkar in Poland. The cross was blessed by Archbishop Grigoris Bunanyan, head of the Armenian Apostolic Church from Lviv. Since 2009 the Armenian Catholic southern parish of St Gregory the Illuminator, based in Gliwice, has operated at the church.

Practical information

• Address: in front of the Holy Trinity Church, Mikołowska Street, Gliwice.
• The monument stands in the open air, with no charge and no visiting hours; access to the church interior depends on service times, which should be checked before your visit.