The Haghartsin Monastery in Armenia, a 10th-century complex that had been left structurally unsound by earthquake damage and decades of neglect, was restored through a donation from Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, who contributed an estimated $1.7 million (Dh6.2 million) to fund the work.
How the Haghartsin Monastery Sharjah restoration came about
Sheikh Dr Sultan visited Armenia in 2005 at the invitation of then-president Robert Kocharian, a trip arranged by the Armenian business community in Sharjah. The state of the monastery during that visit prompted the offer to finance its full renovation.
The complex sits roughly 100 kilometres north-east of the capital, Yerevan, in forested mountain terrain. Founded in the 10th century, it comprises three churches and once housed around 250 monks. It had survived invasions and anti-religious campaigns during Soviet rule, but by the time of Sheikh Dr Sultan’s visit, plants had forced their way through the ancient stone walls and deep cracks threatened the structural integrity of the buildings.
One source, Kavkaz-Uzel, has reported the total restoration cost at $5 million, a figure that may reflect the full project expenditure including contributions channelled through Armenia Fund. Earlier reporting figure of $1.7 million appears to represent Sheikh Dr Sultan’s personal donation. The Armenian General Benevolent Union has described the donation as covering millions for the renovation, consistent with the higher estimate.
Five years of meticulous conservation work
The restoration ran from 2008 to 2013. Works included reinforcing foundations, repairing walls and floors, upgrading drainage and utility systems, and constructing a new access road to the site.
The project preserved the medieval fabric of the complex, including the 10th-century St Gregory church and a refectory hall supported by 12 columns representing the Disciples of Christ. Conservators kept the character of the original stonework intact throughout.
On 19 October 2013, the monastery was inaugurated in a ceremony attended by Armenian officials and representatives from Sharjah. It has remained an active place of worship since.
The monastery project is one part of a broader relationship between Sharjah and Armenia. The emirate is home to a substantial Armenian community, and the St Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Apostolic Church in Sharjah was built on land donated by Sheikh Dr Sultan and inaugurated in 1998.
Armenia is regarded as the first country to adopt Christianity as a state religion, in 301 AD, a fact that gives the monastery particular significance as a heritage site beyond its architectural merit.
Sheikh Dr Sultan’s cross-cultural contributions have received formal recognition abroad. On 3 October 2018, the University of Coimbra in Portugal awarded him an honorary doctorate, describing him as ‘the man who brings cultures together’, citing his support for culture, literature and history at both local and international level, according to the Emirates News Agency (WAM).
The Haghartsin Monastery restoration remains one of the more concrete examples of that record: a medieval complex that was close to collapse in 2005 and has been open to visitors and worshippers ever since 2013.
