The Armenian Khachkar (Hacikar) is a carved Armenian cross-stone set within a small fountain on the Casino Promenade in Constanța. Created in Armenia by sculptor Artak Hambardzumyan and unveiled in 2017, it commemorates the long presence of the Armenian community in Dobrogea and the preservation of Armenian identity and faith.
Hambardzumyan carved the monument from volcanic tuff, following the traditional khachkar form of a central cross surrounded by dense vegetal and geometric ornament. Its design was inspired by a 16th-century khachkar from Old Jugha, a historic Armenian cemetery renowned for its carved cross-stones. The finished work was transported from Armenia to Constanța by ship and mounted on a marble pedestal beside the Black Sea.
An inscription in Romanian and Armenian recalls the centuries-old Armenian presence in Dobrogea, expresses gratitude for the community’s reception in Romania, and honors Armenian ancestors and martyrs. The khachkar was unveiled and blessed on 25 April 2017, immediately after the annual 24 April commemoration of the Armenian genocide.
