Up to 26,000 historical, cultural monuments in Armenia

Overall, 24, 500 historical, cultural and architectural monuments are currently registered in Armenia, and 1,500 new ones will soon be registered, Vladmir Poghosyan, an Armenian Ministry of Culture official, told journalists Aug. 4.

About 200 of the monuments are Christian spiritual monuments - such as monasteries and chapels – which are within the jurisdiction of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

"Under the government's decision, the monuments that are actually open to visitors - or can function as such - fall within the jurisdiction of the Holy See," Poghosyan said.