The location of modern-day Churs proved to be extremely pivotal in Armenian history. On 26 May 451 AD, a decisive battle was fought at the location that would be one of the single most important events in Armenian history.
On the Avarayr Plain, at what is modern-day Churs in the West Azerbaijan Province, the Armenian Army under Vardan Mamikonianclashed with Sassanid Persia. Although the Persians were victorious on the battlefield itself, the battle proved to be a major strategic victory for Armenians, as Avarayr paved the way to the Nvarsak Treaty (484 AD), which affirmed Armenia's right to practice Christianity freely.[5][6]
Demographics
Population
At the time of the 2006 National Census, the village's population was 2,367 in 636 households, when it was in the former Chaypareh District of Khoy County.[7] The following census in 2011 counted 2,430 people in 733 households,[8] by which time the district had been separated from the county in the establishment of Chaypareh County. The rural district was transferred to the new Central District.[9] The 2016 census measured the population of the village as 2,081 people in 660 households. It was the most populous village in its rural district.[2]
^Churs can be found at GEOnet Names Server, at this link, by opening the Advanced Search box, entering "-3058837" in the "Unique Feature Id" form, and clicking on "Search Database".
^Hewsen, Robert H. (17 August 2011). "AVARAYR". Encyclopædia Iranica. So spirited was the Armenian defense, however, that the Persians suffered enormous losses as well. Their victory was pyrrhic and the king, faced with troubles elsewhere, was forced, at least for the time being, to allow the Armenians to worship as they chose.
^Susan Paul Pattie (1997). Faith in History: Armenians Rebuilding Community. Smithsonian Institution Press. p. 40. ISBN1560986298. The Armenian defeat in the Battle of Avarayr in 451 proved a pyrrhic victory for the Persians. Though the Armenians lost their commander, Vartan Mamikonian, and most of their soldiers, Persian losses were proportionately heavy, and Armenia was allowed to remain Christian.
^Davodi, Parviz (24 January 1393) [Approved 18 September 1386]. Approval letter regarding reforms of national divisions in West Azerbaijan province. rc.majlis.ir (Report) (in Persian). Ministry of the Interior, Political-Defense Commission of the Government Board. Proposal 138613/42/4/1; Notification 156165/T32690K. Archived from the original on 13 April 2014. Retrieved 21 November 2023 – via Islamic Parliament Research Center.
