“Pay attention to the village”
One has to make 16 km curves to reach Odzun, the largest village in Lori province, but the villagers are leaving Odzun every day since there is nothing to do in the village.
"We don't have cows, a field and we don't manage to reap. There are no jobs and the people are compelled to leave," says Karlen Aghekyan. According to him, those leaving the village mainly leave for the capital or Russia.
According to Arevik Gharibyan, who is an employee of the only café in the village, villagers refuse to live on their lands. "People don't have second incomes to reap or sow their lands," says Gharibyan.
According to her, the café is not as much for the locals as it is for those visiting the village. In this part of the year, most of the visitors are foreigners or citizens of Armenia who visit the St. Mary Church in Odzun.
"The church was built in the 4th century by King Trdat III, and it was anointed by Gregory the Illuminator," Arevik Gharibyan says proudly. However, according to her, the village is not developing as a touristic center. "Things were a little better last year. This year there is 50 percent less visitors. The road is difficult to pass, but it has been renovated," says the café employee.
Although she doesn't have much hope, Mrs. Arevik says Odzun will get back on its feet. Taking the opportunity, she asked the authorities to pay attention to the village or else it will no longer exist."
