 In 1920, as a result of the Armenian Genocide, the territories of Republic of Armenia located west of the Akhurian River were captured by Turkey.The small group of the Armenian survivors of Bagaran, crossed the river and founded the modern village of Bagaran within the Armenian SSR, just 8 km south of the site of the ancient city.According to the Armenian historian Joseph Orbeli, the Church of Saint Theodore of Bagaran was one of the most important examples of early medieval Armenian architecture.