Until around the 10th century, when the use of bells became widespread, the Armenian Church used the gochnag (or kochnak), which was a long wooden
or metallic board, used for calling the worshippers to mass or other religious ceremonies. That was why they had a bell-like function. The adoption of bells did not mean the end of gochnags, which went on to be used until the 20th century, disappearing from the scene during the years
1915-1930. Today there are just a few samples left, among which there are four belonging to the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem. They are particularly relevant because they are the only ones that are currently in use. The gochnag is also used in some Armenian villages of north-western Syria, in the region of Kessab and its surroundings. The mystic Grigor Narekatsi of the 10th century dedicated an ode (No. 92)to that instrument in his Book of Prayer, also called the Book of Lamentations. The Armenian Church has a special ceremony for blessing and commissioning gochnags.