Category Archives: MEMORY

A Comparative Analysis of Print and Manuscript Samples

Summery

Vardan G. Devrikyan
Vardan Deverikyan’s article, “The Five Publications of Hakob Meghabart,” examines the first printed Armenian publications by Hakob Meghapart in Venice, 1512-13, according to the sequence of their printing.

By examining all of his books individually, the article illustrates how the first Armenian printer carried on the Armenian manuscript tradition from the previous era and with which guiding principles, prior to printing. Meghapart’s publications are examined thematically and contextually. The article highlights Meghapart’s publications, which were conditioned by the following motives:

a. To disseminate a number of manuscript collections notable in contemporary Armenian environment through printing that had begun in Europe, which related to different religious and ritual issues, natural phenomenon and through an annual calendar, make forecasts for any particular day of the year.
b. Through the printing of books containing necessary information, communicate different agricultural activities and accurately determine church celebrations, also including information about daily life.

Hagop Meghapart’s works printed in Venice were first and foremost for Armenians dispersed throughout the world, Armenian merchants of the day and different travelers. With this objective, necessary information, including forecasting and superstitions, were communicated prior to travel; church celebrations were concisely noted and presented, so that those Armenians, far away from the homeland could celebrate those days accordingly.

One of the main objectives for Meghapart was to create ties for those Armenians living abroad with the Motherland, which is clearly illustrated particularly in his last publication, “Songbook.” Similar collections in the 16-17th centuries had wide usage in the Armenian Diaspora, thereby Hakob printed “Songbook” where all the cherished songs of the day are compiled; among those songs found in his book, those pertaining to wanderers form the greatest portion.

On the Occasion of the 500th Anniversary of Armenian Printing

Summary

Sasun M. Haroutyunyan
One of the most important developments in human history has been the invention of the printing press. It gave birth to revolutionary changes in world civilization. Many nations urgently wanted to make use of this invention in order to develop their science and culture.

The modern art of printing was also acquired by the Armenian nation. The first Armenian publishing house was founded in 1771 by the All-Armenian Catholicos, Simeon A. Yerevantsi. The funding for the construction was provided by Grigor Chakikyan a benefactor from the Indian-Armenian Diaspora.

After the foundation of the printing house the problem of paper arose. At first it was imported to Armenia from European countries, which proved to be very expensive. In order to limit the expenses, Simeon A Yerevantsi seized the opportunity to start paper production in Armenia. By 1776, the construction of a paper factory in Echmiadzin was completed.

Thus, the foundations of both the first printing house and paper factory in Armenia are closely affiliated with Simeon A. Yerevantsi.

Summary

Murad M. Hasratyan
One of the works of medieval Armenia’s greatest architects, Trdat was the restoration of the destroyed dome of Hagia Sophia in Constantinople following an earthquake in 980. Armenian historian Stepanos Taronetsi, including also a Byzamtium chronologer notes that he restored the basilica’s dome in the year 992.

While restoring Hagia Sophia’s dome, Trdat did not rebuild it according to the original but rather applied innovative architectural and construction solutions for that complicated process. In contrast to Armenian churches, he built the dome arch much lower, which alleviated its weight and rebuilt the west side of the dome with 20 dome ribs. He built 40 windows which also made it lighter and gave it the illusion of being suspended from the sky. These unique and bold solutions were justified as the dome is still standing today.

Summary

Gegham M. Badalyan

Up until the second half of the 19th century, and in separate cases even up until the end of the same century, there existed about two dozen semi-independent Armenian authorities, autonomous provinces or communities on the territory of Western Armenia. The strongest among them were the authorities in Sassun and Zeitun, whose semi-independent status was established on behalf of the Ottoman power through special edicts. The Melikdoms of Shatakh, Moks, Baghlu, the Mirakyan’s of Dersim, and the authorities of Isyan and Savur also enjoyed wide autonomy, while acknowledging the supremacy of their powerful neighboring Muslim country. As a rule, these authorities were governing formations of Armenian or foreign dynasties, who were endowed with the rights of “junior ally.” At the next level were a number of smaller units, whose territory was limited by one or a few settlements – the Melikdoms of the Tarkhanyans, Zirakyans, Liz, and Yonjalu in Van, the Melikdoms of Khnus and Manazkert in Erzerum including also separate communities strewn throughout the territories of Southwestern Armenia, Pontos and Gamirk.

Summary

Davit V. Petrosyan

The mythical period, one of the core ingredients of the mythical aesthetic structure, has received prominent expression in the three essays by Mushegh Galshoyan: “Crow Stone,” “The Torch of the Illuminator,” and “Where Are You Going, Old Man?”

With this objective in mind, the article examines one of the core understandings, which is specific to the mythical period and which is described as a transmission from timeliness to untimeliness. Thereby, a number of distinctive features of the inner world, which was specific to the spiritual time period, of Mushegh Galshoyan’s heroes are revealed.

There are a number of interesting parallels in the essays between mythical time and space, thanks to which different periods of time are revealed on the same plane and uncover new areas of mythical untimeliness.

The period, cyclical repetitions of time have also found their unique personification in myths. In this context, M. Galshoyan’s thinking goes back to the creative origin and finds parallels with the mythical period typical with the telling of the Bible.

The writer’s literary search in these essays clearly laid the foundation for the birth of his collection, “The Clouds of Mount Marouta.”

On the 90th Anniversary of their Signing

Summary

Armen Ts. Marukyan

The agreements signed in Moscow on March 16, 1921 and in Kars on October 13 of the same year, were sealed by gross infringements of norms and principles of International Law. With the help of the document signed in Kars, an attempt was only being made to “legalize” the Bolshevik-Kemal deal; which proudes ground to consider the Kars document not as a separate agreement, but as an attachment to the illegal document signed in Moscow.

The Republic of Armenia, as a subject of International Law, today can use the opportunities of International Law to neutralize or at least soften the threats of the aforementioned documents, which are not favourable for the Armenians.

To the 65th anniversary from the date of a victory of freedom-loving people over the Second World War 

Summary

Christine F. Melkonyan
The Second World War yet has not ended, but the Soviet Union has already undertaken serious diplomatic steps in relation to Turkey. For Turks the territorial claims, concerning Kars and Ardahan who have been annexed by Turkey 1921 became most terrible, under the Kars contract. Moscow behaved cautiously, without expressing openly its interests, — the initiative of returning of these territories proceeded from the Armenian and the Georgian Soviet Socialist Republics. In Stalin plans the Armenian diaspora too was given an important role. In November, 1945, as a pressing measure, Central Committee Political bureau has allowed repatriation of foreign Armenians to Armenia.

But during the «cold war», mainly, in spring 1946, in the atmosphere of implementing the «Truman’s doctrine» and «The plan of Marshall» in 1947 forced the Soviet Union to freeze temporarily programs of the Black Sea passages and revision of borders. Later, after the death Stalin in 1953, Moscow has officially renounced the claims to Turkey.

On the 90-th Anniversary of the Sevres Treaty Signing

Summary

Armen Ts. Marukyan
Even after 90 years, the Treaty of :Ÿvres, despite its ratification, is a partially applied treaty: that is to say, it has already been put into power. The division of the Ottoman Empire and the generation of new states in its former territory were carried out on the basis of the articles of the Treaty of Sèvres, which proves the authenticity of this treaty.

As for the part concerning Armenia and the Armenian nation, the Treaty of Sèvres still remains unapplied. Nowadays, the International Law gives right to the Republic of Armenia as the legal successor of Soviet Armenia and Armenia’s first Republic, on the basis of both the Treaty of Sèvres and the arbiter verdict of the US president Woodrow Wilson on the clarification of the Armenian-Turkish border, to present substantial demands to Modern Turkey, being the legal successor of the Ottoman Empire, and to call the latter for responsibility, achieving a complete overcoming of the consequence of the Armenian Genocide.

In the context of the development challenges

Summary

Atom Sh. Margaryan
The problems of formation and development of the national system of innovation–one of the basic elements of modernization and development of the independent Republic of Armenia’s economy areanalyzed in this article. The author considers the role and significance of the scientific and technological spheres in contemporary conditions and, as a whole, in the light of the problems of the development of the world economy. It is noted that,the only possibility for the economy’s reconstruction and hightening the level of competitivness of the Republic of Armenia, which is in a great need of mineral and energy resources, is connected with substantial development of science and technology. For the solution of this problem, it is necessary to transfer economy to the newly introduced regime by the formation of the national newly established system, which is an organically integrated entity of science, technology and economy. It has the ability to create modern high technologies, new competitive commodities and services, which will guarantee the high level of the society’s welfare and development.

On the 100th anniversary of the newspaper “Azatamart” published in Constantinople

Mariam V. Hovepyan
During the years of its publication (1909-1915), the official newspaper of the Western Bureau of the ARF, “Azatamart, being the speaker of the party published also articles of the Armenian progressive society’s representatives. Thus “Azatamart” was not a narrow-party newspaper. It guaranteed publication of different opinions. From this point of view it was the most open newpaper in the reality of Western Armenia. “Azatamart”, compared with other Armenian newspapers at the beginning of the 20th century, was unsurpassed because of its rich materials and the methods of presenting opinions. “Azatamart”” taught many newspapers of that time and of the following decades the lessons of journalistic mastership and national solidarity.