AZG Armenian Daily #175, 30/09/2005

Culture

RESIDENTS OF KAZAN DELIGHTED WITH ARMENIAN CULTURE

One of Russia’s most ancient cities, Kazan, marks its 1000th anniversary
this year. The exhibition of artists from Armenia within the frameworks of
celebrations in Kazan in late March astonished the residents of the city as
well as the Armenians of Kazan. At the House-Museum of Parajanov yesterday,
the head of the Armenian community in Kazan and the head of the city’s
cultural department presented the participants of the exhibition with gifts
and thank-you notes. Arkadi Karbayev, head of the cultural department, said
that the canvases, statues and articles of decorative art created a little
Kazan. “We bow before you; you make a tale of a stone and work miracles”,
Mr. Karbayev said. Head of the Armenian community of Tatarstan, Mikhail
Khachaturian, added that Armenia’s cooperation with Kazan will continue as
there are new exhibition ahead to be stage in the town.

The Armenian settled in Kazan nearly 10 centuries ago, promoted trade and
preserved their culture. Mr. Khachaturian said that though the Armenian
community was officially formed only 11 years ago, its traditions and
history is older by far.

An Armenian khachkar dated 1335 was found at the University of Kazan.

By G. Alikhanian