FIRST KHACHKAR IN CZECH JIHLAVA
By Hakob Asatrian in Jihlava

AZG Armenian Daily
23/11/2006

Komitas Chamber Quartet Enchants Spectators

On November 17, in presence of many lookers-on the monument of Harutiun
Stepanian symbolizing Armenian-Czech friendship was unveiled in town
of Jihlava in the Czech Republic.

Ashot Hovakimian, Armenian ambassador to Austria, Hungary, the Czech
Republic and Slovakia, Jaroslav Vymazal, Jihlava mayor, Alexander
Sargsian, organizer of the event and head of the Armenian-Czech
Association, senator Jaromir Stetina as well as archbishop Mesrop
Grigorian, Armenian Patriarch’s envoy in Central Europe took part
ion the unveiling ceremony and held speeches.

Mayor Vymazal pointed out that significantly the first Armenian
khachkar in the Czech Republic is being erected in their town.

Ambassador Hovakimian congratulated all Czech-Armenians on this
beautiful event and emphasized the importance of such cultural events
in forming good-neighborly tradition between the two peoples.

Alexander Sargsian stated that the monument is a unique token of
gratefulness to the Czech people for non-discriminatory attitude.

Archbishop Mesrop together with deacon Barsegh Pilavchian, carried out
the consecration ceremony of the monument, after which the girls of
"Hayuhiner" ensemble gave a performance.

The khachkar is erected in front of the Holy Spirit Church in the
central Smetanovi Sad park.

At the end of the event Jihlava mayor invited the guests to a reception
in the Municipality.

In the evening, Komitas Chamber Quartet conducted by Eduard Tadevosian
gave a performance at Horacki Theatre. The Quartet played the works of
Chaykovsky, Handel and Komitas. On November 16, the Quartet performed
at the Russian Center of Science and Culture and was warmly greeted
by the spectators.