EXHIBITION "ARMENIA SACRA. RETURN HOME" LAUNCHES IN YEREVAN
ARKA
11 Sept 2007
YEREVAN, September 11. /ARKA/. The exhibition "Armenia Sacra. Return
home" earlier exhibited in Louvre launched in the History Museum
of Armenia.
"For the first time cultural and historical values in big quantity,
including khachkars (cross-stones) were taken away from Armenia and
exhibited abroad," said Armenia’s Prime Minister Serge Sargsyan during
the exhibition.
He said that about 2.5mln people visited the exhibition in Paris.
"Many visitors were interested in seeing khachkars in their historical
motherland. One of the objectives of the last year was to evoke such
interest."
In his turn, Catholicos of All-Armenians Garegin II said that during
the exhibition in Paris, French people had the occasion of getting
acquainted not only with the culture of the Armenian nation, but also
with the depth of its faith.
"The events held within Armenia’s Year in France not only strengthened
the countries’ cultural ties but also their centuries-old friendship,"
he said.
Over 200 exhibits of the Christian heritage of Armenia, including
32 khachkars that date back to 4-18 centuries were exhibited in
the exhibition "Armenia Sacra. Return home", which will last till
November 30.
Not only treasures from Echmiadzin entered the exhibition, but
also samples of other historic, religious and cultures centers of
Armenia, in particular, manuscripts from Matenadaran, patterns from
Armenia’s History Museum, as well as exhibits form various museums
of the Diaspora.
For the exhibition the khackhars were provided from various museums
of Armenia, as well as from Old Jugha, Paris museum, congregation of
Mkhitarists from the St. Lazar Island in Venice. Over 300ths people
visited the exhibition in Louvre.
The Year of Armenia started in France on September 21, 2006 – on the
Independence Day of Armenia, and terminated on July 14, 2007 – on
the Bastille Day. Within the Year of Armenia 850 cultural, economic
and charitable events were held in 165 cities of France.
Among the biggest events were the exhibition of manuscripts and
historic folios "Armenia: magic of scripts", exhibition of khachkars
"Armenia Sacra" (Holy Armenia), as well as exhibition of such
famous Armenian artists as Arshil Gorky, Martiros Saryan, as well as
retrospective demonstration of Sergey Parajanov’s films.