DELEGATION OF ARMENIAN WRITERS TO TAKE PART IN A NUMBER OF EVENTS ON MAY 24-30 IN TBILISI
Noyan Tapan
Ma y 23, 2008
YEREVAN, MAY 23, NOYAN TAPAN. On May 24-30, a delegation of Armenian
writers will leave for Georgia to take part in the events dedicated
to the 110th anniversary of Vernatun founded by Hovhannes Tumanian
in Tbilisi, in the annual Vardaton (rose holiday) dedicated to
Sayat-Nova’s memory to be held in the Saint Gevorg Armenian church,
as well as in the Festival of Armenian Poetry. As Levon Ananian,
the Chairman of the Union of Writers of Armenia, said at the May 23
press conference, not only Armenian, but also Georgian intellectuals
will take part in the events. The events will be held jointly with
the RA Ministry of Culture and the Union of Writers of Armenia.
According to L. Ananian, like every year, this year also it is
envisaged to solemnly organize the annual Vardaton dedicated to
Sayat-Nova’s memory. The holiday originated in 1913, when Sayat-Nova’s
200th birth anniversary was marked on Hovhannes Tumanian’s initiative
in Tbilisi. Since that day, every year on the last Sunday of May,
a festivity, Vardaton, is organized in the yard of the Saint Gevorg
church, during which lovers of Sayat-Nova’s songs lay red roses to
the great goosan’s (Armenian national poet) grave. The Chairman of
the Union of Writers of Armenia expressed the hope that Vardaton,
which has been also marked in Yerevan since 2006, will be also marked
in Azerbaijan in the future.
Touching upon the Festival of Armenian Poetry to be held in Tbilisi,
L. Ananian said that though the two peoples’ literary ties were broken
off in the 1990-s, it is two years that literary bridge has been
restored. In particular, steps are undertaken in the two countries
to translate creations of Armenian and Georgian writers into Armenian
and Georgian, as well as various events are organized. L. Ananian also
said that a launching of Modern Armenian Poetry’s Anthology willtake
place within the framework of the festival.