PRESS RELEASE
Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Society – Boston Chapter
47 Nichols Avenue, Watertown, MA 02472
Contact: Ara Nazarian
Phone: 617.650.1224
Email: ara.nazarian@gmail.com
Website:

Lecture on Preservation of Armenian Monasteries of Iran: History,
Challenges and Accomplishments

By Varoujan Arakelian, Architect

Watertown, MA – September 16, 2009 – The Armenian Cultural Foundation,
the Armenian Society of Boston and the Boston Chapter of the Hamazkayin
Armenian Educational and Cultural Society are presenting a lecture and
film series on Preservation of Armenian Monasteries of Iran by Mr.
Varoujan Arakelian. The event will be held at the Armenian Cultural
Foundation (441 Mystic Street, Arlington, MA), on Sunday, October 4,
2009 at 3:00 PM.

Northwestern Iran is home to several jewels of Armenian architecture,
most notably the majestic Saint Thaddeus in the Maku Valley and the
glorious St. Stepanos near the Arax river at the border with Nakhijevan.
Centuries of harsh climate, natural disasters as well as political
upheavals have presented constant threats to the very existence of these
structures but an equally resilient community, experts and care takers
have met the challenges head on. In July of 2008, these monasteries
along with the Dzor-dzor Chapel of Sourp Asdvatzatzin, were enlisted on
UNESCO’s World Heritage List as architectural treasures.

Varoujan Arakelian is the lead architect in charge of supervising the
renovation efforts on behalf of the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic
Church of Iran, in cooperation with the Organization of the Cultural
Heritage, Tourism and Handcrafts.

Admission to the event is free, and the lecture will be delivered in
Armenian. To find out more about the lecture please contact
Hamazkayin-Boston at ara.nazarian@gmail.com, 617.650.1224 or the
Armenian Cultural Foundation at 781.646.3090.

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From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress