AN EXHIBITION ENTITLED "THE ARMENIANS: THE ANCIENT CHRISTIANITY IN THE YOUNG COUNTRY" HELD IN THE NETHERLANDS

ARMENPRESS
MAY 7,2010
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, MAY 7, ARMENPRESS: An exhibition entitled "The Armenians:
The Ancient Christianity in the Young Country" opened May 6 in the
library of Leiden University dedicated to the 350th anniversary of
Armenian book publishing in Amsterdam. Many students and lecturers
from the Leiden University, representatives of the Armenian communities
of the Netherlands were present at the opening ceremony.

Armenian Foreign Affairs Ministry press service told Armenpress
that the exhibition was organized by Professor of Leiden University,
specialist of Armenian studies J. Weitenberg and coordinator of the
Eastern exemplars Arnold Frolaik.

The official opening of the exhibition was made by Armenian Consul to
Prague Arshak Manukyan. He underscored in his speech that the invention
of the Armenian letters in the 5th century became a cultural powerful
stimuli thanks to which the Armenian historiography, translation art,
poetry, medieval philosophy, and beginning from the 16th century,
also the Armenian published book became the inseparable part of the
world culture and mental wealth.

J. Weitenberg, A. Frolaik, president of Dutch-Armenian organizations
M. Hakhverdyan delivered speeches at the opening ceremony.

At the exhibition Armenian manuscripts and published books which are
kept in the Leiden University are presented, and among them is an
11th century book of parchment with contemporary translation. The
university possesses 65 manuscripts, 57 of which the Armenians of
Cilicia had conveyed to Englishman Rendel Harris for saving them from
annihilation during the Hamid pogroms, who later became the director
of the Leiden University The exhibition will be open till July 31.