- Assembly of Armenians of Europe - Brussels
February 11, 2004 - Press Release Ref: pr/04/02/001
- On February 12, 2004 a katchkar will be placed in Kaunas, Lithuania,
as part of the 1000 anniversary celebrations of Grigor Narekatsi, a
prominent Armenian poet and philosopher of Middle Ages. Mr Vahan Arzumanian,
the president of the Armenian Society of Kaunas District and a member
of the AAE, informed that they had the idea of placing the katchkar
since 2002. The organization had applied to the Ministry of Culture
of Lithuania, as well as to the Kaunas Municipality asking for financial
support which had been granted. Therefore, the project was partially
supported by the above mentioned authorities.
- “The katchkar will be dedicated to Grigor Narekatsi. Narek’s Book
of Prayers is already familiar to the Lithuanian society, thanks to
its translation into Lithuanian by the Lithuanian poet Sigitas Geda
in 1999.The katchkar will symbolize the friendship between the Armenian
and Lithuanian peoples”, said Mr. Arzumanian in his conversation
with the representative of the Assembly of Armenians of Europe.
- During his visit to Nagorno Karabakh Mr. Arzumanian met with the sculptor
Robert Askaryan and invited him to visit Kaunas and help the Armenian
Society of Kaunas District with the realization of the project. Hence,
on January 5th 2004 Mr. Askaryan arrived in Kaunas, where he created
the katchkar. Arvidas Barysas, the famous Lithuanian producer of documentary
films was shooting the process of creation of the katchkar.
- The Armenian Society of Kaunas District is also planning to make a
documentary film about the Armenian katchkars and draw parallels between
the Lithuanian and Celtic crosses. “We had the idea of the documentary
film after having organized a photo exhibition on Armenian katchkars.
The katchkars are not well known in the world. It is particularly important
to publicize this valuable cultural heritage since thousands of these
khachkars are being barbarically destroyed by Azebaijan and Turkey -
as protested, in formal reports, by prominent historians and architects
to the UNESCO. We have applied to the Ministry of Culture of Lithuania
for financial support, but there is no answer yet. I do hope that there
will be Armenian sponsors who will support us with the realization of
such an important project”, said Mr. Arzumanian.
- For further information please contact : Vahan Arzumanian Armenian
Society of Kaunas District
Tel: +370 68606167 Fax: +370 37229208 E-mail: arzumanian@dokeda.lt
- Assembly of Armenians of Europe Rue de Treves 10, 1050 Brussels
Tel: +32 2 647 08 01 Fax: +32 2 647 02 00
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Айвазян, К. В. (1966) Первая работа об армянской литературе в Литве.
