Exhibition “Armenia Sacra. Return home” launches in Yerevan

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,” he

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.–0--