Tuesday, 21 October 2014
Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan Attends Celebrations of 350th Anniversary of St. Amenaprkich Church in New Julfa
On October 21, Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan and members of the official delegation took part in the celebrations dedicated to the 350th anniversary of the Church of St. Ovsep Arematatsi of St. Amenaprkich temple complex in New Julfa in Iran, which was attended by His Holiness Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia Aram I.
On behalf of the Government of the Republic of Armenia and himself, extending congratulations on the occasion of the festival and thanking for the warm reception, the Prime Minister noted, “I am immensely pleased and proud to be in the neighboring and friendly Iran, which for hundreds of thousands of our countrymen has become a second home. Taking advantage of this opportunity, I express my deep gratitude to the authorities of the Islamic Republic of Iran for what they have created all the conditions for the preservation and development of the identity of the Armenians, the language, culture and traditions.”
Hovik Abrahamyan noted that the ties between Iran and Armenia are as ancient as the two peoples, their history and culture. According to him, in difficult moments Iran helped Armenia. Iran hosted those Armenians who escaped from the massacres of the late nineteenth - early twentieth century and of the Armenian Genocide, and gave them refuge.
“And today, together with progressive mankind we are preparing for the events dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. The crime committed not only against the Armenians, but also against humanity, should be given comprehensive international assessment, should be recognized and condemned so that it would recur never again and nowhere else in the world,” the Prime Minister of Armenia stated.
Hovik Abrahamyan noted that the two brotherly peoples enjoy warm relationship, while interstate relations are constantly evolving and improving. According to the Prime Minister, in this case a special contribution is due to the Armenian community of Iran, who are taking an active share in the political, economic, scientific, educational, spiritual and cultural life of the country; who have always contributed to the strengthening of the statehood of Iran, its development and strengthening.
“Indeed, the core of relations between Armenia and Iran is among others the Armenian community of Iran whose generous stance and nature has always been a source of pride for us. As a result of the effective work of Iran and the Iranian Armenians in 2008 UNESCO recognized part of the world cultural heritage Iran-based majestic Armenian monuments - St. Mariam and St. Stephanos temple complexes in Dzordzor, the Convent of St. Apostle Tadevos, which is perhaps the oldest monument in the world of early Christianity. Today we admire and are proud of our hundreds of churches, monuments, books and, of course, the masters who created them; we bow before their memory, because the splash of their thoughts and talents serve to the good of the Armenian and Iranian peoples adding to the dialogue of civilizations. I am proud that I am today in Isfahan, one of the three largest cities in Iran, home to one of the oldest Armenian communities. The forced relocation four centuries ago of the once wealthy Armenian merchant city Julfa, our ancestors established themselves in the area, and New Julfa became a symbol of awakening and revival of Armenian life in the hospitable land of Iran. The Armenians who settled here have managed not only to survive but also to preserve their language, culture and faith; they founded a new Julfa, built this glorious sanctuary, the church complex. Ironically, the old Julfa today is in the territory of another of our neighbors – Azerbaijan - where, unfortunately, reigns vandalism,” the Prime Minister of Armenia said.
Appreciating the efforts of dedicated activists from spiritual and temporal structures of New Julfa in the preservation of the national wealth, the Prime Minister noted that the contemporaries can only enrich these universal values and pass them to the next generation.
“This beautiful complex, including its Ararat center, has become a small Armenia, which is contained and preserved with such care. How not to be grateful to the leader of the diocese, the authorities of the community for this fervent activity. Thank you, dear compatriots.”
Hovik Abrahamyan also thanked the government of Iran for exceptionally caring attitude to the largest Christian community in the country. For significant contributions to the preservation of the Armenian identity, strengthening Armenia-Diaspora ties, commemorative medals of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia were awarded to the chairman of the central board of Ararat association of the Armenian Diocese of Isfahan Masis Minasyan and head of Hay Dat office of the Armenian Diocese of Isfahan Ashot Davtyan.
The same day, the Prime Minister of Armenia and His Holiness Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia Aram I visited Ararat sports and cultural society in New Julfa.
The Prime Minister-led delegation went around the temple complex of St. Amenaprkich in New Julfa. They laid flowers at the monument to the victims of the Armenian Genocide, then visited the museum of the temple complex and left a note in the journal.
