At the initiative of the “Service for the Protection of Historical and Cultural Reserve-Museums and Historical Environment” SNCO, “Zvartnots” Historical and Cultural Reserve-Museum hosted the presentation of the book “Armenians in Ukraine”.

According to “Armenpress”, the book, which took famous Ukrainian historian Yaroslav Dashkevich fifty years to write, presents the Armenian communities of Ukraine and Eastern Poland and the active participation of the Armenians in Ukraine’s economic and cultural life.

“Dashkevich used about 200 sources to present the Armenian community between the 15^th and 19^th centuries. He has especially touched upon the Armenian community of Ukraine between the 14^th and 18^th centuries, meaning that the Armenian community had internal autonomy in that era. Dashkevich has also presented Armenian printing in the 17^th century,” Deputy Director of the SNCO for Scientific Works, Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor Ashot Piliposyan said in his opening remarks.

Ukraine’s Consul Vladimir Pikhulya, who was attending the presentation, praised the centuries-old Armenian-Ukrainian friendship and said the book serves as a major work that presents Armenian culture, traditions and language.

Dashkevich’s book was released through the efforts of the Armenian community of Odessa, namely the Foundation for Cultural Heritage of Odessa. According to President of the Foundation Armen Petoyan, the author of the book devoted fifty years of his life to the Armenians and established an academic school where scholars continue to examine the history of the Armenians of Ukraine spanning a millennium.

Director of the National Archives of Armenia Amatuni Virabyan and Director of the National Library of Armenia Tigran Zargaryan also praised the scholar. According to them, Yaroslav Dashkevich is a genuine friend of the Armenian people who has examined the lives of the Armenians in  Iceland and Poland as well.