On 23 May, as part of the “Community Days in Armenia” Program of the RA Ministry of Diaspora, events dedicated to the Iranian-Armenian community were held by the Diocesan Council of the Armenian Diocese of Isfahan and the Mesrop Mashtots Matenadaran of Yerevan with the title “Days of New Julfa”.

Presentation of books “Armenian Community of Iran: Current Issues” and “Karin State in the Mid-19^th Century”

Vahan Bayburdyan’s book “Armenian Community of Iran: Current Issues” (Institute of Oriental Studies of the NAS RA) and Hovhannes Zatikyan’s book “Karin State in the Mid-19^th Century”  (“Noravank” SEF) were presented at the RA Ministry of Diaspora. The books were published by the order of the RA Ministry of Diaspora.

The event began with a welcome speech by RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan. “It should be mentioned that the book “Armenian Community of Iran: Current Issues” was written by Armenia’s first Ambassador to Iran Vahan Bayburdyan, meaning that the author has examined the issue as a diplomat and as a scientist. The book examines the current issues facing the Armenian community of Iran, which is one of the oldest Armenian communities, as well as the secular and mundane structures of the Armenian community, the preservation of the Armenian identity, Armenians’ integration into Iranian society, the potential of the community, the relations between the community and Armenia and the perspectives of the community. In the future, the Ministry of Diaspora will definitely take into consideration all the suggestions made by Bayburdyan in this encyclopedic study.

Expert of the Cultural Center of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Armenia Hasan Sabetju assured that “the Iranian-Armenian community is an important particle of Iran, and the organizing of the Days of New Julfa in Armenia is the guarantee of the close friendship between the Armenians and the Iranians. I’m pleased with the fact that the author is a person who is devoted to the Iranian-Armenian community and has provided his services to the community for many years.”

Expressing gratitude to the RA Ministry of Diaspora for ordering this study and sponsoring publication, author Vahan Bayburdyan mentioned: “I wrote this book with great inspiration. It’s not only about what I think, but was also written with love.”

Presenting the book “Karin State in the Mid-19^th Century”, RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan mentioned that it is an extensive book that reflects on the socio-economic and political state of Karin in the mid-19^th century, as well as the history and demography of the provinces in the state. The book is especially important with the demographic tables, as well as the toponemes and ethnography.

Expressing gratitude to Hovhannes Zatikyan for writing a fundamental book about the State of Karin at the right time, the minister mentioned: “We are approaching the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide, and the Armenian government and Diaspora Armenian communities are making large-scale efforts for Turkey’s recognition of the Armenian Genocide and for claims. On that path, the truths about the Armenian communities, particularly the Armenian territories of Turkey and the Armenians living in those territories are being revealed, and these efforts affirm our claims.”

Author Hovhannes Zatikyan expressed gratitude to the ministry for trusting him to write the book and mentioned that he will be pleased to study the history of the remaining states to specify how much the Armenians have lost.

Among the speakers at the event were Director of the Institute of Oriental Studies at the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia Ruben Safrastyan, Director of the Academic Library at the Armenian State Pedagogical University Tigran Petrosyants and Director of the Armenian Studies Center of “Noravank” Scientific and Educational Foundation Arestakes Simavoryan.

 Opening of exhibition of the Bible and other manuscripts of New Julfa

The opening ceremony of the exhibition showcasing the Bible and other manuscripts of New Julfa was held at the Matenadaran in Yerevan. Among the participants were RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan; Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Armenia, H.e. Mohammad Reyisi; Prelate of the Armenian Diocese of Isfahan, Father, Bishop Babken Charian; President of the Diocesan Council of the Armenian Diocese of Isfahan Noel Minassian; Prelate of the Armenian Diocese of Tehran, Archbishop Sepuh Sarkisian and others.

Greeting the participants, the RA Minister of Diaspora mentioned: “Today, I take pride in participating in the exhibition showcasing the Bible and other manuscripts of New Julfa. The Armenian community of New Julfa was established in 1604-06 when the Armenians of Julfa of Nakhichevan were deported via Shah Abas and were moved to then capital Isfahan. Since then, the gifted and diligent Armenians of Julfa have created a tremendous spiritual and cultural heritage that has been preserved with the support of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The Iranian-Armenian community enjoys the trust and respect of the Iranian government and stays true to the Armenians’ spiritual and cultural traditions.”

The RA Minister of Diaspora expressed gratitude to the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Armenia and wished the two countries closer collaboration, to which the Iranian-Armenian community makes its unforgettable contributions.

Expressing gratitude to the RA Ministry of Diaspora for inviting him to the event, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Armenia, H. E. Mohammad Reyisi mentioned: “The Armenians of Isfahan are smart, diligent and have strong will. Thus, they have always enjoyed the trust of the Iranian people and government.”

Prelate of the Armenian Diocese of Isfahan, Father, Bishop Babken Charian attached importance to the fact that the Days of New Julfa were being marked on the 350^th anniversary of the Holy Savior Monastery and the Saint Hovsep Arematatsi Church and that the Armenian manuscripts of New Julfa were being showcased at the Institute of Ancient Manuscripts (Matenadaran).

“All these manuscripts are the wealth and pride of our nation. The breath of our nation is in the Bibles of the centuries-old New Julfa,” the Prelate of the Armenian Diocese of Isfahan added.

Chief depositor of the Matenadaran Gevorg Ter-Vardanyan also praised the exhibition of the manuscripts of New Julfa.

 International conference on “The role of the Holy Savior Church in the life of the Iranian-Armenian community”

The international conference on “The role of the Holy Savior Church in the life of the Iranian-Armenian community” was held at the Matenadaran. During the conference, RA Minister of Diaspora gave special thanks to the leaders of the Iranian-Armenian community and said: “The Holy Savior Monastery is considered the main center for spiritual, national, cultural and social activities of the Iranian-Armenian community. The monastery directed through the Armenian Diocese of Isfahan has been registered in the list of Iran’s national monuments since 1932, for which I express infinite gratitude to the Iranian government,” the RA Minister of Diaspora mentioned.

The minister stressed the fact that the Days of New Julfa show once again that Armenia and Iran have been linked for centuries and that they still have a long way to go with mutual respect and appreciation.

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Armenia Mohammad Reyisi mentioned that the monuments created by the Armenians of Isfahan are so attractive that they draw the attention of all tourists visiting Iran.

Among the speakers at the event were Director of the Center for Historical Churches of Iran (IRI), architect Sherly Avetian; expert on Iranian culture, large collector of manuscripts Avo Hovhannisyan; fresco restorer Ani Babaian (USA) and senior scientific worker of the Mesrop Mashtots Institute of Ancient Manuscripts and the Institute of Oriental Studies at the NAS RA, candidate of historical sciences Kristine Kostikyan.