A series of cultural events wrapping up the “Days of New Julfa” Program was held on May 24. The “Days of New Julfa” Program was carried out by the RA Ministry of Diaspora, the Diocesan Council of the Armenian Diocese of Isfahan and the Mesrop Mashtots Institute of Ancient Manuscripts of Yerevan.

RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan greeted the participants of the ceremony dedicated to the 350^th anniversary of the foundation of the Surp Hovsep Arematatsi Church of the Holy Savior Monastery of New Julfa and said: “The histories of the Armenian Church and the Armenian people are so connected that it would be impossible to present the two separately. For 400 years, the Armenians of New Julfa have built the Holy Savior Church and have preserved their community. Words can’t describe the enigma of culture, which has helped preserve the language and history of the Armenian people and the symbol of our survival and transmit it to the generations. Today, the Islamic Republic of Iran, which is Armenia’s neighboring country, has created all the conditions for the Armenians to preserve their culture. I would like to express my deep gratitude to the Iranian government, Iran’s honorable Ambassador to Armenia for creating the atmosphere for Armenians to feel Armenian in Iran and Julfa.”

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Armenia, H. E. Mohammad Reyisi greeted the gathered and added: “The events held these past three days go to show our nations’ cultural commonalities. New Julfa plays an important role in Iran’s society, politics, economy and culture. All tourists visiting Iran definitely visit the Holy Savior Church in New Julfa, which is truly considered the main spiritual, national, cultural and social center of the Armenian community of Iran.”

Among the other speakers were Prelate of the Armenian Diocese of Isfahan, Bishop Babken Charian; ARF-D member Hrant Margaryan from Julfa and President of the Diocesan Council of the Armenian Diocese of Isfahan Noel Minassian.

The event included the screening of Ruben Gevorgyants’s film “New Julfa: To Exist”, which is devoted to the Armenian community of New Julfa and the history of the Holy Savior Church.

The screening was followed by performances of the works of Komitas, Alexander Harutyunyan, Robert Petrosyan and Ashot Ghazaryan by Isfahan’s Komitas Choir conducted by Armen Amirkhanyan, as well as solos by Anna Mayilyan and Gor Amirkhanyan.

Besides the event, an exhibition entitled “Armenian Community of New Julfa at the Crossroads of the Past and Present” was opened in the vestibule of Arno Babajanyan Concert Hall.

The exhibition showcased the costumes, wedding clothes, slippers, belts and hats made in New Julfa. There were also woven tablecloths, embroidered blankets, handkerchiefs, collars, golden hoods used in churches, books devoted to New Julfa, newspapers and magazines, as well as other archival materials. The signs presented the biographies and photos of famous Armenians of New Julfa and the spiritual fathers of the Holy Savior Church.