Gohar Mkhitaryan, Kristine Kostikyan - The Christians of Shakī and Shīrvān In the 18th – the Beginning of the 19th Centuries
17 Pages | 45-62 | DOI: 10.54503/1829-4073-2024.2.45-62 | Language:
EnglishRevceived on: 2023-07-14 | Reviewed on: 2023-07-21 | Accepted for printing on: 2024-08-30
Published in: 2024 N 2 (35) / History
The article is the continuation of the research published in the Bulletin of Oriental Studies, II, 20232 and starts from the period following the fall of the rule of the Safavid power over the region. It considers the state of the Christians of Eastern Transcaucasia in the given period, and the main causes leading to their intensified conversion to Islam. The main focus is on the economic incentives of their Islamization and particularly the poll-tax levied on the Christians in Shaki khanate from the times of Haji Chelebi Khan till the mid-nineteenth century already under the Russian Rule. The published and unpublished archive documents of the period show that the poll-tax named ‘abrishum-i din’ (in Persian), ‘din ipaki’ or ‘ipak dini’ (in Turkish) levied from the Christians of Shaki khanate was rather a heavy tax and in some cases was a reason for their conversion to Islam. The Persian document represented in the article with its English translation and commentaries contains a forcible argument for this.
Keywordshristianity Islam Christians Armenians Udins conversion poll-tax-jizya
Knar Harutyunyan, Tatevik Manukyan - Armenian manuscript-related articles in the pages of the “Bazmavep” in the 19th century
17 Pages | 63-80 | DOI: 10.54503/1829-4073-2024.2.63-80 | Language: EnglishRevceived on: 2024-04-12 | Reviewed on: 2024-04-25 | Accepted for printing on: 2024-08-30
Published in: 2024 N 2 (35) / History
In the 19th century, publication of the descriptions and studies of Armenian manuscripts began through the manuscript catalogues and the publication of articles in Armenian periodicals. The lengthiest Armenian periodical the “Bazmavep” (Venice, since 1843) also dedicated considerable space to the presentation of Armenian manuscripts.The early articles of the 19th century by authors Garegin Zarbhanalyan and Ghevond Alishan signify the role of Armenian manuscripts in Armenian culture and history, speak about the significance of their preservation and presentation in the journals. Later articles by Barsegh Sargisyan present the select manuscripts from the Mekhitarist Congregation. In the 19th century the “Bazmavep” served as a primary vehicle for the popularization of the Mekhitarist Congregation’s manuscripts. Additionally, the “Bazmavep” not only facilitated the circulation of scholarly information about the manuscripts of the Mekhitarist Congregation but also presented manuscripts from the Royal Library of Berlin. The “Bazmavep” played a significant role in the dissemination of scholarly discourse by directly responding to articles from other Armenological journals or simply reprinting information about Armenian manuscripts published elsewhere.For contemporary scholars, these articles serve the enrichment of understanding the dissemination of scholarly discourse on the Armenian manuscripts in the 19th century. Furthermore, they offer valuable information about the locations of manuscripts at specific times, and shed light on incomplete or unreleased initiatives related to manuscripts.
KeywordsBazmavep Armenian manuscripts Armenian periodicals descriptions of manuscripts Ghevond Alishan analysis of articles the Mekhitarist Congregation
Gevorg Stepanyan - Rejection of Azerbaijan
13 Pages | 5-18 | DOI: 10.54503/1829-4073-2024.1.5-18 | Language: EnglishPublished in: 2024 N 1 (34) / History
Andranik Ugujyan, Karen Tokhatyan - Classification and Recognition of Petroglyphs Using “Artificial Intelligence”
9 Pages | 38-47 | DOI: 10.54503/1829-4073-2024.3.38-47 | Language: EnglishRevceived on: 2024-10-15 | Reviewed on: 2024-11-08 | Accepted for printing on: 2024-12-15
Published in: 2024 N 3 (36) / History
The reliability of historical and cultural primary sources, and hence the scientific value, depends on the degree of study. In the case of a huge number and variety of petroglyphs and related cultural artifacts, it is necessary to conduct a complex, multifaceted classification which will facilitate the extraction of functions, semantic and spatio-temporal aspects of the petroglyphs. Modern Machine Learning (ML) technologies are also applicable in Petroglyphology. Their contribution is promising in the problems of image recognition and classification.ML is a subset of artificial intelligence that automatically enables a machine (neural network) or system to learn and improve from experience. Instead of explicit programming, it uses algorithms to make decisions based on the analysis of large amounts of data. When exposed to more data, the model’s performance improves, ultimately enhancing its accuracy and reliability.Using a Supervised Learning approach, one of the main types of ML, the model is trained on a set of labeled images provided by the researcher. Supervised Learning involves pairing each petroglyph with its content, allowing the trained model to accurately predict the content of new, previously unseen images. Unsupervised Learning can also be applied when the model is trained on data that have not been labeled by the researcher.This will contribute to solving a number of fundamental problems of the Rock-art of Armenia because it is distinguished to a certain extent by its antiquity, multi-genre content and, especially, applied significance. Machine Learning methods developed for petroglyphs can be applied to other spheres of cultural studies improving image recognition, analysis, and data classification.
KeywordsArmenia archaeology database artificial intelligence classification Machine Learning petroglyph Rock-art
Armen Marukyan - Comparative Analysis of the Causes and Prerequisites of the Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman Empire and the Yazidi Genocide in the Sinjar Province of Iraq
15 Pages | 22-37 | DOI: 10.54503/1829-4073-2024.3.22-37 | Language:
РусскийRevceived on: 2024-09-02 | Reviewed on: 2024-09-12 | Accepted for printing on: 2024-12-15
Published in: 2024 N 3 (36) / History
Based on the comparative analysis of the causes and prerequisites of the Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman Empire and the Yazidi Genocide in Sinjar, it can be concluded that the two identical crimes have much in common. Both the Armenian Genocide and the Yazidi Genocide were based on racist ideologies. If the Armenian Genocide was based on the ideology of pan-Turkism, then in the case of the Yazidi Genocide it was based on the ideology of Arabism and radical Islam. In both cases, the organizers of the genocides pursued the goal of depriving the indigenous peoples of the right to live in their homeland and taking over their territories, which became one of the main motives for committing these crimes.
Along with common features, there are also certain differences. The Armenian Genocide and the Yazidi Genocide were committed in different eras and in different regions, which undoubtedly influenced the causes and preconditions of these identical crimes. The main difference in the causes and prerequisites of the two crimes is that while the Armenian Genocide was planned and prepared by the legitimate authorities of the Ottoman Empire on the eve of the First World War, the beginning of which became the signal for the implementation of this crime, the genocide of the Yazidis in Sinjar was prepared and carried out by the terrorist group ISIS, which took control of certain territories of Iraq, with the complicity of the authorities of the Kurdish autonomy, under the conditions of criminal inaction of the legitimate authorities.
Keywordsthe Armenian Genocide Ottoman Empire Pan-Turkism Yazidi Genocide Sinjar Province of Iraq (Shingal) ideology of Arabism radical Islam
Ani Fishenkjian (Fchnkjian) , Karen Mkrtchyan , Seda Ohanian - Participation of Armenian Traders in the Development of the Middle East Economy During XVII-XIX Centuries
21 Pages | 48-69 | DOI: 10.54503/1829-4073-2024.3.48-69 | Language: EnglishRevceived on: 2024-07-27 | Reviewed on: 2024-08-14 | Accepted for printing on: 2024-12-15
Published in: 2024 N 3 (36) / History
The present article analyzes the participation of Armenian merchants in the development of the economy as an exceptional social reality in the region. This can also be considered as an expression of peaceful coexistence between Armenian and the local Christian and Islamic religious communities. Thus, from a chronological point of view, the study presents the XVII–XIX centuries when there was a conflict of interests between the great powers in the Middle East. However, even in those difficult times, the Armenian traders were able to expand their activities, connecting the East and the West, thus becoming a bridge between the local Middle East and the European societies. This explains the rise in the social structure of the Syrian, Iranian and Iraqi Armenian communities, bringing the traders’ progressive contribution to the development of these societies. Therefore, it can be said with certainty that being successful in trade contributes to the preservation of the national characteristics and image of their communities.
This study was carried out by three researchers of the Armenian Communities and Diaspora Department of the Institute of History of NAS RA, based on some monographs, professional encyclopedias, periodical press articles and some other well-known experts’ studies in this field.
KeywordsArmenian traders Iraq Iran Aleppo economic history Basra Baghdad Old Julfa New Julfa caravan routes Levant Persian Gulf
Gegham Hovhannisyan -
12 Pages | 70-82 | DOI: 10.54503/1829-4073-2024.3.70-83 | Language: EnglishRevceived on: 2024-10-15 | Reviewed on: 2024-11-01 | Accepted for printing on: 2024-12-15
Published in: 2024 N 3 (36) / History
In April 1910, in Constantinople, Misak Suryan, a member of the Reorganised Hunchak Party, founded the weekly newspaper “Aravot” (Morning). From its inception, the newspaper adopted a staunchly oppositional stance, which led to its prohibition by the Young Turk government after only a few issues had been published. The publication of “Aravot” resumed in April 1919, serving as the unofficial mouthpiece of the Reorganised Hunchak Party. Between March and October 1921, it functioned as the Constantinople organ of the party. The newspaper addressed a range of issues, with particular emphasis on the First Republic of Armenia, the Armenian Question at the Paris Peace Conference, the activities of the Armenian delegation, Russo-Armenian and Armenian-Entente relations, as well as the improvement of internal Armenian national affairs.
After the Sovietisation of Armenia, “Aravot” maintained its national-liberal orientation. While rejecting Bolshevik ideology, it nonetheless advocated for the defence of the Armenian State and conducted a broad campaign in support of Soviet Armenia.
Following the establishment of the Republic of Turkey, the periodical found itself unable to continue on its ideological path and ceased publication in 1924.
Keywords“Aravot” newspaper national-liberal ideology Armenian statehood Republic of Armenia Russia United and Independent Armenia Paris Peace Conference
Armen Karapetyan - Coverage of the Armenian Reform Issue in the Pages of “Horizon”
14 Pages | 84-98 | DOI: 10.54503/1829-4073-2024.3.84-98 | Language: EnglishRevceived on: 2024-11-10 | Reviewed on: 2024-11-20 | Accepted for printing on: 2024-12-15
Published in: 2024 N 3 (36) / History
At the beginning of the 20th century, the Armenian Question regained a strong urgency. This was caused by the Balkan crisis and the formation of a new international situation on the one hand, and by the further deterioration of the socio-economic situation of Western Armenians under Ottoman rule on the other. The Young Turks continued Sultan Hamid’s policy of the extermination of Armenians. In the autumn of 1912, European powers, primarily Russia, initiated negotiations with the Turkish authorities on the fundamental issue of implementing necessary reforms in the Western Armenian provinces. At the same time, the regions under the Turkish control further intensified the persecution of Armenians, aiming to depopulate the indigenous Armenian territories.
All of this, in essence and depth, was reflected and illuminated in the pages of “Horizon”, an influential Armenian periodical published in Tiflis (Tbilisi) during 1912-1914. The material presented in "Horizon" is a truthful reflection of this complex and dramatic period of our history and serves as a true lesson and message for present and future generations.
KeywordsArmenian reforms Turkish authorities great powers political forces international diplomacy public opinion autonomy
Silvart Malkhasyan - The Patriotic Associations and Their Activity after the Agreement of Mudros
12 Pages | 99-111 | DOI: 10.54503/1829-4073-2024.3.99-111 | Language: EnglishRevceived on: 2024-08-09 | Reviewed on: 2024-08-15 | Accepted for printing on: 2024-12-15
Published in: 2024 N 3 (36) / History
After the Armistice of Mudros was signed between the Ottoman State and the Allied Powers on October 30, 1918, Constantinople was filled with Armenian orphans, widows, and deportees. The Armenian community established or revived various aid associations and institutions to heal their wounds.
Such were the patriotic associations whose success would be helped by all community classes. The mentioned associations had branches both in the province and abroad. They would morally and materially support their compatriots and work to restore their province by repairing buildings. Patriotic associations continued their activity until 1922. When, due to new political conditions, Armenians began to migrate from Constantinople, the patriotic associations’ activity ended.
KeywordsPatriotic Associations of Constantinople Central Body of Patriotic Associations Branches of patriotic associations Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople Armenian Community of Constantinople Armistice of Mudros Outcast
Aida Haroutiounian - Sculptural Presence: Hakob Gurdjian’s Portrait Busts
12 Pages | 137-149 | DOI: 10.54503/1829-4073-2024.3.137-149 | Language: EnglishRevceived on: 2024-10-01 | Reviewed on: 2024-10-12 | Accepted for printing on: 2024-12-15
Published in: 2024 N 3 (36) / Art
The present article intends to “read” and analyze the sculptural formulations of the period when Hakob Gurdjian, a foreigner who had just conquered the shores of France, had been greatly touched by the French artistic thought, gradually becoming part of the context of French art. Appearing in exhibitions that covered a wide range of important and public influences, Gurdjian also made his theoretical contribution to the understanding of the French sculptural atmosphere. The presented French-language manuscript, titled “My Reflections on the Sculpture” authored by Hakob Gurdjian, was of great importance, as it revealed from what point of view and with what kind of inclusion he saw the sculpture and how he perceived the material, the form, and its embodiment.
KeywordsHakob Gurdjian Shushi French-Armenian Art Armenian Sculpture Portrait Busts Art Theory Foreign
Myasnik Yesoyan - From the History of the Egyptian Armenian Press
10 Pages | 100-110 | DOI: 10.54503/1829-4073-2024.2.100-110 | Language: EnglishRevceived on: 2024-07-15 | Reviewed on: 2024-07-31 | Accepted for printing on: 2024-08-30
Published in: 2024 N 2 (35) / History
The administrative, economic, educational and military reforms carried out by the Leader of Egypt Muhammad Ali made Egypt a strong and stable state, laying a solid foundation for its development. The impact of the reforms carried out by Muhammad Ali was positive on the Egyptian-Armenian community as well. Egyptian Armenians actively participated in the development of the economic and cultural life of Egypt. Since the end of the 19th century, the Armenian cultural life in Egypt has become more active, the number of schools has increased, new cultural and educational unions and organizations have appeared, and new periodicals have been published.
Keywordsmorality Egyptian-Armenian community the “Partez” Sasun Kurds Hayduk Ottoman government
Anahit Astoyan - The Expropriation of Constantinople Armenians’ Property in 1908–1924
23 Pages | 111-134 | DOI: 10.54503/1829-4073-2024.2.111-134 | Language: EnglishRevceived on: 2024-05-07 | Reviewed on: 2024-05-12 | Accepted for printing on: 2024-08-30
Published in: 2024 N 2 (35) / History
Armenians and Greeks were in a dominant position and Turkish businessmen were in a less than enviable position. When the Young Turks came to power in 1908, they began to implement their plan to destroy the country's economy at the expense of Christian property. If by 1915 the Young Turks were aiming to prevent the seizure of the Armenian national properties of Constantinople, then during the First World War they began to conduct an open policy of their dispossession. The deportation, exile and murder of more than 34,000 Constantinople Armenians made their property dispossessed and facilitated their confiscation and appropriation. In 1922, following the massacre of Armenians and Greeks in Smyrna and the city's subsequent fire in September, the Kemalists sought to replicate these events in Constantinople. Despite the efforts of the allied military forces to prevent the deportation and massacre of Christians, the Ankara government remained unwavering in its stance. In its decision to deport the Christians of Constantinople, the government created a situation in the city that was so dire that it compelled the Armenians and Greeks to flee voluntarily. Following their escape, the implementation of the laws and directives passed by the Kemalist authorities enabled the government to fully seize the property left behind by the Armenians of Constantinople.
KeywordsConstantinople Armenians ethnic property arrests dislocation exile economy Turkification
Mariam Hovsepyan - “Chakatamart” in Soviet Armenia on the Problems of Immigrants (1920–1924)
14 Pages | 135-149 | DOI: 10.54503/1829-4073-2024.2.135-149 | Language:
ՀայերենRevceived on: 2024-01-20 | Reviewed on: 2024-01-20 | Accepted for printing on: 2024-08-30
Published in: 2024 N 2 (35) / History
Chakatamart” was a daily newspaper published in Constantinople from 1918 to 1924. It succeeded the “Azatamart” daily newspaper, the official organ of the ARF Western Bureau, published in Constantinople from 1909–1915. The periodical addressed the situation and problems of Western Armenian immigrants until its final edition. It also discussed the challenges faced by exiles who sought refuge in Soviet Armenia, their efforts to adapt to the new political system, and the repressions they faced due to their faith and political views.
Materials about immigrants were included in the “Haykakan Kyanq”, “Hayastan”, and “Lurer Hayastanen” sections. From 1923 to 1924, "Chakatamart" mainly published articles and news on these topics from Soviet-Armenian periodicals, as it did not have its correspondents in Soviet Armenia. In addition, it printed letters and complaints sent to the editorial office from Soviet Armenia without mentioning the sources of the information.
Summarizing our study, we can state that particularly in 1920–1923, in its articles as well as editorials, “Chakatamart” emphasized that Armenia was Sovietized by force, and the people, including Western Armenian immigrants, were mostly against the abolition of the First Republic of Armenia, and the Bolsheviks becoming the ruling power. Regarding the emigration of Western Armenian exiles from Soviet Armenia, the newspaper attributed this phenomenon primarily to their poor socio-economic status and the political persecutions initiated against them by state bodies.
In 1923, after the Lausanne Conference, the editorial staff of “Chakatamart” wrote that the Armenian question seemed to have reached a dead end, and Soviet Armenia was viewed as a manifestation of statehood uniting all Armenians (albeit not completely). The structures of the Armenian diaspora should try to be useful to Soviet Armenia, and the newspaper called for cooperation with the Soviet authorities.
In its final year of publication, “Chakatamart” presented the daily life of emigrants in Soviet Armenia, and the work carried out for them through the relevant government agencies, as well as the success and achievements of Armenian emigrants.
Keywords“Chakatamart” daily newspaper the Armenian Question Western Armenia Soviet Armenia Treaty of Sevres Treaty of Lausanne Armenian immigrants
Naïri Galstanian - The Armenian Paradox of Sergei Parajanov
13 Pages | 191-204 | DOI: 10.54503/1829-4073-2024.2.191-204 | Language: EnglishRevceived on: 2024-06-01 | Reviewed on: 2024-06-07 | Accepted for printing on: 2024-08-30
Published in: 2024 N 2 (35) / Art
Sergei Parajanov once said that he was born not on January 9, 1924, as is generally accepted, but rather in November 1923. He said that his father, overjoyed to have finally had a son, spent several weeks partying and drinking before deciding to go and record the birth of his son at the civil registry office. Consequently, according to this true or invented story, Parajanov’s centenary coincides with the centenary of Armenian cinema, which was celebrated in Yerevan in November 2023, and to which this article was written.
In the Western world, presenting Parajanov as an “Armenian filmmaker” is not always self-evident, since he is rather characterized as of Armenian “origin”, or Armenian “decent”, and even sometimes as a “Georgian”, “Russian”, or “Soviet” artist.
Parajanov’s work can be comprehended within a global Paradox, which consists in freely and unexpectedly crossing the conventional borders and limits, including semantic definitions. This principle theoretically and visually focuses on Parajanov’s masterpiece The Color of Pomegranates, which is arguably the best film of the Armenfilm studio. It was also described by some critics as a “non-film”, since it disrupts the very essence of cinema: the movement. Thus, the terms “Armenian” and “filmmaker” are simultaneously exact and problematic. Hence, Parajanov’s paradox can be defined as his unique ability to stand on both sides of the borders (or the definitions) at the same time.
The article investigates this fundamental paradox regarding Sergei Parajanov’s Armenian identity.
KeywordsParajanov cinema Armenian filmmaker paradox idiot Godard Pasolini
Armen Marukyan - Comparative Study on Consequences and Degree of Conviction of the Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman Empire and the Yezidi Genocide in Iraq
20 Pages | 21-41 | DOI: 10.54503/1829-4073-2025.1.21-41 | Language: EnglishRevceived on: 2025-03-13 | Reviewed on: 2025-03-28 | Accepted for printing on: 2025-04-30
Published in: 2025 N 1 (37) / History
Studying the consequences of various examples of genocide is important not only in terms of identifying the degree of their severity for the victim groups, but also in terms of clarifying the attitude of the international community towards these crimes at the time they were committed. It is important to understand what the position of the great powers was towards these crimes, whether it was expressed through simple condemnation, or certain measures were taken to stop the mass extermination of representatives of ethnic, racial, religious and national groups. From this point of view, in the context of comparing the consequences of the Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman Empire and the Yezidi Genocide in the region Sinjar of Iraq, the object of the given study is the reaction and degree of intervention of the international community, and influential actors in world politics, with the aim of stopping the further extermination of representatives of the victim groups of these crimes. To achieve the stated goals and objectives, the study combines historicalcomparative and analytical methods, uses a wide range of primary and secondary sources, as well as interdisciplinary research by specialists.
KeywordsArmenian Genocide Ottoman Empire Yezidi Genocide region Sinjar of Iraq international intervention consequences of crimes conviction rates
Artsvi Bakhchinyan - Armenian Reminiscences in the Book “Travels And Adventures of the Rev. Joseph Wolff”
16 Pages | 42-58 | DOI: 10.54503/1829-4073-2025.1.42-58 | Language: EnglishRevceived on: 2025-02-21 | Reviewed on: 2025-03-21 | Accepted for printing on: 2025-04-30
Published in: 2025 N 1 (37) / History
The present article concerns the final work of the British missionary of German-Jewish origin, Joseph Wolff (1795–1862), Travels and Adventures of the Rev. Joseph Wolff (1860–1861). As an autobiographical memoir and the culmination of his journeys from 1821 to 1845, it contains rich testimonies about the Armenians, both in their historical homeland and in various regions and countries, including the Ottoman Empire, Persia, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, and India. Wolff provided accounts of both ordinary Armenian inhabitants and prominent figures of the time. Possessing profound knowledge of Armenian history and culture, he often included historical digressions covering both distant and more recent epochs. Thus, his final travelogue-autobiography serves as a valuable source for studying the history, demography, and daily life of Armenians in the first half of the 19th century.
KeywordsJoseph Wolff travelogue missionary Armenians of Middle East Jerusalem Syria Persia
Marine Harutyunyan - The Reflection of the Educational Life of Artsakh on the Pages of “Mshak” Newspaper (the Beginning of the 20th Century)
19 Pages | 59-78 | DOI: 10.54503/1829-4073-2025.1.59-78 | Language: EnglishRevceived on: 2025-02-24 | Reviewed on: 2025-02-25 | Accepted for printing on: 2025-04-30
Published in: 2025 N 1 (37) / History
The role and significance of the national school is emphasized in the system of studying the centuries-old history of Armenian culture. The role of education is especially significant in the preservation of national values and traditions. The article presents a number of issues related to the educational life of Artsakh (at the beginning of the 20th century), one of the regions of Eastern Armenia based on materials published in the “Mshak” newspaper. We have briefly touched upon the policy of Tsarism in the Caucasus, the process of closing and reopening Armenian schools in the Artsakh Diocese. The educational problems of a number of settlements of the Artsakh Diocese are studied in relation with school programs, student and teacher complaints and the activities of the overseers. The activities of the Diocesan School of Artsakh, the Realakan College of Shushi, the Marinsky Girls’ School as well as one and two-grade schools of the villages of Tsmakahogh, Hadrut, Maghavuz, Taghavard, Haterk, Voskanapat and Banants are presented in separate subsections according to the information obtained from different issues of the “Mshak” newspaper. The circumstances hindering the development of educational life of Artsakh (related to the law on the confiscation of church property of June 12, 1903, the Armenian- Tatar Clashes of 1905–1907) as well as the activities of individual teachers are briefly highlighted. The charitable works of individual benefactors are appreciated, according to materials from the “Mshak” newspaper.
Keywordsculture parish school Diocesan School Real School Caucasus Getashen Gandzasar Eastern Armenia Artsakh gymnasium
Gagik Zhamharyan, Hamo Sukiasyan - Reflection of Soviet Everyday Life During the Perestroika Period in the Magazine “Woman Worker of Armenia”
14 Pages | 107-121 | DOI: 10.54503/1829-4073-2025.1.107-121 | Language: EnglishRevceived on: 2025-04-21 | Reviewed on: 2025-04-25 | Accepted for printing on: 2025-04-30
Published in: 2025 N 1 (37) / History
The magazine “Woman Worker of Armenia”, published in Yerevan from 1924 to 1998, holds exceptional value as a source for studying the history of everyday life during the Perestroika period in Soviet Armenia (1985–1991). Despite the inherent limitations of the Soviet press, which this periodical could not entirely escape, its propagandistic content remains relatively low. The magazine actively collaborated with a broad cross-section of society. Its large readership and their active participation through letters, complaints, and advice on various everyday issues transformed the periodical into a unique document reflecting the lifestyle of Armenian society. It provides an unparalleled representation of public opinion and sentiments on matters of vital significance to Armenian society. The periodical addressed issues related to the interplay of society, family, and individual, women’s lives, medical and domestic concerns, and celebrated women who made significant contributions to the republic’s development.
KeywordsSoviet Armenia Perestroika “Woman Worker of Armenia” Soviet society everyday life family magazine.
Henrik Bakhchinyan - Metaphor in Early Medieval Armenian Poetry
20 Pages | 122-142 | DOI: 10.54503/1829-4073-2025.1.122-142 | Language: EnglishRevceived on: 2025-04-05 | Reviewed on: 2025-04-15 | Accepted for printing on: 2025-04-30
Published in: 2025 N 1 (37) / Philology
The present article is devoted to the use of metaphors in the works of Armenian hymnographers from the 5th to the 8th centuries (Mesrop Mashtots, Sahak Partev, Movses Khorenatsi, Hovhan Mandakuni, Stepannos Syunetsi (I), Komitas Aghtsetsi, Sahak Dzoroporetsi, Hovhan Odznetsi, Barsegh Tchon, Sahakdukht). When describing and praising the Persons of the Holy Trinity, the Mother of God, Christian sacred symbols, and saints, the earliest Armenian hymnographers sought to make their language more vivid and impactful. To achieve this, they primarily employed metaphor, the fundamental form of allegory. The spiritual metaphors used in hymns were largely drawn from Biblical texts and their interpretations, gradually evolving and giving rise to original metaphors as well. This article explores the metaphors employed in 5th–8th century Armenian spiritual poetry to depict the Persons of the Holy Trinity, the Virgin Mary, and John the Baptist, including the following: Light, Source, Ray, Sun, Love, Lover of mankind, Life, Life-Giving Fruit, Fountain of Immortality, Treasure of Life, Bread of Life, Path, King, Staff, Judge, Physician, Shepherd, Captain, Bridegroom, Church, Vine, Rock, Dove, Heavenly Dew, Bright Heaven, Luminous Cloud, Burning Bush, etc. All these metaphors later served as a solid foundation for Grigor Narekatsi’s spiritual symbolism.
KeywordsArmenian literature medieval spiritual poetry metaphor Bible Christ Mesrop Mashtots Movses Khorenatsi.
Anna Asatryan - Arshak Chopanian and the “Anahit” Journal in the Origins of Komitas Studies
17 Pages | 156-173 | DOI: 10.54503/1829-4073-2025.1.156-173 | Language: EnglishRevceived on: 2025-03-15 | Reviewed on: 2025-03-20 | Accepted for printing on: 2025-04-30
Published in: 2025 N 1 (37) / Art
The Armenian writer, critic, linguist, journalist and public figure Arshak Chopanian’s (1872–1954) role in the creative life of Komitas is exceptional, and significant is his contribution to the formation of Komitas studies. Komitas and A. Chopanian‘s acquaintance took place in Paris in July 1901 and lasted through Komitas’ death. A. Chopanian did not only highly appreciate Komitas’s talent and the work he did, but also attached importance to creating favorable conditions for his activity and took a lot of practical steps to that end. In Anahit, the literary, artistic and public magazine founded by him in Paris in 1898, as well as in other periodicals of the time, such as Byuzandion (Constantinople), Hayastani kochnak [Armenia’s Bell] (New York), etc., A. Chopanian placed articles, in which he commended Komitas’ activity, thereby making his works known to broader public. On the pages of Anahit, A. Chopanian, on the one hand, presented the full-fledged panorama of Komitas’ concert activities that unfolded in Paris and Geneva, published materials assessing Komitas’ oeuvre, authored by various musicians, as well as memoirs, and, on the other, Komitas’ own studies in musicology and a piece of his literary legacy – his autobiography. A. Chopanian’s Komitassiana had had also applied significance. Several important issues raised by A. Chopanian – in particular, the issue of burying Komitas in Armenia, and that of publishing his musical legacy – were brought to life in the near future.
KeywordsArshak Chopanian Komitas Armenian music Anahit magazine Paris the year of 1901 the year of 1935
Rouben Galichian - The Past and Present Languages of the People of Azerbaijan
6 Pages | 5-11 | DOI: 10.54503/1829-4073-2025.2.5-11 | Language: EnglishRevceived on: 2025-05-22 | Reviewed on: 2025-07-25 | Accepted for printing on: 2025-08-29
Published in: 2025 N 2 (38) / History
The historians and academics of the Republic of Azerbaijan, preach and propagate that since the language spoken in the Iranian Province of Azerbaijan is the same as that spoken by the population of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the two are the same race and of the same background, therefore, they are the same people who presently live in two separate countries. Based on this baseless assumption, they propagate all sorts of misinformation aimed at the Iranian side, to separate from Iran and join their historical brothers and sisters in the Republic of Azerbaijan. The article suggests that language cannot be the sole basis for understanding the background of a certain society or tribe. Otherwise, most of the population of South America, all of Mexico, and the Philippines should actually be named Spanish. By the same token, many African countries that speak a European language would belong to the members of the same races, who, earlier on, had colonized their lands.
KeywordsAzerbaijan Caucasian Albania Armenia Iran the Azeri language the Turkish language Pahlavi dialect.
Mariam Hovsepyan - The Coverage of Educational and Cultural Issues of the First Republic of Armenia in the Pages of the “Chakatamart” Daily Newspaper (1918–1920)
11 Pages | 48-59 | DOI: 10.54503/1829-4073-2025.2.48-59 | Language: EnglishRevceived on: 2025-03-18 | Reviewed on: 2025-03-25 | Accepted for printing on: 2025-08-29
Published in: 2025 N 2 (38) / History
The Armistice of Mudros, signed on October 30, 1918, provided an opportunity for Armenian intellectuals who had survived the Genocide to publish periodicals in Constantinople. Among these publications was the highly regarded daily newspaper “Chakatamart”. The newspaper addressed various issues concerning the Armenian people, including the internal and external political challenges faced by the First Republic of Armenia. One of its key areas of focus was the fundamental problems in the educational and cultural sectors. “Chakatamart” covered these topics through news reports prepared by its own correspondents, interviews, and reprints from newspapers published in Armenia. The articles were objective and impartial, while its analytical pieces stood out for their optimism and offered solutions to the problems in the fields of education and culture. The newspaper presented these issues in a positive light and generally approached the shortcomings and deficiencies in the government's work with leniency, attributing them to the evolving circumstances of the Armenian Question. Almost every issue of the “Chakatamart” periodical included publications related to the restoration and reopening of Armenian educational institutions and cultural centers.
KeywordsMudros Armistice Armenian Question Armenian Periodicals in Constantinople First Republic of Armenia “Chakatamart” Daily Newspaper Educational and Cultural Issues “Life in Armenia” Section.
Marta Mezhlumyan - The Armenian Genocide in Art, Film, and International Relations
12 Pages | 60-72 | DOI: 10.54503/1829-4073-2025.2.60-72 | Language: EnglishRevceived on: 2025-06-19 | Reviewed on: 2025-07-21 | Accepted for printing on: 2025-08-29
Published in: 2025 N 2 (38) / History
The Armenian Genocide has inspired diverse artistic expressions, with film emerging as a particularly powerful medium due to its emotional impact and wide reach. This article explores key cinematic works that depict the genocide, analyzing their thematic concerns, narrative techniques, and reception. It examines how these films confront denial, shape memory, and reflect political pressures – particularly Turkey’s efforts to suppress international awareness. Through a transnational lens, the article considers how filmmakers of Armenian, non-Armenian, and even Turkish origin approach this sensitive historical subject and its enduring legacy.
KeywordsFilm International Relations Armenian Genocide Justice Publications armenian community migration.
Mher Harutyunyan - The Reinterpretation of the History of the Defence Army of the Republic of Artsakh in Armenian Historiography
18 Pages | 73-91 | DOI: 10.54503/1829-4073-2025.2.73-91 | Language: EnglishRevceived on: 2025-04-16 | Reviewed on: 2025-05-20 | Accepted for printing on: 2025-08-29
Published in: 2025 N 2 (38) / History
This article reinterprets the coverage and major assessments of the Defense Army (DA) of the Republic of Artsakh (RA) in Armenian historiography. Although certain episodes in the army’s history have been presented in various publications from Artsakh, Armenia, and the Diaspora, the study of the formation and combat path of the DA remains central to scholarly inquiry. The aim of this research is to summarize the evolution of the history of the Defense Army and evaluate key scholarly contributions, with a particular focus on the role of military construction in the development of Armenian statehood in Artsakh. The author analyzes the Defense Army not merely as a military organization but also as an institutional body formed under conditions of political non-recognition and operating under the legitimate right of selfdefense enshrined in international law.
KeywordsRepublic of Artsakh Defence Army Armenian historiography self-defence unrecognised state periodisation historico-political discourse.
Armen Petrosyan - The God Angeł in Earliest Armenian Mythology
16 Pages | 92-108 | DOI: 10.54503/1829-4073-2025.2.92-108 | Language: ՀայերենRevceived on: 2025-03-28 | Reviewed on: 2025-07-27 | Accepted for printing on: 2025-08-29
Published in: 2025 N 2 (38) / History
In the ancient Armenian translation of the Bible, the Mesopotamian god of the afterlife and war Nergal is represented as Angeł. The same name is known in two legends from the books of Khorenatsi and Sebeos. It is interpreted as ‘unsightly, not nice, ugly,’ which seems rather inappropriate for a theonym. However, in the Assyrian myth, Nergal is invisible to the vizier of the goddess of the underworld. Hence the opportunity to etymologize Angeł not as an-geł ‘having no look,’ i.e. ‘invisible’ but to refer to the Indo-European context, where the closest cognate of the Armenian language is Greek. Thus, Angeł would correspond well with the Greek name of the underworld and its god Hades: Ἀΐδης, literally, ‘the Unseen’ < *ṇ-wid-. Supreme gods could be the lords of the “three worlds” – heaven, earth, and the underworld, and the Greek Hades, known as “Zeus of the underworld,” was thus one of the incarnations of Zeus. In ancient Armenian tradition, these functions would be attributed to Angeł. Notably, the supreme gods of some other ancient states of the region were also conceived to be invisible. However, the name and image of the epic hero Turk' Angełeay, i.e. “The gift of (god) Angeł,” should most probably be interpreted as the son of the god Angeł.
Keywordscomparative mythology Indo-European linguistics Armenian mythology earliest Armenian pantheon Mihr Hades Odin.
Rafik Nahapetyan - Armenian Historians about the Weapons and Armament used in Medieval Armenia
16 Pages | 109-125 | DOI: 10.54503/1829-4073-2025.2.109-125 | Language: ՀայերենRevceived on: 2025-04-21 | Reviewed on: 2025-05-12 | Accepted for printing on: 2025-08-29
Published in: 2025 N 2 (38) / History
Gunsmithing was one of the oldest branches of craftsmanship of Armenians. Having separated from blacksmithing earlier than other types of craftsmanship, it was originally a purely urban craft. Armenian gunsmiths gained great fame in the Middle Ages. The medieval cities of Ani and Dvin were well-known centers of armory manufacturing. The fame of spears, swords, sabers, daggers, battle axes and other weapons produced here went beyond the borders of the country.
Keywordsmedieval Armenia Armenian historians gunsmithing siege engine bow and arrow sword spear.
Armen Marukyan - Nakhichevan at the “Crossroads” of Pan-Turanian and Global Projects
20 Pages | 5-25 | DOI: 10.54503/1829-4073-2025.3.5-25 | Language: EnglishRevceived on: 2025-10-22 | Reviewed on: 2025-11-25 | Accepted for printing on: 2025-12-19
Published in: 2025 N 3 (39) / History
The Moscow and Kars Treaties, which proved fateful for Armenia and resulted in the seizure of strategically important territories from the Armenian people, have been widely discussed in recent decades, with particular emphasis on the injustice and illegality of these documents from the perspective of international law. Under these treaties, Nakhichevan was illegally placed under the protection of Azerbaijan, and Baku is currently taking unilateral steps to change the status of this autonomous republic, in violation of the Moscow and Kars Treaties still in force. The article examines Turkey’s diplomatic efforts to transfer Nakhichevan to Azerbaijan, which were based on the pan-Turkic goals of the Turkish authorities, as well as the consistent policy of the Azerbaijani authorities aimed at the de-Armenization of the autonomous republic. The domestic and foreign policy motives of the Azerbaijani authorities for changing the status of the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic are also analyzed. The purpose of the article is to demonstrate the illegality of the actions of the Azerbaijani authorities in unilaterally changing the status of the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic from the standpoint of international treaty law, as well as to indicate the possible political and legal consequences of violating the provisions of the Moscow and Kars Treaties regarding the status of Nakhichevan.
KeywordsNakhichevan status of autonomous republic Moscow and Kars Treaties Armenia Azerbaijan Turkey Pan-Turanian project
- Lobbying and Anti-Corruption Policy in the U.S. and Its Implications in the Republic of Armenia
11 Pages | 26-37 | DOI: 10.54503/1829-4073-2025.3.26-37 | Language: EnglishRevceived on: 2025-11-18 | Reviewed on: 2025-11-19 | Accepted for printing on: 2025-12-19
Published in: 2025 N 3 (39) / History
This article examines the institution of lobbying in the United States, presenting its historical development, regulatory framework, and empirical scope, with the aim of drawing lessons for the Republic of Armenia. In the U.S. context, lobbying has evolved into a significant economic and political sector, creating both democratic opportunities and risks of corruption. By contrast, Armenia lacks a comprehensive legal framework for lobbying, despite pressing anti-corruption imperatives. The article argues that Armenia could benefit from adapting elements of the American model – particularly transparency, registration, public access, and oversight – while tailoring these mechanisms to its local institutional context and democratic needs. The study concludes by offering recommendations to Armenia’s emerging reform agenda․
KeywordsLobbying USA anti-corruption policy lobbying groups Armenian diaspora lobbying organizations in the U.S. Republic of Armenia lobbying oversight.
- Armenian Evangelical Educational Institutions in Syria and Lebanon (1920s–1940s)
17 Pages | 38-55 | DOI: 10.54503/1829-4073-2025.3.38-55 | Language: EnglishRevceived on: 2025-10-25 | Reviewed on: 2025-11-25 | Accepted for printing on: 2025-12-19
Published in: 2025 N 3 (39) / History
The formation and development of the educational systems of Armenian communities in the Middle East were shaped not only by pedagogical needs but also by the imperative to preserve and strengthen national, religious, and cultural identity. The educational life of these communities was largely guided by church structures. Preschools functioned under the auspices of various churches, including the Apostolic, Catholic, and Evangelical denominations. Armenian Evangelical educational institutions in the Middle East, established particularly in the aftermath of the Armenian Genocide, were distinguished by their religious and national orientations. In these schools, alongside instruction in the Holy Scripture, considerable attention was devoted to teaching the Armenian language, literature, and history; conducting prayers in the native language; and providing foreign-language education, which enabled students to pursue higher studies. Many Evangelical schools operated under missionary auspices, through which support was provided for improving buildings and material-technical conditions. Special emphasis was also placed on the education of girls, ensuring their equal participation in the learning process.
KeywordsArmenian Evangelical Association church Middle East American missionaries education colleges schools
- The Origin and History of the Armenian Diaspora in the Czech Republic (Based on Narrative-Biographical Study)
11 Pages | 56-67 | DOI: 10.54503/1829-4073-2025.3.56-67 | Language: EnglishRevceived on: 2025-06-19 | Reviewed on: 2025-12-22 | Accepted for printing on: 2025-12-19
Published in: 2025 N 3 (39) / History
This study examines the development of the Armenian diaspora in the Czech Republic, based on narrative-biographical interviews with members of the first migration generation. It highlights how identity and memory are shaped and transmitted in a diasporic context. Although small in number, the Armenian community represents a distinct case of post-Soviet migration and cultural continuity. The study explores key historical triggers – such as the Armenian Genocide, the 1988 Spitak earthquake, and the collapse of the USSR – and their impact on migration trajectories and collective memory. Using a narrative approach and framed by theories of transnationalism and diasporic identity, the research shows how migrants negotiate between cultures and generations. It also reveals the symbolic role of language, family, and everyday practices in maintaining a sense of belonging.
KeywordsUS-Georgia relations Russo-Georgian War NATO South Caucasus regional security strategic partnership Armenia’s national interests
- Re-evaluating US-Georgia Relations in the Context of the Russo-Georgian War (2008–2009)
19 Pages | 68-87 | DOI: 10.54503/1829-4073-2025.3.68-87 | Language: EnglishRevceived on: 2025-12-05 | Reviewed on: 2025-12-22 | Accepted for printing on: 2025-12-19
Published in: 2025 N 3 (39) / History
This article examines the development and re-evaluation of US-Georgia relations in the context of the 2008–2009 five-day Russo-Georgian War, revealing the real boundaries of Washington’s policy and its influence on the geopolitical environment of the South Caucasus. The article analyzes the internal political developments during the first years of Mikheil Saakashvili’s second presidential term, Georgia’s aspirations for NATO membership, and the nature of US diplomatic, political, and financial support before and after the war. The article demonstrates that despite clear US statements on supporting Georgia’s territorial integrity and Euro-Atlantic integration, this support did not translate into military guarantees, which became evident during the five-day Russo-Georgian War. Special attention is paid to the re-evaluation of Georgia’s prospects for NATO membership, the political consequences of the Bucharest Summit, and Washington’s response during the August 2008 military operations. After the war, relations took on a more institutionalized form with the signing of the Strategic Cooperation Charter in 2009, but the reduced US interest in the region under the Obama administration posed new challenges. The article also offers important conclusions from the perspective of the national security of the Republic of Armenia and regional stability.
KeywordsUS-Georgia relations Russo-Georgian War NATO South Caucasus regional security strategic partnership Armenia’s national interests
- The first period of Archbishop Gevorg Chorekchyan's tenure (1921–1927) coincided with the most difficult years for the diocese of Georgian Armenians. The head of the diocese spared no effort or energy in maintaining the effective functioning of the diocese. He approached the resolution of any issues with great zeal and willingness. Chorekchyan intended to convene a church council of representatives from the diocese of Georgian Armenians, where matters of church decoration, as well as many issues concerning clergy, were to be discussed, aiming to more closely connect the faithful people with their native church. In 1927, Archbishop Gevorg Chorekchyan returned to the Mother See of Etchmiadzin and was elected a member of the Supreme Spiritual Council.
8 Pages | 88-96 | DOI: 10.54503/1829-4073-2025.3.88-96 | Language: ՀայերենRevceived on: 2025-11-25 | Reviewed on: 2025-11-30 | Accepted for printing on: 2025-12-19
Published in: 2025 N 3 (39) / History
The first period of Archbishop Gevorg Chorekchyan's tenure (1921–1927) coincided with the most difficult years for the diocese of Georgian Armenians. The head of the diocese spared no effort or energy in maintaining the effective functioning of the diocese. He approached the resolution of any issues with great zeal and willingness. Chorekchyan intended to convene a church council of representatives from the diocese of Georgian Armenians, where matters of church decoration, as well as many issues concerning clergy, were to be discussed, aiming to more closely connect the faithful people with their native church. In 1927, Archbishop Gevorg Chorekchyan returned to the Mother See of Etchmiadzin and was elected a member of the Supreme Spiritual Council.
KeywordsArchbishop Gevorg Chorekchyan diocese of Armenians in Georgia Georgia Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin Supreme Spiritual Council church monastery
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15 Pages | 97-112 | DOI: 10.54503/1829-4073-2025.3.97-112 | Language: ՀայերենRevceived on: 2025-11-25 | Reviewed on: 2025-12-04 | Accepted for printing on: 2025-12-19
Published in: 2025 N 3 (39) / History
Arpiar Arpiaryan’s journalistic and publicistic activity is closely aligned with the ideological orientation of “Mshak”. It is therefore not coincidental that he joined the newspaper at the invitation of Grigor Artsruni and upon the recommendation of Mkrtich Portugalyan. Following Svachyan and Nalbandyan, Arpiaryan emerged as a crucial mediating figure between the Western Armenian and Eastern Armenian intelligentsia. Arpiaryan was the first to provide a comprehensive and systematic account of the activities of the Patriarchate of Constantinople and the Armenian National Assembly.
- Between Lens and Collage: The Artistic Dialogue of Sergey Parajanov and Yuri Mechitov
14 Pages | 173-187 | DOI: 10.54503/1829-4073-2025.3.173-187 | Language: EnglishRevceived on: 2025-08-21 | Reviewed on: 2025-10-20 | Accepted for printing on: 2025-12-19
Published in: 2025 N 3 (39) / Art
This article examines the artistic interactions between Armenian filmmaker Sergey Parajanov (1924–1990) and Georgian photographer Yuri Mechitov (b. 1950), focusing on their collaborative experiments in photography and collage during the late 1970s–1980s. While Parajanov is internationally recognized for his films, particularly The Color of Pomegranates, this study highlights his creative partnership with Mechitov, whose portraits and documentary photographs reveal new aspects of the director’s artistic persona. Drawing on interviews, memoirs, and photographic archives, the paper analyzes how Parajanov staged his image before Mechitov’s camera, turning everyday gestures into visual allegories. Special attention is given to how Mechitov’s photographs became sources for Parajanov’s collages, where single images were transformed into layered works of visual poetry. The discussion shows how Mechitov’s documentary practice intersected with Parajanov’s surrealist sensibilities, creates a corpus that transcends the boundaries between cinema, photography, and visual art. By examining these collages, the article shows that Parajanov emerges as a versatile artist whose creative range extended beyond cinema to include collage, photography, painting, and other forms of expression. The study presents only one example of these facets, underscoring the multidimensional nature of his artistic identity.
KeywordsSergey Parajanov Yuri Mechitov film Armenian filmmaker photography collage visual art