The Hamazkayin Student Cultural Gathering (Forum), which began its activities in Yerevan on July 13, 2024, continued its activities with enthusiasm.
On July 18, a Thursday, the participants visited Yerevan State University. They were accompanied by Hamazkayin Yerevan Office manager Ruzan Arakelyan. Dr. Arman Yeghiazaryan, Head of Diaspora Studies at the YSU Institute for Armenian Studies, showed them around his department and talked about the university as a whole.
Participants then headed to the Komitas Museum and the Pantheon. They became familiar with the life and work of Komitas and saw the artifacts gathered in the museum. They then went to see Ervand Kochar’s masterpiece, the statue of David of Sasun.
In the afternoon, the participants had a warm meeting with the members of the Akunk folk ensemble. Director Artur Shahnazaryan talked to the group about the ensemble’s activities in perpetuating folk music.
Forum participants spent the first half of the next day in nature, at Tsaghkadzor. They rode the Ropeway and enjoyed the beauty of the place. In keeping with Forum tradition, they then visited the Tsaghkadzor Tiramayr Hayastan camp and spent an enjoyable time with the children, including lunch, dance, song, and games.
Returning to Yerevan, participants visited the Wikipedia Armenia project office and learned from Azniv Stepanian and Shahen Araboghlian about opportunities to enrich the online resource.
On July 20, the participants visited Khor Virap and learned more about the history of the church. They then had free time. Many visited the Vernissage. In the evening, they attended a performance of Hrashagortz (Miracle worker) at the Hamazkayin Sos Sargsyan Theater.
On the next day, the participants visited Aragats and Amberd. Tsoghig Ashekian accompanied them and spoke about Armenian architecture, focusing of course on the Amberd fortress.
On July 22, the Forum participants went to Oshagan, birthplace of Mesrop Mashtots. The local priest spoke about the invention of the Armenian alphabet and the transformative contributions of St. Mesrop. They then went to the city of Gyumri, where they spent time with refugees forced out of Artsakh. The Shushi Tzil Players and children from Artsakh performed in a play in the Artsakh dialect. Next up was a visit to the city museum.
On July 23, the participants visited various museums in Gyumri and learned about poets Hovhannes Shiraz and Avetik Isahakian and the legendary actor Mher Mkrtchyan.
