WHY CHRISTIAN ARMENIA ENCYCLOPEDIA NOT PUBLISHED?

[MosJan]

WHY CHRISTIAN ARMENIA ENCYCLOPEDIA NOT PUBLISHED?

The year of 2001 was marked with an extensive range of festivities and events, all devoted to the 17 centuries of Armenia’s conversion to Christianity. Removal of a huge cross, set up in Yerevan’s central square, in a place that once hosted a monument to Lenin, signaled the end of festivities. One of the highlights of the festivities, approved by a state commission that was handling organization and conduction of the events, was publication of a volume, entitled “Christian Armenia,» prepared by the editorial office of the Armenian Encyclopedia. The volume contains 1,070 articles, 12 maps, about 700 color and black and white photos and other materials.

 

 

The deputy editor of the Armenian Encyclopedia Aram Sarkisian says that while preparing the volume for publication, “ we thought about to properly demonstrate the place and the role of the Christian Armenia in the Christian world and Armenia’s contributions to the development of the Christian civilization. It contains diverse information about the origins of Christianity in Armenia, its spread, history of Bible’s and other holly books translation into Armenia and other valuable information. It also contains a very valuable information about Armenia’s Christian neighbors. The volume is ready for printing. The government was supposed to release 23 million Armenian Drams for its publication, but after several meetings with the deputy chairman of the state commission Khosrov Harutunian the figure reduced to 6 million and an agreement was signed, but until now we have not received a cent. Huge amount of money was spent on shows with little effect, but with that money could be created cultural values that would remain for other generations”

 

 

By Melania Badalian