Final Event of the “Journey Towards the Light” Program

The program was entirely dedicated to the Feast of the Holy Translators and the 201st anniversary of Ghevond Alishan. A creative competition dedicated to the Armenian alphabet was announced for teenagers from Lori, Aragatsotn, and Shirak provinces of Armenia, as well as from the Javakhk educational and cultural center, with entries submitted in various branches of applied arts. A seminar and reading sessions entitled “Alishan’s Life, Literary and Scholarly Activities” were also organized.

The educational program contributed to improving the teenagers’ literacy and preserving Christian values. Studying the literary legacy left by Ghevond Alishan gave the teenagers an opportunity to appreciate great Armenian figures. The importance of the Feast of the Holy Translators and the necessity of the creation of the Armenian alphabet as a means of preserving national identity were presented to the students in greater depth and substance. This fostered their interest in reading and in Alishan’s literary heritage, with the aim of educating future generations following the example of the Holy Translators.

Cooperation with the Writers’ Union and Armenian Studies centers within the framework of the program also contributed to increasing teenagers’ interest in the Armenian language and developing their linguistic thinking.

The program, which began in May, concluded at the “Yntaniq” Center with a literary and artistic event entitled “The Sweet-Sounding Patriarch,” accompanied by an exhibition of the creative competition entries and works by students of the “Yntaniq” Center’s applied arts groups.

The authors of the best works were awarded certificates by the center’s director, Artur Minasyan. As prizes, the winners and active participants of the creative competition also visited the Armenian Alphabet Monument and the Alphabet Park, Saghmosavank, Matenadaran, and the Holy Mesrop Mashtots Church in Oshakan.

The program concluded at St. Hakob of Nisibis Church in Gyumri with a ceremonial service accompanied by the harmonium performance of “Alishan’s Prayer to God.”