Let’s Preserve Our Cultural Heritage…

Let’s Preserve Our Cultural Heritage…

The “Yntaniq” Children and Youth Creative Center of Gyumri, in cooperation with the Shirak Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, carried out cleaning and maintenance work at historical and cultural monuments in the Shirak region from May 6 to 19, as part of the program entitled “The Silent Witnesses of History.”

The work was carried out at the “Saint Karapet” Monastery (Yereruyk Basilica) in the community of Anipemza, as well as at the “Holy Mother of God” churches in Akhuryan, Hoghmiк, Hovit, Lernut, Jrapi, Meghrashat, Tsoghamarg, and Sarakap, and at the “Saint Gregory the Illuminator” Church in Haykadzor.

A significant number of the monuments have deteriorated over time and are currently in a partially ruined state. The churches—particularly the “Saint Gregory the Illuminator” Church in Haykadzor and the Yereruyk Basilica—with their centuries-old history, testify to the rich cultural heritage of the Armenian people and represent significant cultural and archaeological value.

Following a joint prayer led by the spiritual pastors of the communities, the students of the Center, together with teenagers from local communities and national minorities, enthusiastically undertook this sacred and God-pleasing work. Stones and piles of earth were removed from the church grounds, the altars and surrounding areas were thoroughly cleaned, followed by a tree-planting initiative.

The participants planted the saplings with the hope that each tree would adorn the area for many years, symbolizing the endurance and continuity of the Armenian people. They also expressed hope that the partially ruined churches would eventually be restored and once again serve their original purpose.

Upon completion of the work, signs indicating the name of each church and its period of construction were installed.

The purpose of the program was to foster in teenagers a caring attitude toward the nation’s cultural heritage through cleaning and preservation activities, improve the condition of the region’s churches, strengthen cooperation among the Center’s students, local communities, and teenagers from national minorities, and, through the symbolic tree planting, pay tribute to the memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide.

The implementation of the program achieved its intended result. Regardless of ethnic background or age, the teenagers enthusiastically and voluntarily participated in the activities, emphasizing the importance of caring for and preserving historical and cultural monuments.

The teenagers also prepared and installed posters bearing the slogans:

“I REMEMBER AND DEMAND”
“THE SILENT WITNESSES OF HISTORY: THE CENTENARY OF THE GENOCIDE”
“NO MORE CULTURAL VANDALISM”