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The Armenian alphabet was introduced by Saint Mesrop Mashtots and Isaac of Armenia (Sahak Partev) in AD 405. Medieval Armenian sources also claim that Mashtots invented the Georgian and Caucasian Albanian alphabets around the same time. Traditionally, the following phrase translated from Solomon's Book of Proverbs is said to be the first sentence to be written down in Armenian by Mashtots: “To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding”

1650th anniversary of the Birth of Mesrop Mashtots

Mesrop Mashtots was born in 362 AD and died in 440 AD. He was truly a Renaissance man, as he was in the military, a clergyman, linguist, and scholar. He translated many important works and established schools and monasteries. His life was documented by several biographers, namely Koriun and Agatangelos

Statue of Mesrop Mashtots and his pupil Koryun by Ghukas Chubaryan (1923-2009) located in front of the Matenadaran. The Mesrop Mashtots Institute of Ancient Manuscripts, commonly referred to as the Matenadaran, is an ancient manuscript repository located in Yerevan

Statue of Saint Mesrop Mashtots, founder of the Armenian alphabet, at the Matenadaran Institute of Ancient Manuscripts in Yerevan, Armenia.

The Mesrop Mashtots Institute of Ancient Manuscripts, (Matenadaran)

Saint Mesrop Mashtots by Khoren Der Harootian (1909-1991)

Mesrop Mashtots is thus one of the most venerated Armenian figures of all time. Under the guidance of Catholicos Sahak Partev and King Vramshapuh, Mashtots was able to create the 36-letter alphabet (two were added later) that defined an entire nation. Often Mesrop Mashtots is depicted holding a stone embossing of the alphabet. This scene is very similar to that of Moses holding the Ten Commandments, which God himself gaveOshakan, headstone of Mesrop

“A country that is limited to only oral communication is in imminent danger of assimilation.”

In October 2005 (the 1600th anniversary of the alphabet or «aybuben») the heart of the celebrations was the fifth century church in the village of Oshakan, which was built to honour Mesrob and where he is buried

For the celebrations, the churchyard

featured the alphabet in spectacular ways –

Mesrob’s thirty-six original letters cut from

turf in the gardens

The entire alphabet in the form of two-metre-high sculptures, carved from Armenian red tufa stone in the style of the khachkars, or cross-stones.

In 2005, the Armenian alphabet celebrated its 1600th birthday. In commemoration, it was given a gift of 39 giant, carved Armenian letters, strategically placed near the final resting place of the man who created the alphabet, Mesrop Mashtots

Monument to Armenian letters in the village of Oshakan, Armenia

To honor his work, Armenian architect J. Torosyan created the stone carvings of every letter near Mashtots' final resting place in 2005

Linguists say the Armenian alphabet is one of the oldest in the world that is still in use. It has proved remarkably durable, surviving a carousel of empires, vast migrations and even genocide. Armenia is a small country with a big Diaspora, and its language is valued as the glue that has held the community together

More recently, many Armenians have immigrated all over the world and once again there is a threat to the “Armenian Identity”, as they become susceptible to assimilation into foreign cultures. However, it is the native language, which unites Armenians around the globe

"Armenians have a bit of a love affair with their language“

And it’s no wonder there is such an attempt by Armenian parents as well as educators, to maintain the use of the language no matter where they live

Picture of the Armenian Cross made on velvet, a masterpiece of Marash embroidery. The cross stone is a symbol of the Armenian people's deep rooted faith, even in the face of most vicious adversities. The original, carved on stone, was brought to Holy Echmiadzin Monastery, in 1279 from the region of Mt. Ararat

Digital Art Mandala from Armenian Alphabet by Bedros Awak

Mount Aragats It is the highest point in Armenia (4,090 m) It is a standalone extinct volcano with four main peaks forming the rim of the crater

Legend holds that when Saint Gregory the Illuminator prayed one day on Mount Aragats a miraculous ever-burning lantern hanging from the heavens came down to shed light on him. Armenians believe that the Illuminator’s lantern is still there, and only those pure in heart and spirit can see the eternal lantern — the symbol of hopes and dreams of the nation

Puschkinia scilloides  Aragats gem (very easy grown species from Mnt.Aragats)

There are not one but two locations where giant stone letters are placed like so many statues, one set under the trees in the garden next to the Church of Saint Mesrop Mashtots in Oshakan, the other on a hillside facing Mount Aragats, the highest point in Armenia

Aparan Alphabet park

Aparan is a town in Armenia, located in the Aragatsotn Province, about 50 kilometers northwest of the capital Yerevan. Modern-day Aparan is built on the eastern slopes of Mount Aragats with an elevation of 1880 metres above sea level

Aparan Alphabet parkGregory the Illuminator

Mkhitar Gosh, sculptor Samvel HakobyanMkhitar Gosh (1130–1213) was an Armenian scholar, writer, public figure

Tumanyan's heroes, (sculptor S. Gharibyan)

"Armenian alphabet

monument" is located at the

east side bottom of Mt. Aragats. It was erected in 2005 to the 1600

anniversary of creation of the

Armenian alphabet by the

design of the famous Armenian

architect Jim Torosyan.

Anania Shirakatsi Armenian Philosopher

Anania Shirakatsi monument, sculptor Artush Papoyan

The monument is an interesting demonstration of the stone carvings of 39 Armenian letters. The Armenian alphabet has been used to write the Armenian language since the year 405 or 406 and is still used to present Armenian language in written form. It was devised by Saint Mesrop Mashtots, an Armenian linguist and ecclesiastical leader, in order to make the Bible accessible to Armenians and spread Christianity. Originally it contained 36 letters and had been completed in the Middle Ages.

Khachatur Abovyan Armenian writer and national public figure of the early 19th century

Saint Mesrop Mashtots

Aparan Alphabet park and The Monument of CrossOn the road from Yerevan to Aparan on the hill near the “Letters’ Park” is replaced the metallic cross with 33 meters high

Armenia is the world’s oldest Christian country; it officially adopted Christianity in 301 CE, decades before Constantine made it the official religion of the Roman Empire

The cross consists of 1712 big and small crosses which symbolise the past years after adopting the Christianity as an official religion in Armenia

The height 301 of the stony chapel

which serves as a pedestal for the

cross is also symbolizing the

Christianity adopted as an official religion

At last the height of the cross with 33 meters is also symbolizing, as Jesus Christ was crossed at the very age

Grigor Khanjyan (1926–2000) Creation of Armenian Alphabet, Khanjyan Gallery - Cafesjian Center for the Arts - Yerevan

Sound: Ruben Hakhverdyan & Lilit Pipoyan - Ari Im Soxak; Ruben Harutyunyan and Samvel Yervinyan - Sands of time (by Elon Sarafian); The Lark Farm - Ov sirun, sirun

Text: Internet

Pictures: Internet

Sanda Foişoreanu

Copyright: All the images belong to their authors

Presentation: Sanda Foişoreanu

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