CONSISTENT MANIFESTATIONS OF ELOQUENT CULTURAL, HISTORICAL, AND PSYCHOLOGICAL TIES BETWEEN ARMENIANS AND RUSSIANS
There is no specialized study on the psychological foundations of Armenian-Russian cultural ties. Meanwhile, the lack thereof is keenly felt, as these ties contain a centuries-old history, and in an international sense, they have enriched universal human culture and science in their numerous manifestations.
The purpose of the article is to reveal the diversity and consistent manifestations of centuries-old Armenian-Russian ties in a cultural and historical context.
The main concept boils down to the idea that Armenian-Russian relations were initially formed on the foundation of the Christian faith and moral values, and subsequently, they transformed into universal human values in the context of a cultural and historical dialogue.
The methodological basis includes the main principles of psychology, the key ideas of L. S. Vygotsky’s cultural-historical theory – in the vector of development, while the research methods considered are historical-comparative analyses and observations by famous Russian and Armenian cultural experts and literary critics concerning the friendly ties between the two peoples. In this sense, the work also includes analyses of circumstances, the study of memoirs, the comparison of cultural and historical values, and conclusions.
Final Result. The cultural and historical Armenian-Russian ties formed at different periods were strengthened by universal human values as a practical platform for the dialogue of the two peoples in Russian-Armenian relations.
The main conclusion is that the commonality of Christian and moral values of the two peoples led to the formation and further deepening of universal human values, which Russian and Armenian writers, and well-known cultural figures, addressed at different times. The mutual acceptance and trust between the Armenian and Russian peoples led to the strengthening and deepening of friendship.
Armenian-Russian relations developed starting from the 10th-12th centuries, when the first manifestations of economic and cultural ties between ancient Rus’ and Armenia are seen. Armenians participated in the Battle of Grunwald in 1410 – the allied army included two regiments formed from Armenians living in Galicia. Armenian-Russian relations began to deepen and strengthen when the first Armenian colonies were founded in Russia. The oldest of these was the colony in Kyiv.
Armenian-Russian relations began to develop even more when the secular and spiritual leaders of the Armenian people deemed it necessary to turn to the state support of Christian Rus’ to preserve their national identity.
In 1701, Melik Israel Ori of Syunik, along with Archimandrite Minas, traveled to Moscow and presented an appeal from the Meliks to the Russian court, in which they implored the Russian Tsar to liberate them from the Persian-Turkish yoke.
This request remained in effect during the national liberation uprisings led by David Bek, when Tsar Peter the Great sent his envoy, Ivan Karapet, to Transcaucasia, who assured the Armenian rebels that they would receive military aid; however, after the death of Peter the Great (1725), the plans of the Russian court changed.
The Armenian people’s dream of liberation from the Muslim yoke with the help of Russia came true during the Russo-Persian War of 1826-1828, when Eastern Armenia was completely liberated from the Persian yoke and became part of the Russian Empire. This significant historical event was reflected in the novel “Wounds of Armenia” by Khachatur Abovyan, the founder of new Armenian literature, which includes an appendix titled “Zangi,” dedicated to singing the praises of Armenian-Russian friendship. Recalling the fact that Armenians had statehood for centuries, Abovyan presents part of this passage of the novel in Grabar (Classical Armenian) as the ancient royal language. This is an interesting psychological moment. He expresses his gratitude to mighty Russia in the language of the ancient Armenian kings – Tigran the Great and Trdat the Great. Abovyan encourages the sons of the Armenian people by stating that the mighty hand of Rus’ will be a spear, and gratitude must always be felt towards this hand. Mother Volga will be the elder sister of Mother Araks of Armenia; they will kiss in the waves of the Caspian Sea. And Lake Sevan and the sacred Masis will bless this sisterly friendship with their paternal greeting.
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