By: Verjiné Svazlian Doctor in Philology, Leading Researcher, Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography, NAS RA, vsvaz333@yahoo.com

The oral tradition of the Armenian-Americans, forming a consistent part of the centuries-old folklore of the Armenian people, has been developed according to the general folkloric principles, however, along with the generalities and the similarities, it has also involved extremely distinctive features, which are attributed to the historical-political, public and psychological circumstances of their mode of life in the multi-ethnic environment of the USA.

Writing down during about 30 years the relics of the oral culture of the Armenian-Americans in the course of our periodical five trips to USA, in 1979, 1990, 2001, 2004, and 2008, an attempt has been made to elucidate the level of traditionalism of that original ethnographical group connected with the chronological and geographical displacements, historical-political conditions, sex-age features and psychological problems.

The first time in the history of Armenian folklore the bequest of the oral tradition of the Armenian-Americans with its multifarious variants is represented in scientifically systematized form.

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By: Avetis Harutyunyan PhD of History, Professor at the ASPU Chair of Armenian History, avharutunyan@mail.ru
Arshak Balyan PhD of History, Associate Professor at YSU Chair of Theology and Armenian Church History, bal.arshak@mail.ru

The article presents the state of Armenians in Van province during the tenure of governors Ismail Hagg and Izzet Bey, in 1911-1913. After the dismissal of their previous governor, Bekir Sami Bey, from the autumn of 1910 to the beginning of 1911, the position of deputy governor of Van was temporarily entrusted to the former Chief Clerk (Devtertar) (position, which is also responsible for accountancy) of the province, who was replaced by Ismail Hagg Pasha in early 1911. However, soon Izzet Bey, who is of Kurdish origin, was appointed the new governor of Van province. In the study, with the help of relevant facts from the source, for the first time, the situation of Armenians in Van province during the rule of Ismail Hagg and Izzet governors was covered, the Armenian-Kurdish relations of Van province in this period were highlighted, the agreement signed between ARF and Ittihat on February 13, 1912 was presented - the pact by which the ruling party was obliged to fulfill its long-standing promises regarding the solution of Armenians’ land, school, security and other problems. The article also revealed the elections of the Ottoman Parliament held in Van on April 6-8, 1912 and the mayor’s elections held in Van in 1912.

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By: Vahagn Harutyunyan PhD in history, Junior researcher at the Department of History of the Armenian Colonies and Diaspora, Institute of History, National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia, vahag0107@gmail.com

Beginning with the 14^th century, Catholic and Protestant preachers appeared in Ottoman Turkey. However, unlike the representatives of other nations, the propaganda of the new doctrine was accepted mainly by the Armenians, which was conditioned by the awful socio-political, economic and spiritual situation of Armenia.
Protestant preachers used the plight of Christians, particularly Armenians, for the realization of their religious-political goals and interests . They were the ones who for the first time encouraged the idea among Armenians that Europe and the Pope could support the liberation of Armenia, but only on the condition of accepting Catholicism or Protestantism. It was under their direct influence that the Armenian Catholicos traveled to a number of European countries in the 16th-17th centuries.

From the beginning, the Protestant preachers were of the opinion that the Armenian Church operated applying an “idolatrous” system . However, after long contacts with the people in the Western Armenian reality, their mentality gradually changed and they became closer to the Armenian Apostolic Church.

Starting from the 50s of the 19th century, the Armenian Protestants were recognized as a separate community by the Ottoman state and a separate diocese was established for them. After the Protestant preachers settled in Constantinople, they started to open branches in the provinces as well . One such branch was also established in Van.

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By: Artsrun Hovhannisyan PhD, Associate Professor, Colonel, Vazgen Sargsyan Military Academy of the MoD RA, Head of the Institute of Command and Staff, arcrunhovhannisyan@gmail.com
Vachagan Davoyan Colonel, Vazgen Sargsyan Military Academy of the MoD of the RA, Deputy Commandant of Academic and Scientific Works, davoyanvachagan1978@gmail.com

Due to the absence of domestic military science as a separate branch of science, the topic touched on by the USSR’s GS and management culture, the largest bearer of the German model after the FWW, remains an open topic. The Russian and especially the Soviet model was based on the Prussian model and even more today continues to bear the influence of the latter, but in a more refined form. The Russian army was one of the first in the world to follow Prussian innovations. The British model was and still is unacceptable to the Russian mentality and value system.

The problem is that liberalism has always been punished in this country, serfdom is still very deep in public perception. It should also be noted that the influence of the Soviet model among the post-Soviet countries was quite large and is still large. But in the second decade of the 20th century, a number of post-Soviet countries began to abandon this model one after another. Although the Soviet model seems to be the main one among the CSTO countries, nevertheless, as a result of the reforms taking place in the Armenian Army after the 44-Day War of 2020, there are tendencies to abandon that model. We hope that they will have a fundamental nature.

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By: Silvart Malhasyan Applicant (PhD student) of the Institute of History, National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia,
silvamalhasyan@yahoo.com

The Armenians of Constantinople founded their first associations and societies at the end of the 17th and the beginning of the 18th century. Considering that the Armenian cultural center of Turkey was Constantinople, most of the Armenian cultural associations and societies were founded in this city. After the Armistice of Mudros, the Constantinople Armenians developed a union movement in almost all districts of the city, which inspired new strength and new faith in their efforts to revive the nation. One of the primary goals of the unions was to support displaced persons and orphans, provide them with shelter and create opportunities for them to participate in community life, remove the moral damage caused by the war. After the end of the First World War, the efforts of the unions and societies of the revival of the nation were partially successful, but they were interrupted after the entry of the Kemalists into Izmir in 1922. As a result of new political reservations, unions and associations were closed, and efforts to revive national life remained incomplete.

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By: Hayk Nazaryan PhD in History, Senior researcher at the Department of Political Studies, Institute of Philosophy, Sociology and Law, National Academy of Sciences, Republic of Armenia, nazaryanhayk8@gmail.com
Varduhi Hovhannisyan Laborant at the Department of Political Studies, Institute of Philosophy, Sociology and Law, National Academy of Sciences, Republic of Armenia, varduhi.hhovhannisyan@gmail.com

Syunik, the southern region of Armenia, occupies a pivotal and geostrategic position at the intersection of diverse cultures and geopolitical interests, due to its geographical position and natural resources.

After the 44-day Artsakh War in 2020, the issue of unblocking communication channels was raised again. In this context, projects promoted by different states, are studied, particularly, the importance of Syunik in those programs.

Thus, the article explores the intricate layers of Syunik’s strategic relevance, examining its impact on regional stakeholders and global powers alike.

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By: Vanik Virabyan Doctor in History, Professor Kh. Abovyan Armenian State Pedagogical University, vanik.virabyan@mail.ru
Hrant Virabyan Faculty of History and Social Sciences, Bachelor Kh. Abovyan Armenian State Pedagogical University, hrant-virabyan@bk.ru

At the time of the declaration of independence, the Republic of Armenia seemed to already have a reliable support from British side, expecting their diplomatic-military support. It can be said, however, that the Armenian side had really unjustified high hopes for the help expected from the victorious states to resolve the issue of the borders in its favor and its sovereignty in general. The allies instilled deceptive hopes in the friendly Armenian people, which conditioned the failures of the Republic of Armenia in foreign policy and orientation. Actually, the statements of the Allies were of a declarative character only. It will be clear from the historical analysis that the Allies came to the Caucasus not because of the love of the Caucasian peoples and left there not because of enmity. The prognosis was not justified and they left, leaving us at the most difficult moment, completely helpless and alone. The Allies did not show any desire to help Armenia solve the issue of the annexation of territories that formerly belong to the Russian Empire through military force, as a result of which the RA government tried to solve it independently, which led to the Turkish-Armenian war and the destruction of the first Armenian republic.

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By: Davit Gasparyan Doctor of Philological Sciences, Professor Institute of History, NAS of the RA, grakanagetgasparyan@mail.ru

The article is dedicated to the creative and human relations of two genius artists, poet and novelist Yeghishe Charents and painter and sculptor Yervand Kochar. Charents’ 125th anniversary of birth was celebrated in 2022, and Kochar’s will be celebrated this year, in 2024.

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By: Lilit Sarvazyan PhD, Associate Professor at the Yerevan State Pedagogical University, Senior Researcher at the Institute of Philosophy, Sociology and Law of NAS RA, lilit.sarvazyan@gmail.com

It is an obvious philosophical truth that people turn to eternal, unchanging values when they find themselves in uncertain, crisis or declining situations during historical and political scandals, as well as in the periods preceding violent cultural-civilizational movements, when in the search for new value orientations, the foundations of national existence, the universal essence of existence, universal principles of existence, reflections on human existence, self-interpretation and worldview become primary. Discussions of the problem of practical philosophy are also activated on the basis of theoretical concepts.

These universal patterns are also characteristic of the Armenian reality. In particular, in the process of searching for possible ways of solving the Armenian Question in Western Armenia at the end of the 19th century, the scientific and philosophical analyzes of the genealogy of the Armenian nation, the factors of preserving the national identity, and the legality and justice of the reform of the political existence were important.

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By: Anushavan Zakaryan Doctor in Philology, Editor-in-Chief of the Historical and Philological Journal, patmhandes@rambler.ru

The famous Russian poet, writer, publicist, translator and public figure Sergey Gorodetsky’s (1884-1967) pro-Armenian literary-cultural, social-political activities during the First World War and the years following is largely connected with Western Armenia and Transcaucasia . A witness of the tragic events suffered by the Armenians in Western Armenia, settling in Tiflis in early 1917, he started working at the city’s conservatory, conducting aesthetic courses and at the same time working in the newspaper “The Caucasian Word”, where a special section “Art and Literature” was opened on July 7, 1917. Articles, reviews, essays, related to art and literature issues, were published in that section title every week, largely owing to the efforts of S. Gorodetsky, who coordinated the works of that section. Soon, however, an interesting psychological phenomenon appears. His skills in the field of painting and poetry, finally, started to dominate in his life and he carried out useful activities in parallel to the publishing ones, starting with painting first. It is known that the large and charming world of Western Armenia, “like an eternal poem”, has simultaneously become a source of inspiration for him, and S. Gorodetsky has painted memorable monuments, picturesque images of nature. By the way, his painting skills were once noticed by the outstanding Russian painter I.E. Repin

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By: Chake Menkechian (Mangassarian) PhD student in the Faculty of Armenian History Yerevan State University, Republic of Armenia; Dubai, United Arab Emirates, radioayk@gmail.com, ORCID 0009-0001-5663-2985

This paper explores the important role of the Armenian community residing in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in strengthening bilateral relations between the UAE and Armenia. It highlights the contributions of the Armenian community in UAE to diplomatic relations and the promotion of Armenian culture in the region. The study also emphasizes the cultural programs organized by the embassies and the importance of fostering intellectual dialogue between Armenian and Emiratis. It discusses potential areas for collaboration in the diplomatic sphere between the Republic of Armenia (RA) and the UAE as well as the favourable business environment for UAE companies in Armenia.

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By: Monika Mirzoyan PhD student at the Institute of Oriental Studies, NAS RA, monika.mirzoyan7@gmail.com

In the framework of the article, the perception of magic in the ancient world, especially in the Hittite environment, has been focused on, considering magic as a phenomenon in comparative parallels with the perceptions of the ancient Egyptians, Jews, Armenians and other ancient Near Eastern peoples. Within the framework of the study, the origin and perception of magic will be presented, considering it from an etymological, ritualistic, operational point of view, as well as the role of magic as a negative and positive phenomenon for ancient societies, etc. will be presented. In addition, in the context of the question, an attempt is made to present the role of the sorcerer in the ancient society.

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By: Gayane Harutyunyan gayanegeorgievna90@gmail.com

Yerevan, author’s edition, 2022, 82 p.

In a series of studies dedicated to the talented Soviet poet, translator and art theorist Osip Mandelstam, a man with a bright but tragic fate, a book by Anushavan Zakaryan, Doctor ին Philology, Editor-in-chief of the “Historical-Philological Journal” of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia, Senior Researcher of the Department of Art of the Armenian Diaspora and International Relations, Institute of Arts of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia, author of 23 monographs and collections, more than 250 articles and publications, occupies a special place because, for the first time in the Armenian language, the life and fate of the poet connected with Armenia are presented, for which he had the most sincere feelings and which left an indelible mark on the soul and heart of the poet. This is evidenced by every page of A. Zakarian’s book, written on the basis of an in-depth study of Mandelstam’s creative biography (chapter “On the life, activities and creative path of O. Mandelstam”), in which Armenia played an important role as the key to world knowledge through the culture of another people in relation to universal spiritual values. Evidence of this is the thematic chapters of the book “O. Mandelstam in Armenia”, “Poet in Shushi”, “Cycle of poems “Armenia”, essay “Travel to Armenia” and its echoes”, reflecting the palette of feelings and thoughts of the poet caused by his acquaintance with Armenia and its centuries-old culture, which made an invaluable contribution to the collection of creative thought of humanity.

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Volume Editors: Igor Dorfmann-Lazarev and Haroutioun Khatchadourian, Brill, 2023, 552 p.

This is the first multidisciplinary volume whose focus is on the barely accessible highlands between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and their invaluable artistic heritage. Numerous ancient and mediaeval monuments of Artsakh/Karabagh and Nakhichevan find themselves in the crucible of a strife involving mutually exclusive national accounts. They are gravely endangered today by the politics of cultural destruction endorsed by the modern State of Azerbaijan. This volume contains seventeen contributions by renowned scholars from eight nations, rare photographic documentation and a detailed inventory of all the monuments discussed. Part 1 explores the historical geography of these lands and their architecture. Part 2 analyses the development of Azerbaijani nationalism against the background of the centuries-long geopolitical contest between Russia and Turkey. Part 3 documents the loss of monuments and examines their destruction in the light of international law governing the protection of cultural heritage.

Edited by Yervand H. Grekyan, Series: Ancient Near Eastern Studies Supplement Series, Peeters Publishers, 2023, 386 p.

This volume honours Professor Aram Kosyan at the occasion of his 65th birthday and his academic career spanning over four decades. The twenty-eight essays by his colleagues from the international scientific community who contributed to this volume focus mostly on Bronze and Iron Age cultures of Anatolia and the Armenian Highlands, offering papers on history and archaeology, beliefs and religions of the Hittites, Luwians, and other ancient societies of these regions. A large group of papers deals with linguistics, onomastics, and writing culture, including textual studies of primary sources, Cuneiform Hittite and Luwian Hieroglyphic inscriptions in particular, as well as papers on ancient trade relations and modern trade in counterfeit antiquities.

By: Azat Bozoyan
Gagik Danielyan
Marie-Anna Chevalier

Yerevan, “GITUTʾYUN” Publishing House of the NAS RA, 2023, 475 p.

The authors of this book aimed to study ecclesiastical and political documents and primary sources, that provide valuable insights into the period of principality and the kingdom of the Armenian state of Cilicia; to conduct a detailed historical-critical analysis of documents in various languages that have survived to the present day; to examine the formula systems used in documents from different notary offices and the terminology found in preserved originals, the titles and honorary titles used in official correspondence with Armenian patriarchs and monarchs, and aims to resolve issues related to the dating, authenticity, and validity of individual documents, information from primary sources about diplomatic gifts and ambassadorial protocols used in relations with neighboring sovereigns. This collective research is intended for armenologists, orientalists, medievalists, specialists in historical sources, and everyone interested in the history of Cilician Armenia.

By: Hakob Simonyan

Yerevan, Van Aryan, 2023, 252 p.

This work is devoted to the study of the ancient art of the Armenian Highland. On the basis of the art history analysis of archeological sources and collections stored in various museums of Armenia and foreign countries, as well as a nature study of cave paintings, rock carvings, megalithic structures, architecture, and sculpture, ceramic and metal plastics, toreutics, jewelry, paintings on ceramic products of the Neolithic, Chalcolithic and Early Bronze ages, images and iconographic features in all spheres of the ancient art of the Armenian Highland were revealed.

By: Sergio La Porta
Alison M. Vacca

Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures at the University of Chicago, 2024, pp. lxi + 442; 17 figures, 15 maps, 10 tables

The History of the Armenian priest Łewond is an important source for the history of early Islamic rule and the only contemporary chronicle of second/eighth-century caliphal rule in Armenia. This volume presents a diplomatic edition and new English translation of Łewond’s text, which describes events that took place during the century and a half following the Prophet Muḥammad’s death in AH 11/632 CE. The authors address Łewond’s account as a work of caliphal history, written in Armenian, from within the Caliphate. As such, this book provides a critical reading of the Caliphate from one of its most significant provinces. Reading notes clarify many aspects of the period covered to make the text understandable to students and specialists alike. Extensive commentary elucidates Łewond’s narrative objectives and situates his History in a broader Near Eastern historiographical context by bringing the text into new conversations with a constellation of Arabic, Greek, and Syriac works that cover the same period. The book thus stresses the multiplicity of voices operating in the Caliphate in this pivotal period of Near Eastern history.
Late Antique and Medieval Islamic Near East (LAMINE) Series of the Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures

By: Aram Kosyan Doctor in History, Institute of Oriental Studies, NAS RA, aramkosyan@yahoo.com
Yervand Grekyan

Publishing House of the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography, Yerevan 2024, 408 p.

The work is the first comprehensive study in the field of Armenology regarding the influence of the environment on the political, economic and social development of our region during the ancient history of the Armenian Highlands (X-I millennia BC). It is an attempt to highlight the changes in climatic conditions, their specific manifestations and the degree of influence from the Early Holocene to the decline of the Urartian state.

By: Lusine Tumanyan

Yerevan, Matenadaran, 2023, 240 p.

The book presents the establishment of monastic orders in Armenia, influenced by Cappadocian and Egyptian traditions. It consolidates and analyzes the rules applied in Armenian monasteries. The dietary practices of hermits and monks, as well as the order of blessing the table, are detailed. Additionally, the book elucidates testimonies from Armenian primary sources regarding the rites of monastic pilgrimage and analyzes the content of those rites. This work is intended for those interested in monasticism, Armenologists, theologians, and the general reading public.

Armenian Texts and Studies, Volume: 7, Brill, 2023, 360 p., Editors: Emilio Bonfiglio and  Claudia Rapp

Byzantium is more and more recognized as a vibrant culture in dialogue with neighbouring regions, political entities, and peoples. Where better to look for this kind of dynamism than in the interactions between the Byzantines and the Armenians? Warfare and diplomacy are only one part of that story. The more enduring part consists of contact and mutual influence brokered by individuals who were conversant in both cultures and languages. The articles in this volume feature fresh work by younger and established scholars that illustrate the varieties of interaction in the fields of literature, material culture, and religion.
Contributors are: Gert Boersema, Emilio Bonfiglio, Bernard Coulie, Karen Hamada, Robin Meyer, Johannes Preiser-Kapeller, Claudia Rapp, Mark Roosien, Werner Seibt, Emmanuel Van Elverdinghe, Theo Maarten van Lint, Alexandra-Kyriaki Wassiliou-Seibt, and David Zakarian.

By: H. Avetisyan
A. Gnuni
L. Mkrtchyan
A. Bobokhyan

Publishing House of the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography, Yerevan, 2023, 184 p.

A collective monograph titled "Megalithic Culture of Artsakh" has been published, authored by Avetisyan A., Gnuni A., Sargsyan G., Mkrtchyan L., Bobokhyan A. This book, published in Yerevan in 2023 by the Publishing House of the Institute of Archeology and Ethnography, spans 183 pages. It is dedicated to the megalithic monuments of Artsakh, presenting previously unknown megalithic structures in the Republic of Artsakh. These include menhirs, vishaps (dragon stones), idols, rock structures, stone piles, towers, and structures resembling dolmens. The monuments studied have been digitized and modeled, and the monograph includes orthophoto maps, geodetic maps, and maps illustrating the distribution of these monuments. The book is a significant contribution to the research on the ancient culture of Artsakh.