Edmond Hovakimyan after the 44-day war


He had been demobilized months earlier when the 44-day war began. He went to Artsakh as a volunteer with his friends. On October 11, he lost his left arm in a drone strike in Jabrail. He was engaged in music for nine years. Clarinet, shwi, duduk, pku; these were not just musical instruments for Edmond, but, as he says, the greatest loves of his life. The hardest part has been adjusting to the thought of not playing forever. Today, Edmond is a famous showman. It has its own myth-he believes that the day will come when he will have a hand again. "When you see the kind of scientific and technological growth our planet records every day, you believe that after ten to fifteen or maybe twenty years it will be possible to get a hand again through surgery," he says.

Christmas according to hymns and verses


Sharakan or hymn is the main type of our spiritual-ecclesiastical music, at the same time, it is one of the oldest genres of Armenian language poetry. The authors of ancient examples of hymns are Mesrop Mashtots, Sahak Partev, Movses Khorenatsi, Hovhan Mandakuni. Many of our hymn writers wrote hymns dedicated to Christmas, the first and great holiday of the Christian year. These works are dominated by the inspiring and festive mood of the Savior's birth, the motifs of admiration for the Holy Mother of God and Baby Jesus. The hymns and gospels of Christmas are discussed in "Parallel Readings" by literary experts Hayk Hambardzumyan and Arkmenik Nikoghosyan.

About one story: Levon Bashalyan, "Kaghand"


Christmas or "kaghand" stories were popular and widespread in Western Armenian reality until the 10s of the 20th century. New novelization began each new year with "kaghand" novels. The first works of the year published in the press of the time, in accordance with the recommendations of the holidays, discussed benevolence, compassion, brotherhood, mercy towards the poor and oppressed, repentance and conversion, new beginning and renewal of life, as well as national themes. Levon Bashalyan's "Kaghand" is such a cozy story. Literary experts Hayk Hambardzumyan and Arkmenik Nikoghosyan discuss the story.

Derenik Demirchyan's Armenian


Derenik Demirchyan's essay "Armenian" was first published in 1920 in the press. Later, it was included in the 14th volume of the author's works, but "scissored". The essay differs thematically and in tone from Demirchyan's other works and raises many questions. Literary critics Hayk Hambardzumyan and Arkmenik Nikoghosyan discuss the essay "the Armenian" in "Parallel Readings".

About one story. Susanna Harutyunyan, "The Howl of Female Winds"


Novels, short stories and short stories of prose writer Susanna Harutyunyan are remarkable for the topics they discuss, not so "feminine" perspective, psychological subtleties of character creation. S. Harutyunyan's story "The Howl of Female Winds" is discussed in "Parallel Readings" by literary critics Hayk Hambardzumyan and Arkmenik Nikoghosyan.

Within one story. Vrezh Israelyan, "I, the Muse and the Abyss"


One of Vrezh Israelyan's last short stories, "I, the Muse and the Abyss" at first glance is a satirical work with domestic and social themes, but the careful reader will find echoes of the novelist's favorite national destiny and historical themes, subtle references to reality and the writer's condition. Literary critics Hayk Hambardzumyan, Arkmenik Nikoghosyan and novelist Mher Israelyan discuss Israelyan's story "I, the Muse and the Abyss".

What can't we find in literature textbooks?


For most readers, the idea of ​​literature begins and ends with school textbooks, and later, for various reasons, people read very little. Literature school textbooks form literary taste, certain criteria for understanding and evaluating literature. No matter how much those textbooks try to make them modern, comprehensive, attractive, a lot of things are still left out of those books. What can't we find in literature textbooks? Literary critics Hayk Hambardzumyan and Arkmenik Nikoghosyan discuss.

Rafael Mkrtchyan after the 44-day war


Rafael considers October 10, 2020 to be his second birthday, his spinal cord was damaged by a gunshot in Jrakan. Today the young man is in a wheelchair. After the injury, fellow citizens collected money and built an elevator in the apartment building where Rafael lives. He is currently building a guest house for people with disabilities. We spent a day with his family in Dilijan, where Rafael Mkrtchyan was born and lives.

Literary August


The month of August is especially mentioned a lot in Armenian and world literature. Why is it so, what tips and forms of artistic expression does literary August have? Literary critics Hayk Hambardzumyan and Arkmenik Nikoghosyan talk and read.

Within one story. Abig Avagyan, "Southern Fever"


Abig Avagyan is one of the most unique figures of Soviet-Armenian prose, whose works, unfortunately, few people remember today. A. Avagyan's stories are distinguished by their unique, even exotic oriental atmosphere, new and interesting themes, and unique writing style. One of Abig Avagyan's most famous short stories, "Southern Fever", is discussed by literary critics Hayk Hambardzumyan and Arkmenik Nikoghosyan.

Gracious Patriarch Nerses the Graceful


2023 marks the 850th anniversary of the death of Nerses the Graceful. On this occasion, various events took place in Yerevan, in Matenadaran, and in Paris, in the headquarters of UNESCO, and his works were published. Literary experts Hayk Hambardzumyan, Arkmenik Nikoghosyan and Gurgen Gasparyan talk about the literary heritage of Nerses the Graceful, the significance of church and educational activities in "Parallel Readings".

Listen my son... poets to their children


Armenian poetry has many important themes and exciting works, but the poems that the authors dedicated to their children stand out for their emotionality and impact. With the tone of conversation, testament, advice, confession of love, pain of loss, these works charm with their sincerity, lived life, but also grow into a general poem and are addressed to all readers. Is it so or not? Literary critics Hayk Hambardzumyan and Arkmenik Nikoghosyan discuss the works of Armenian poets dedicated to their children in "Parallel Readings".