Levon Shant

Levon Shant was the only Western Armenian writer of the famous Vernatan founded by Tumanyan. He created works in a variety of literary genres, but his literary fame was brought to him by his dramatic works: "The Ancient Gods", "The Emperor", "Oshin Payl", "The Princess of the Fallen Fortress". Like his party friends Nikol Aghbalyan and Avetis Aharonyan, Shant tried to combine literary life and political activity throughout his life. A graduate of the Gevorgyan Theological Seminary, in 1919 he assumed the duties of the Speaker of the Parliament of the First Republic of Armenia. After the Sovietization of Armenia, he left his homeland forever. In 1929, Levon Shant proclaimed the foundation of the National Educational and Cultural Union in Beirut and the creation of the Nshan Palanchkan Seminary. Both are still operating today.