Aznavour, a memoirist and a novelist


Charles Aznavour has written remarkable memoirs, autobiographies, even short stories and a novel. What is unique about his published prose? Literary critics Hayk Hambardzumyan and Arkmenik Nikoghosyan discuss the program "Parallel Readings"

The ceremony of opening the doors and consecration of the nave was held at the Holy Savior Cathedral of Gyumri, which was consecrated 36 years ago


A solemn procession of high-ranking clergy and religious fathers, led by the Primate of the Shirak Diocese, Archbishop Mikayel Ajapahyan, went from Vardanants Square in Gyumri to the Holy Savior Cathedral. The clergy, singing psalms and praying, led the faithful to the newly built cathedral. The Primate of the Diocese anointed the nave of the cathedral with holy myron, and the bishops anointed the columns and the baptismal font.

Gyumri's Holy Savior Church Reopens After Decades of Construction


The 150-year-old cathedral, which was destroyed by the devastating earthquake of 1988, has reopened after decades of construction and restoration work. The relic of the Savior's Cross was brought to Gyumri from the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin for this historic event. Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II performed the re-consecration of the restored Holy Savior Church. Ten years ago, His Holiness consecrated the crosses on the dome and bell tower of the Holy Savior Church.
 

The Poet Aznavour


We cannot imagine the words of Charles Aznavour's famous songs without the accompaniment of a melody, but the words of hundreds of Aznavour's songs can also be read as poetry. Can we talk about the poet Aznavour and what are the characteristics of these poems? Literary critics Hayk Hambardzumyan and Arkmenik Nikoghosyan discuss these issues in the program "Parallel Readings".

About a story: Sergey Dovlatov, “The Colonel Said I Love You”


In the story “The Colonel Said I Love You” by the famous prose writer Sergey Dovlatov, the author records, through small episodes of a certain person’s life and lifestyle, the lack of motivation to live in a Soviet country, the uncertainty of life, the absence of prospects, and the control of the authorities over all of this. Literary critics Hayk Hambardzumyan and Arkmenik Nikoghosyan discuss the story on the “Parallel Readings” program.

Love in Poetry


These delicate and captivating works on the theme of love in Armenian medieval literature, the poetry, amaze readers with their psychological depth and multi-layeredness, the simplicity of their forms of expression, and the immediacy of their feelings. Literary critics Hayk Hambardzumyan and Arkmenik Nikoghosyan discuss the love homelands on the program “Parallel Readings.”

 

A Completely Different Autumn


The “autumn” tones of Armenian classical poetry continue in the poems of Soviet Armenia and the period of independence. Although the moods and themes remain the same, the “autumn” of literature is enriched with new motifs and forms of expression. In the program “Parallel Readings”, literary critics Hayk Hambardzumyan and Arkmenik Nikoghosyan discuss the autumn layers of Armenian literature.

A soldier deprived of both hands helps disabled soldiers


Varazdat Saneyan and his brother served in the peacekeeping forces under a contract until the 44-day war and went to the front as soon as the war began. They were seriously wounded on the same day, November 2. Varazdat is deprived of both hands. He founded and heads the “Self-sacrificing Heroes of the Defense of the Fatherland” charitable NGO, which is engaged in alleviating the suffering of disabled soldiers and their families.

 

Paruyr Sevak and Medieval Literature


Paruyr Sevak, like many of our poets, was inspired by Armenian medieval literature. He studied medieval literature in depth and scientifically. How did the past and the present, literary tradition and innovation interact in Sevak's work, and what influence did Armenian medieval literature have on his poetry? The program "Parallel Readings" discusses literary critics Hayk Hambardzumyan and Arkmenik Nikoghosyan.

 

Levon Gevorgyan after the 44-day war


Lt. Col. Levon Gevorgyan, who was wounded in the 44-day war in Karvachar, started walking after a long and painstaking fight by doctors. At the very beginning, doctors even discussed the issue of amputating both of his legs. Now Levon has fully returned to life. He has been in the Armenian army since he was 17 years old. He retired after the Four Day War. From the first days of the 44-day war, he went to Karvachar with the Ashtarak combat squad, where he knew every bush and tree in detail. During that time, the combat squad had 3 casualties and 4 wounded, Levon was the fifth.

After the reconsecration of the Cathedral, the first episcopal ordination and consecration took place


The Catholicos of All Armenians was led in a church procession to the Cathedral to offer the Divine Liturgy and perform episcopal ordination. Four benefactors of the church were assisiting His Holiness. His Holiness was accompanied by the Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople and Archbishop Nathan Hovhannisyan. The Armenian Patriarch, with prayer and blessing, granted the seven degrees of the episcopal rank on the newly ordained, preached and instructed them to take care of Christ's flock, being faithful to the teachings of the church fathers and saints. Here, six bishops were given the omophorion, which is part of the episcopal vestment.

 

How do writers work?


Memoirs contain interesting testimonies about the creative process of writers. There are writers who write at night, drink a lot of coffee, create while standing or lying down. These facts, which are interesting to many, are important for literary studies to the extent that they can determine the artistic features of the works. How do the way and conditions of authors' creation affect literature, and do they affect it? Literary experts Hayk Hambardzumyan and Arkmenik Nikoghosyan discuss these questions in the "Parallel Readings" program.