On October 22, the Bodelian Library of the University of Oxford opened an exclusive exhibition dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide and entitled “Armenia: Masterpieces from an Enduring Culture”. The event was organized at the initiative and under the sponsorship of British-Armenian benefactor Raffi Manoukian with the support of RA Ambassador to Great Britain Armen Sargsyan and the Gulbenkian Foundation, reports the RA MFA press service.
RA Ambassador Armen Sarksian, General Director of the Bodleian Library Richard Ovenden and Director of the Chair of Armenian Studies at the University of Oxford, well-known Armenologist and Professor Theo van Lint gave speeches at the opening ceremony.
The speeches were followed by performances of the works of Narekatsi, Sayat-Nova and Komitas by well-known violinist Levon Chilingirian.
The curators of the exhibition are Professor Theo van Lint and librarian of the Bodelian Library Robin Meyer. By paying tribute to the victims of the Armenian Genocide, the organizers’ goal is to show visitors the cultural achievements that Armenians have made throughout the centuries, starting from great religious and literary monuments and ending with the heritage left by Armenian communities of the Diaspora. Samples have been gathered from the communities of Manchester and London that will describe the lifestyle, cultural and religious life of the Armenians having experienced genocide and settled in Great Britain based on their personal stories.
The exhibition will run until February 2016 and will include lectures, concerts and discussions.
The year 2016 is also a year to remember for the University of Oxford since it marks the 50thanniversary of the Center for Armenian Studies that was opened with a donation from great benefactor Calouste Gulbenkian.
