Optimizing Primary Schools


Arayik Harutyunyan, the Chairman of the Investigative Committee established to investigate cases of illegal fund raising in primary schools, revealing physical and psychological violence against children and elimination of vicious practices in pre-school institutions, presents the results of the studies and points out the steps to be taken for the upcoming years. Psychologist Armine Vanyan analyzes the impact of these practices on psychology of pre-school children.

Postgraduate Education at Gevorgian Seminary


The Gevorkian Theological Seminary is transitioning to a three-level education system. Is the Seminary ready to provide quality postgraduate education? How shall it ensure the standards of postgraduate education? Rev. Fr. Garegin Hambardzumyan, Inspector of the Gevorgyan Theological Seminary, and Deacon Hrach Sargsyan, Head of the Department of Biblical and Confessional Studies, talk about this in the pavilion of the "Option" TV series. 
 

Catholicos Garegin Hovsepian


Sixty years of scholarly, literary and spiritual activity of Garegin Hovsepyan, friar of the Mother See, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia are exceptional. Through Garegin Hovsepyan's efforts unique manuscripts have been saved, and are kept today in the Matenadaran. He was the one to uncover Toros Roslin's art, and establish a number of branches of Armenian art history. He was the first to examine the ancient samples of Armenian domed temples, tomb monuments; and our today’s understanding of many of the architectural monuments destroyed during history is based exclusively on the information he has provided.
The presence and sermon of Garegin Hovsepyan in the suicide squad was crucial in the battle of Sardarapat.
 

 

Children’s Right to Privacy


Psychologist Hrachya Amiryan and Aida Muradyan from World Vision Armenia, Child Protection Program Director, discuss the implications of the statutory provisions on the protection and immunity of children’s privacy; violation of children’s dignity and its impact on emotional life; public discourse of family life.  

Conflict Transformation through Negotiations


With the partnership between the Armenia Inter-Church Charitable Round Table Foundation, Armenian-Russian University of Armenia and "Foundation against the Violation of Law" NGO, the subject “Conflict Transformation through Negotiations” was introduced in the University. The subject is taught for three years now. The objective is to develop students’ negotiation and communication skills, critical thinking, objective argument perception and building. How efficient was the study of the subject, how did the the students’ understanding on transforming or solving regional conflicts change? The topic is discussed by Larisa Alaverdyan, the Director of Law and Politics Institute of the Armenian-Russian University, Lilit Haroyan –postgraduate student of the Chair of International Relations and Global Politics and graduate student Ruben Zakharyan. 
 

Old Sects in New Waves


The legal heritage of the 8th century Catholicos Hovhan Odznetsi is considered to be the basis of Mkhitar Gosh and Smbat Gundstabl Datastanagirk (The Lawcode). "The Code of Conduct for Armenians" regulated social, legal, civil relations, contained instructions for fighting sectarian movements. The opponency he wrote against religious movements revealed the essence of the ideological struggle of the backsliders of the time. Experts, according to this literature, identify the ideas of old sects in contemporary religious trends. Odznetsi's literature also sheds light on the events of this history-wise scarce period.
Azat Bozoyan, Head of the Oriental Studies and Historiography Department at the Institute of Oriental Studies, and Chair of the Dialogue NGO Almast Muradyan speak at the pavilion of “Option”. 

 

Armenia and Neighbors: In Search for Peace, part 6


Another discussion of the program "Armenia and Neighbors: In Search of Peace” of the Inter-Church Charitable Round Table Foundation of the World Council of Churches is dedicated to Armenia-Georgia-Iran-Turkey axis. What new perspectives of cooperation in the South Caucasus are there in view of rapid changes in the world, how can they serve to maintain the peace in the region? Interview with Alexander Rusetsky, Director of the South Caucasian Regional Security Institute of Georgia, Turkish journalist Serdar Corjun and Imam Ali Mohammad Shajanan of the Blue Mosque in Yerevan.

Narekatsi between East and West


Who is Narekatsi for the world? How did he win the spiritual treasury of different nations? What makes them keep turning to Narekatsi, his heritage, what new studies come forth over the recent years? How did the heritage of Universal teacher get to be proclaimed and what is the investment of Armenian Studies Centers of the world in all these? 
Experts in Armenian Studies Jean-Pierre Mahé and Abraham Teryan have a conversation.  
 

Petros Getadardz and Fall of Ani


A deadly blow was put on the Armenian statehood by the fall of the Bagratidian kingdom. In addition to external enemies attacks, there was internal divide in the country. Gagik's two sons, Hovhannes Smbat and Ashot, were fighting for the throne. The younger brother asked for military assistance from Baghdad, and the senior heir of throne bequeathed Ani to Byzantine Empire, which had to ensure its security and rest. One more fact is that Ani has been submitted to the Byzantines by Catholicos Petros Getadardz. What was the role of the Catholicos, was the participation of Getadardz analyzed objectively and comprehensively? 
Dr. Karen Matevosyan, Doctor of Historical Sciences and Vahe Torosyan, Candidate of Historical Sciences talk about these issues.

Georgian encroachments towards Armenian heritage


The question of ownership of some monasteries and churches of historic Gugark and Tayk is a subject of political speculation in Armenian-Georgian relations. Most of these churches are in the territory of today's modern Lori region. The Georgian Church presents claims to that heritage, regardless of what century was the church built in and how much time had it served to the Armenian Chalcedonians. Armenian specialists say that the monasteries belong to the Armenian architectural school of Gugark and Taik. At the same time, in Turkey the transfer of dozens of Armenian Chalcedon temples of Western Armenia to the Georgian Orthodox Church continues. Davit Nahatakyan, Candidate of Architecture Science, and Father Hetum Tarverdyan, abbot of the Akhtala monastery and the spiritual pastor of the region, talk about the cultural heritage of Gugark and Tayk. 
 

Appropriation of Taik spiritual-cultural heritage


According to the claims of Georgian scientists, Taik, the 14th state of Greater Armenia, was permanently inhabited by ethnic Georgians, while the Armenians were settlers. Based on this viewpoint of Georgian studies, the Georgian side has claims not only over the religious and secular architecture but also over spiritual and cultural achievements. Many architectural buildings of Taik that are currently in the territory of the present-day Turkey, according to the recently placed signs, are Georgian, and the Georgian side is also implementing studies and restoration works there. Davit Nahatakyan, Candidate of Architecture Science, and Arkady Akopov, Candidate of Historical Sciences, talk about Armenian studies of architecture and demographic situation of Taik.

From Shnorhali to Vospnaker: Nicknames and Honor Names of Clergy


The nicknames and honor-names assigned to the clergy reveal their characters, lifestyle, merits, behavior and even civil position. The topic is discussed by the Head of the Department of Manuscript Studies and Mayr Tsutsak in Matenadaran Gevorg Ter-Vardanyan and graduate of Gevorkian Seminary Deacon Manvel Sargsyan.