International theater poster competition launches


One year ago, the "International Theatrical Poster Competition-Festival" was held in Armenia for the first time. The works were evaluated by the world-famous graphic designers Mishal Bator, Sergey Serov, Ebrahim Haghighi. An open call for works for the second theater poster festival will be announced soon. What will the second Armenian International Festival of Posters be like? What place does the poster occupy in the field of modern design? Graphic designer Edik Poghosyan, co-founder and head of the competition-festival, spoke about these and a number of other issues at "Artfocus". Anahit Margaryan moderated the conversation.

 

Nuns- an undercover life


With the abolition of convents in the 20th century, the tradition of women's spiritual service died out in Armenia. That tradition was restored in 2018, when a monastery was founded in Ghazaravan community of Aragatsotn diocese. Women were given the opportunity to separate themselves and lead a spiritual life. In the Ghazaravan monastery, the ancient tradition that was broken in our country about a century ago is being restored.

 

The modernity of "Narek"


How is "Narek" relevant today, how can it help our people and Christians all over the world today, what ways of life does the "Book of Tragedy" written in the Middle Ages indicate? Literary critics Hayk Hambardzumyan, Arkmenik Nikoghosyan and ethnographer Arusyak Tamrazyan talk.

 

The Patriarch of All Armenians met the participants of the Priest Accelerated course


Another group of priests from the dioceses of Armenia and Diaspora completed the Priest Accelerated course. The priests lived in the Mother See for three weeks, attended courses at the "Garegin I" educational center, communicated with the monastery's Brotherhood. At the end of the training, the Patriarch of All Armenians Karekin II met with the priests.

 

 

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.

Tea party with Santa Claus


New Year's Eve is a fairy-tale atmosphere in the "Little Theater". For the performance "Tea Party with Santa Claus" the decor and structure of the theater is changed, the audience is in the center of the performance, on the stage, drinking tea with Santa Claus at the table. The year-end broadcast of "Artfocus" transports the viewer to the fairy-tale environment of the performance. The guest of the program is the director of "Little Theater" Vahan Badalyan. The program was hosted by Anahit Margrayan.

 

The scribes of Khor Virap are preparing for the New Year


This Sunday was different for the scribes and choir of Khor Virap monastery. They sang, danced, helped each other, lit the toaster, baked lavash and gatha. Our film crew witnessed a day full of family warmth and love.

Mysterious candles made by Liana from Artsakh


Displaced from Artsakh, Liana continues to make candles in Armenia. It was hard to keep working, it was also hard not to work, but doing candle making is now more than important to stand out, not to break, to move forward in faith.

Festive toys and bags made by the hands of Artsakh residents


Displaced Artsakh residents continue to create in Armenia. "Working is also a way to overcome depression and pain, a form of struggle," assure Elina and Lilit.

New strategy of education and science. Part 140


We discuss issues of aesthetic upbringing of children with Ophelia Goncharova, director of "Dekart" art training center.

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.