KHACHATUR ABOVYAN ARMENIAN STATE PEDAGOGICAL UNIVERSITY

“Today, the Pedagogical University is having a festive day; we are hosting Rouben Sevak not as a guest’s welcome but as a “come-back home” ”, the Head of the Department of Modern and New Armenian Literature and its Teaching Methods Mr. Souren Danielyan mentions during the event held at the Faculty of Culture, with these words he refers to the Museum of the prominent Armenian poet, writer and military doctor Mr. Rouben Sevak which has recently opened in the area of the mother See of Holly Echmiadzin.

 

Speaking about the creative heritage of the writer the literary critic notices, “Due to his love of writing, creative zeal, national mentality, potential and with the existence of a strong desire to challenge the powerful he became a real bridge for the young. Rouben Sevak competed with the time’s eminent writers and with no integration.”

 

Today, the nephew of Rouben Sevak, Hovhannes Chilingaryan, well-known philanthropist, the poet’s family members together with the Diaspora Armenian businessman Mr. Hakob Avagyan, as well as a number of western Armenian literary and cultural figures, who came to Armenia on the occasion of opening of the museum, visited the Pedagogical University.

During the event the ASPU Chancellor Rouben Mirzakhanyan granted Hovhannes Chilingaryan the Highest Award of the University - the “Khachatur Abovyan” medal.

 

In addition, the Chancellor expressed acknowledgements to Hovhannes Chilingaryan, who lived in France but using his own means, created and passed the writer’s creative works, relics and documents of significant meaning. “Ventures happen not only in difficult historic years; heroic manifestations take place in times of piece, too. Hovhannes Chilingaryan’s activities are an expression of national courage and emotions which were crowned by the opening of the museum.”

 

“Young, successful, brilliant, renowned, favorite doctor and poet, a person, who passed away only not to convert his religion. Literature already knows such heroes, but this one is an exceptional case; everything is stated and approved on documents”, Rouben Mirzakhanyan mentions adding that the University will do all possible for the museum to become the most important scientific, academic, educational center.

 

In his turn, Mr. Hovhannes Chilingaryan expresses thanks for being awarded the medal of the Great Enlightener mentioning that for continuous years on his work has had the aim to pass to the Armenian nation the sacrifice spirit of the writer. As a result, the memorial house of Rouben Sevak turned into a museum bearing his name.

 

“Rouben Sevak serves as the collective trait of the tragic history of Armenian nation with his literary heritage, tragic life and ideas”; this is how the Western-Armenian writer is presented by the literary critic, national figure Mr. Yervand Azatyan. The latter highly praised Mr. Hovhannes Chilingaryan’s activities, saying “Our country is the treasury of the Armenian art and heritage; we are thankful to see you guided by this understanding and for moving Rouben Sevak’s museum to his motherland.” He also expressed hope that the moving of the museum to the motherland will upraise the Western-Armenian literary fame putting the names of those who gifted masterpieces to the treasury of Armenian literature on the nationwide pedestal.

Moreover, the literary critic is happy to notice that the Department of Diaspora-Armenian Literature of the Pedagogical University has been dedicated to Western-Armenian Literature and to creating a national trait.

 

Further on the Head of the Department of Old and Medieval Armenian Literature and its Teaching Methods Ms. Aelita Doloukhanyan mentioned during her speech “You lived long and passed away for the sake of Armenia” and added, “We need to inseminate the national mentality correctly. I am sure that Rouben Sevak’s Museum will become a unique place of pilgrimage, a school, as well as will teach us to love the homeland just like he did.”  

 

To conclude, writer and publicist Alexander Topchyan, actress and writer Anahit Topchyan, expert of the Diaspora-Armenian literature Mr. Kamo Ter-Petrosyan, and several students of the University made presentation speeches during this event dedicated to Rouben Sevak.