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PRESS RELEASE
August 15, 2010
Land and Culture Organization
1435 Old House Road
Pasadena, CA 91107
www.lcousa.org
DIASPORA AND ARMENIA VOLUNTEERS EXPERIENCING THE LAND AND CULTURE
Yeghvard/Shirakamut, Armenia - The Land and Culture Organization (LCO-USA),
Organisation Terre and Culture (OTC-France) and Yergeer Yev
Meshagiut-Armenia annual summer campaign is in full swing. During the
months of July and August 37 dedicated volunteers from Armenia, Canada,
England, France, Syria, and the United States have been hard at work
restoring two ancient Armenian churches.
This summer, LCO is restoring the 17th Century Sourp Astvatzatzin Church in
the Yeghvard village in the southern Syunik province on the border of
Armenia and the liberated areas surrounding Artsakh. This renovation
project began in 2007 and will continue until its completion in 2011.
Volunteers have been restoring the interior of the church and its altar, as
well as clearing around its exterior and digging out khatchkars (stone
crosses) and memorials on the church's complex. As with many ancient
churches throughout Armenia, these religious sites had been closed and
neglected during the Soviet period
The second site is the Tchitchkhanavank Monastery in the village of
Shirakamut in the northern Lori Province near Spitak. Tchitchkhanavank was
built on the plan of a Christian cross, typical to the sixth and seventh
centuries. This church was partially destroyed by an earthquake in 1926,
neglected during the Soviet era, and again suffering destruction by the 1988
earthquake. In 2008 and 2009, LCO began the archaeological excavations,
which revealed the church's foundation along with ancient tombstones and
objects of archaeological interest. This summer, volunteers will begin the
renovation and construction of the foundation walls of the church.
Historical experts, skilled craftsmen, and LCO Board Members are overseeing
both restorations.
This has not been the typical Armenia vacation for the volunteers from the
Diaspora and Yerevan or a quiet summer for the local residents. Volunteers
have been living in the village and experiencing the sites and sounds of
farm life. This has given all of them an appreciation of the challenges and
joys that rural remote Armenian villages and their residents face. The
volunteers have personally become more enriched having had the opportunity
to participate in preserving the Armenian heritage and living among the
people of Armenia.
For the villagers, they are moved that Armenian youth from the Diaspora have
given their time and dedication to a project off the beaten path where they
do not have any personal connections, except for being Armenian and wanting
to give back to their ancestral nation. The village children especially
become energized and excited assisting the volunteers in the work and
inviting them to play. LCO-USA President Haig Manjikian reflected, `Armenia
and the Diaspora are a family tree with Armenia being our roots and the
Spiurk its leaves. Both are equally important and need to be nurtured. If
together, we care for the roots, the tree can survive.'
Aside from bonding with the land and locals, volunteers have also been
touring historical sites throughout Armenia and Karabakh. On weekends, they
have enjoyed excursions to Khor Virab, Zorats Karer/Karahunj, Noravank,
Vahanavank, Hovanavank, the regional capital city of Kapan, and other
Armenia landmarks restored by LCO such as the Tatev Monastery and
Saghmosavank. In Karabakh, they visited the cities of Shushi and
Stepanakert, as well as previous LCO/OTC renovation projects of the
community center and schoolhouse of Karintak and the entire third floor and
operating rooms of the Shushi Central Regional Hospital. The village of
Karintak played a pivotal role in the securing of Shushi, and the hospital
has been serving the health needs of the residents of the region. In
addition, LCO Board Members have been actively searching prospective sites
for upcoming campaigns.
Besides the Yeghvard and Shirakamut sites, OTC is participating in a joint
venture project with the sister cities of Vienne, France and Goris, Armenia
renovating the 7th Century Sourp Hripsime Church near the pagan era caves in
Old Goris. An additional 23 Armenian and non-Armenian volunteers from the
Vienne community have committed themselves to this project.
For over 30 years, LCO has been one of the earliest volunteers groups in
Armenia and Karabakh working to restore, renovate, and rejuvenate the
historical monuments and sites of our nation. It has performed this mission
through its summer campaigns, by volunteers of every age from the Diaspora
and Armenia.
To help our mission or join in our summer volunteer program, you may reach
us at www.lcousa.org.
From: A. Papazian
August 15, 2010
Land and Culture Organization
1435 Old House Road
Pasadena, CA 91107
www.lcousa.org
DIASPORA AND ARMENIA VOLUNTEERS EXPERIENCING THE LAND AND CULTURE
Yeghvard/Shirakamut, Armenia - The Land and Culture Organization (LCO-USA),
Organisation Terre and Culture (OTC-France) and Yergeer Yev
Meshagiut-Armenia annual summer campaign is in full swing. During the
months of July and August 37 dedicated volunteers from Armenia, Canada,
England, France, Syria, and the United States have been hard at work
restoring two ancient Armenian churches.
This summer, LCO is restoring the 17th Century Sourp Astvatzatzin Church in
the Yeghvard village in the southern Syunik province on the border of
Armenia and the liberated areas surrounding Artsakh. This renovation
project began in 2007 and will continue until its completion in 2011.
Volunteers have been restoring the interior of the church and its altar, as
well as clearing around its exterior and digging out khatchkars (stone
crosses) and memorials on the church's complex. As with many ancient
churches throughout Armenia, these religious sites had been closed and
neglected during the Soviet period
The second site is the Tchitchkhanavank Monastery in the village of
Shirakamut in the northern Lori Province near Spitak. Tchitchkhanavank was
built on the plan of a Christian cross, typical to the sixth and seventh
centuries. This church was partially destroyed by an earthquake in 1926,
neglected during the Soviet era, and again suffering destruction by the 1988
earthquake. In 2008 and 2009, LCO began the archaeological excavations,
which revealed the church's foundation along with ancient tombstones and
objects of archaeological interest. This summer, volunteers will begin the
renovation and construction of the foundation walls of the church.
Historical experts, skilled craftsmen, and LCO Board Members are overseeing
both restorations.
This has not been the typical Armenia vacation for the volunteers from the
Diaspora and Yerevan or a quiet summer for the local residents. Volunteers
have been living in the village and experiencing the sites and sounds of
farm life. This has given all of them an appreciation of the challenges and
joys that rural remote Armenian villages and their residents face. The
volunteers have personally become more enriched having had the opportunity
to participate in preserving the Armenian heritage and living among the
people of Armenia.
For the villagers, they are moved that Armenian youth from the Diaspora have
given their time and dedication to a project off the beaten path where they
do not have any personal connections, except for being Armenian and wanting
to give back to their ancestral nation. The village children especially
become energized and excited assisting the volunteers in the work and
inviting them to play. LCO-USA President Haig Manjikian reflected, `Armenia
and the Diaspora are a family tree with Armenia being our roots and the
Spiurk its leaves. Both are equally important and need to be nurtured. If
together, we care for the roots, the tree can survive.'
Aside from bonding with the land and locals, volunteers have also been
touring historical sites throughout Armenia and Karabakh. On weekends, they
have enjoyed excursions to Khor Virab, Zorats Karer/Karahunj, Noravank,
Vahanavank, Hovanavank, the regional capital city of Kapan, and other
Armenia landmarks restored by LCO such as the Tatev Monastery and
Saghmosavank. In Karabakh, they visited the cities of Shushi and
Stepanakert, as well as previous LCO/OTC renovation projects of the
community center and schoolhouse of Karintak and the entire third floor and
operating rooms of the Shushi Central Regional Hospital. The village of
Karintak played a pivotal role in the securing of Shushi, and the hospital
has been serving the health needs of the residents of the region. In
addition, LCO Board Members have been actively searching prospective sites
for upcoming campaigns.
Besides the Yeghvard and Shirakamut sites, OTC is participating in a joint
venture project with the sister cities of Vienne, France and Goris, Armenia
renovating the 7th Century Sourp Hripsime Church near the pagan era caves in
Old Goris. An additional 23 Armenian and non-Armenian volunteers from the
Vienne community have committed themselves to this project.
For over 30 years, LCO has been one of the earliest volunteers groups in
Armenia and Karabakh working to restore, renovate, and rejuvenate the
historical monuments and sites of our nation. It has performed this mission
through its summer campaigns, by volunteers of every age from the Diaspora
and Armenia.
To help our mission or join in our summer volunteer program, you may reach
us at www.lcousa.org.
From: A. Papazian