KHACHATUR ABOVYAN ARMENIAN STATE PEDAGOGICAL UNIVERSITY

At the initiative of the “Spyurk” (Diaspora) Scientific-Educational Center of Armenian State Pedagogical University (ASPU), the Faculty of Philology hosted Levon Lachikyan, a philologist, graphic artist, aesthetician and art critic.

Suren Danielyan, Director of the “Spyurk” Scientific-Educational Center and Head of the Chair of New and Modern Armenian Literature and Its Teaching Methods at ASPU emphasized the importance of the visit and added that ‘we are opening a new and unfamiliar city for us, Constantinople.

Professor Suren Danielyan presented the books by Levon Lachikyan and the picture book "Istanbul: Old and New" which has been published under the auspices of the Patriarchate of Constantinople and by order of His Holiness Sahak Mashalian, the Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople.

Knarik Abrahamyan, Associate Professor of the Chair of New and Modern Armenian Literature and Its Teaching Methods, and a researcher at the “Spyurk” Scientific-Educational Center, said that thanks to the efforts of the Chair, students often have the opportunity to meet with literary and cultural figures. She said the meeting with Levon Lachikyan was not accidental: the latter is also a philologist.

When introducing Levon Lachikyan she said the philologist, who has specialization in Aesthetics, today teaches in Ijevan and Gyumri, ‘trying to bring his artistic perceptions to pan-Armenian dimensions.’

Knarik Abrahamyan added that Levon Lachikyan is also the author of the collections “Spiritual Bells of Lightless Days” and “Crossing Roads” with the review of Professor Suren Danielyan. “As for the newly published picture book, I must say that Lachikyan knows the Armenian part of Constantinople, the local Armenian writers,” she added.

In his speech Levon Lachikyan presented the history of the creation of the picture book and said it was not accidental that the presentation of the picture book in Armenia began in his hometown of Gyumri.

Regarding the drawings of Constantinople, he confessed that philology helped him better understand the value of the city. And the love for Constantinople was instilled in him by Professor Suren Danielyan.

Levon Lachikyan also spoke about the idea and motives of creating the paintings, in particular, the structures by the Balyan family, a dynasty of royal architects and builders who gave Constantinople its face.

During the meeting, Nina Chughuryan, a 4th-year student of ASPU, presented the words of appreciation by prose writer Roper Hattechyan, editor-in-chief of the Constantinople-based “Marmara” Armenian daily about Levon Lachikyan’s activity and art.

The meeting was summarized by Ashot Galstyan, Dean of the Faculty of Philology at ASPU, who emphasized the importance of such meetings and hailed the artist's meaningful and comprehensive activity.