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CONNECTIONS
Specialized Magazine
Publisher
Ways s.a.l.
Project Manager
Carmen Tyan
Special Edition
Republic of Armenia
Articles and Photos
State Tourism Committee of Armenia Embassy of the Republic of Armenia in Lebanon
Official Tourism Website of Armenia
www.armenia.travel
Cover
The Cascade is a giant stairway in Yerevan, Armenia. Cascades are on of the major tourist attractions of the city.
Graphic Designer
Gisele Merhi Nachar
Exclusive Ad Agency
Ways - Walid Yasmine ServicesMallat Center 3, 3rd floor,HazmiehTel. / Fax : 961-5-951 733/4/5E-mail : ways@waysgroup.com.lbwww.waysgroup.com.lbwww.aboutleb.comwww.facebook.com/aboutlebanon
1st edition
Special ARMENIA
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Preface of H.E. Mr. Samvel MkrtchianAmbassador of Armenia
Editorial of Mr. Walid YasmineChairman of WAYS s.a.l
Recognition
Identity of Armenia
History of Armenia
Traditions
Témoignage
Tourism
Art and Culture
Investment
Gastronomy
Contents
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Preface of H.E. Mr. Samvel MkrtchianAmbassador of Armenia
Dear readers,
It gives me a realpleasure to say a word on the occasionof “Armenia Special” publication byConnections.
I warmly welcome you all to Armenia- the land of rich history, culture,spirituality and perpetual change.
I would like to highly credit theexcellent job done by all of those whoput every effort to make thepublication presentable and inviting.
They have tried to capture theintricate nuances and create a“country portrait” that is old andyoung at the same time.
The history of the Armenian peoplehas been that of an ordeal, struggle,
survival, creativeness and revival, andalways tirelessly geared to the future.
Armenian land and history is alsoclosely related to ancient civilizationsand spans several millennia. Livingnext to each other, influencing eachother, sharing heritage have beendefining factors.
This publication is a remarkablecontribution to opening a window to
Armenia, to serve as an initial guidefor visitors who want and intend tolearn and understand more about adistinctive culture, but at the sametime about common heritage thatcontinues to enrich us all.
Please come and visit Armenia andexplore all that by yourself . It willmake us wiser, bring closer and help tocontinue the journey along the sinuouspaths of history.
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Dear readers,
Armenia holds a special place in Lebanese people’shearts. The country’s capital, Yerevan, is only two hours away by plane fromBeirut, and many Lebanese oftenchoose to vacation in Armenia, a country with incredible culturalriches, whether it be music, art,architecture or cuisine.
Lebanon’s great esteem for Armenia isdirectly related to the country’s largeArmenian community, a communitythat’s over 100 years old and that hasmade incredible contributions toLebanon.
The Lebanese have grown up listeningto the Armenian language, they eatArmenian food and they wear clothesand jewelry made by Armenians.
Editorial of Mr. Walid YasmineChairman of WAYS
In Beirut, the Bourj Hammoudneighborhood is the traditionalepicenter of the Armenian community.Walking around the area, you’ll seesigns in Armenian and you’ll hear the Armenian language spokensignificantly more than Arabic. Evenoutside Beirut, there are large Armeniancommunities across the country, mostnotably in the scenic town of Anjar inLebanon’s Bekaa Valley.
When they travel to Armenia, theLebanese always feel at home. Theyenjoy Yerevan, but they also like toexplore all the treasures that Armeniahas to offer, like Sevanavank atopstunning Lake Sevan, Khor Virap and its magnificent views of Mount Ararat in the distance, the Roman ruins atGarni Temple and the spa town ofDilijan.
These Lebanon and Armenia travelshave reinforced the cultural exchangebetween the two countries, asLebanon’s Armenian communityrediscovers its ancestral land, while the Armenians themselves becomefamiliar with the large community that’s become part and parcel of theLebanese mosaic.
As a result, Lebanon and Armeniacontinue to strengthen theirrelationship, while encouraging the flow of ideas from the eastern endMediterranean onto the Asianhinterland and back.
This latest issue of Connectionscelebrates Armenia and the specialbond that will forever join theArmenians to the Lebanese.
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• AL PARCO LLCBest Western Congress Hotel Hospitality1st Italy Street, Yerevan, 0010, Armenia+ 374 10 59 11 [email protected]@hotelcongressyerevan.comwww.congresshotelyerevan.com
• ANITEX LLC Bed and Bath Linen Co. Home textile manufacturer and trader Royal Home, Valentini Bianco, Elegance.Georges Fattal Street, Bycop Building, Sin El Fil, Beirut, Lebanon +961 1 48 05 32Artashat-Kaghtsrashen, Vostan 0733, Armenia. +374 93 44 66 [email protected]
• ARAMÉ ART GALLERYArt GalleryNahr Ibrahim Street, Tekeyan Building, 5th floor,Gemmayzeh, Beirut, Lebanon +961 1 56 75 37 ; +961 3 26 24 2333/1 Mashtots avenue, Yerevan 0002, Republic of Armenia +374 91 41 69 [email protected] www.aramegallery.com
• BEHACO S.A.R.LKitchen appliances; Alza – Bamix – Inoxibar – Magimix Amaret Chalhoub, Off highway, Imasdounian bldg, Ground floor,Naher El Mott, Beirut, Lebanon +961 1 88 75 [email protected]
• BEMCO INTERNATIONALEnergy & Infrastructure ProjectsAl-Arz Street, Andraos building, 1st floor, Saïfi sector, Beirut, Lebanon+961 1 44 03 29www.arabianbemco.com
• BYBLOS BANK S.A.L.Retail Banking, Commercial Banking, Capital Markets, Correspondent Banking Elias Sarkis Avenue, Byblos Bank Tower, Achrafieh, Beirut, Lebanon+961 1 20 20 50 [email protected]
• CONNECTING BUSINESS AND MARKETPLACE TO CHRIST (CBMC)Christian Business ConsultancyV. Vagharshian 12, Yerevan 0012, Armenia+374 91 40 57 [email protected]
We Thankour partners for their support.
Without them, this Special Armenia would not have been possible.
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• CREDITBANK S.A.L.One of Lebanon’s leading and fastest growing banks,Creditbank’s expertise spans all traditional and emergingbanking operations, including Retail and CommercialBanking as well as Specialized FinanceHeadquarters: Sin El Fil Boulevard, Freeway Center, 3rdFloor, Dekwaneh, Lebanon +961 1 50 16 00 /700 ; +961 3 18 88 [email protected]
• DANTZIGUIAN SAL Aluminum, Steel and Glazing WorksSkylights : Fixed and MovingAutomatic Doors – Gates & Garage Projects executed in Middle East, Far East & Africa11 Street, Dantziguian Building, Mkalles, Lebanon +9611 68 57 70 ; +961 3 39 83 [email protected] ; [email protected]
• DHAS DANTZIGUIAN HRAYRAutomation Systems 11 Street, Dantziguian Building, Mkalles, Lebanon +961 1 68 37 70 [email protected]
• DEDEYAN DEVELOPMENT COMPANY SARLReal Estate, Construction, Trade and Development Dora Main Highway, Dedeyan Center, 10th Floor,Beirut, Lebanon +961 1 26 07 90 ; +961 1 26 07 [email protected]
• DOUBLETREE BY HILTON YEREVAN CITY CENTRE Hospitality Grigor Lusavorich Street 4/2, Yerevan, 0015, Armenia+ 374 11 55 53 33, +374 11 33 35 [email protected] www.YerevanCityCentre.Doubletree.com
• ETS. GARABED AYANIAN & SONS Import & Export of all types of electrical devices.Akhtal Al Saghir Street, Nercessian Building, Ground Floor,Dora, Beirut, Lebanon +961 1 25 52 22/ 3/ 4/ 5/ 6 [email protected]
• GEORGI SABOUNJIAN S.A.R.L. Internal DesignJewellery Boxes & DisplaysJewellery Shops & Fair StandsP.O.Box 70094 - Halat Lebanon +961 9 47 77 [email protected]
• NATIONAL AMMUNITION CO. S.A.L.Hunting Ammunition Manufacturer & DistributorShell Street, Boghos Abboud Building, Ground Floor, Bourj Hammoud, Beirut, Lebanon +961 1 26 50 00 ; +961 1 24 04 [email protected]
• UNILEC S.A.L.Exclusive distributors for Toshiba (since 1968), White-Westinghouse, Sencor & PalsonJal el Dib Highway, Midtown Center, 10th Floor, El Metn, Lebanon+961 4 71 84 [email protected] www.unilec.com.lb
• SANITEKWaste ManagementShirak 3rd lane, Yerevan 0086, Armenia+374 11 20 03 [email protected]
• SEZA– BISTRO ARMENIENArmenian & Mediterranean Cuisine Patriarch Arida Street, Mar Mikhael, Beirut, Lebanon+961-1/57 07 11 ; + 961-3/25 12 [email protected]
• SLID SAL Import and distribution company Old NDU road, street no. 64, Industrial Zone, Sector no. 6,Abi-Nader & Levonian building, Building no. 11, Zouk Mosbeh, Lebanon +961 9 21 45 [email protected]
• “MTS ARMENIA” CJSCVivaCell - MTCMobile operator4/1 Argishti Str., Yerevan 0015, Armenia+374 60 77 11 [email protected]
• VRESSO S.A.L.Foodservice and Laundry Equipment CompanyJal El Dib Highway, Sabounjian Bldg, Lebanon+ 961 4 71 23 00 [email protected] www.vresso.com
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The country is located in the South Caucasus. To the North the country neighbors with Georgia, to the North-East and the South-West with Azerbaijan, to the East with the Republic of Artsakh
(an unrecognized state), to the West with Turkey, and to the South with Iran. The longest length from the North-West to the South-East is 360 km, from the West to the East is 200 km.
BusinessCard
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i d e nt i t y of a r m e n i a
Armenia
Ruins of the Temple of Zvartnots (the “Vigil Forces”), 643-652. The ruins of the Temple of the Vigil Forces, Zvartnots, 643-652 A.D. The church had a unique design and techniques were employed in its construction that had a major influence on architecture globally. The overall bold design and construction represents architectural innovation at its finest. The temple is 45 meters tall and has no central supporting columns. On the territory of this architectural reserve one can see a water canal, a cuneiform with thedate records of the waterway construction from the River Hrazdan by the Urartian King Rusa II, and a sundial with Armenian letters and the first known image of pomegranate – a forbidden fruit later in Armenia for 4 centuries after the adoption of Christianity. Zvartnots was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2000.
EXPLORE THE COUNTRY OFUNFORGETTABLE EMOTIONS
Armenia. A modern country at thecrossroads of East and West with anancient history spanning thousands ofyears. Wild nature, sanctuaries next tohidden temples nestled in emeraldgreen forests, boutique hotels andskyscraping mountain tops all rest inone place, waiting to be discovered!
Armenia is a land of mysticism that willat once capture your imagination,evoking past centuries while awakeningyour senses to the present. It has a richand colorful history, interwoven withlegends and lore such as the landing ofNoah’s Ark on Mount Ararat andMarco Polo’s voyages along the SilkRoad. Armenians are an ancient peoplewith a strong sense of cultural identity.As the nation who first adoptedChristianity, we have preserved ourunique culture throughout the
centuries, keeping Old World traditionsalive by integrating them into a modernway of life, so that the two complementand enrich each other.
With over 25000 historical monumentsthroughout the country dating fromprehistoric to Hellenistic and earlyChristian eras – three of which areUNESCO World Heritage Sites –Armenia is often referred to as an openair museum. Yerevan alone hosts 40 artmuseums and galleries.
Armenia can kick up your adrenalinewith steep routes and off-road ridesalong its valleys. It can also be a place ofrelaxation with mountain resorts andtherapeutic spas. Once in the capital,Armenia refreshes you with a splash ofvibrant nightlife, live music, art, cafesand jazz clubs that jam until dawn.
Armenia is a place of contemplationand reflection. Standing under archesand domes that inspired Leonardo daVinci, liturgical chants fill the air andecho a melody that calms the soul. Thenotes you hear being sung also fell uponthe ears of Mesrop Mashtots, whocreated the Armenian alphabet withthis inspiration.
Armenia is about mouth-wateringflavors. Whether in gourmet restaurantsor authentic rural homes, Armenianhospitality, its rich cuisine andbountiful harvest will always welcomeyou to the table. Lavash, freshly bakedin a fiery tonir, will satisfy your stomachwhile coffee brewed on hot sand willwarm your heart. The country will alsoembrace you in a vine of Areni Noir – alocal grape variety first planted byNoah after the Biblical Flood. Thespirit culture flows through Armeniafrom cozy wineries in Yerevan to themost ancient “wine factory” in a terroircave of Vayots Dzor that is over 6100years old. Let us not forget the cellarsof the Brandy Factory. Parting with itsfragrant walls is more difficult thanclimbing Mount Ararat.
Armenia is about fashion boutiques bylocal designers and jewelers. It is abouthigh-quality shoemaking that continuesthe traditions of the most ancientcobblers, with one such shoe, mademillennia ago, now exhibited at theMuseum of History. Armenia is allabout interesting people and witty localhumor. It is a country of unforgettableexperiences that will always have youcoming back for more.
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A Land ofMysticism“
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THE SOUL OF THE APRICOTTREE AND FORBIDDENFRUIT OF THE TEMPLE OF“VIGIL FORCES”
What unites the soul of apricot tree,cross-stones (khachkars) and bread,which Armenians sacrifice before a newbeginning?
The music of duduk, lavash andkhachkars are inscribed on theUNESCO List of Intangible CulturalHeritage of Humanity.
What unites two monasteries with arivalry of the ages, the cathedral of thereligious capital, the ruins of theTemple of Vigil Forces, a church cutout of a cliff that served as a repositoryfor the greatest treasure of the Christianworld, and the picturesque canyon of amountainous river?
The monasteries of Haghpat andSanahin, the Cathedral and the threechurches of Echmiatsin - St. Hripsime,St. Gayane and St. Shoghakat, and thearchitectural monument site ofZvartnots, the monastery of Geghardand the Upper Azat Valley are declaredUNESCO World Heritage Sites, beinginscribed on the UNESCO WorldHeritage List.
World
The monasteries of Haghpat and Sanahin, listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, as an outstanding universal value, created by humanity. The name Sanahin is interpreted as "This one is older than that", whichemphasizes the supremacy of age this monastery has over its counterpart in Haghpat, the oldest church of which was built in 976-991. In the XVIII century, a prominent bard or ashugh at the court of the Georgian king, spentpart of his life as a recluse in Haghpat. As the legend goes, this famous Armenian composer underwent tonsure after falling in love with a beautiful princess.
Duduk (Armenian oboe), or tsiranapogh (“the soul of the apricot tree”), as the Armenians call this musical instrument. The soft wood of the apricot tree is the ideal material for the body of the instrument. It is brilliantly performed in the soundtracks of Hollywood blockbusters. In Armenia, it is played every-where: in highlands and restaurants, in nightclubs and by street musicians.
There are thousands of khachkars in Armenia – stones with elaborate crosses engraved on them. They are ubiq-uitous: in the masonry of spiritual buildings, in forests, on rocks and mountain peaks.
Heritage
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Lebanese Armenian relations are very ancient. At the first Century B.C., King Dikran the Great includedLebanon Syria and Palestine in his empire for 25 years. So this was the first encounter.
The second and most important relations were established on the 7th Century: Lebanon became underthe rule of the Omayyad’s. Byzantines sent warrior tribes of Mardeans (Marada) from the AmanosMountains to resist Islamic advancement in Lebanon. Those tribes began persistent raids from the heightsof the Lebanese mountains attacking the Bekaa valley until the Caliph Mouawyia was obliged to pay themtribute. Maronite Patriarch Estephan Doueihi, mentions in his history that Marada were Armenians.
The Armenian historians mention that Mardeans were Armenian tribes from South-East Armenia. They wereexpelled from Armenia to Amanos Mountains in the 5th Century, due to their mutiny for a couple of times.
The arrival of Mardeans (Marada) coincides with the arrival of Patriarch Youhanna Maroun to Lebanon. So the Maronite historians testify that the Maronite nationality is the amalgamation of missionary and military activities which enabled Maronites to survive for thousands of years in the leasthospitable conditions.
On this topic, I will be publishing soon a research where dozens of documents and references of Maronite,Armenian, Greek Byzantine and Arab historians, and travelers testify the Armenian origins of Marada.
The third encounter happened during the Crusades. Because Armenia was devastated by the Seljuk’sinvasion, most of its population was scattered toward the North (Crimea and Poland) and toward theSouth (Cilicia, Syria, Lebanon, and Egypt). Sir Stephan Runciman in his Crusades history reveals that fromAntioch to Cairo all garrisons of towns were Armenian mercenary soldiers and even Akra in Akkar wascompletely inhabited by 10.000 Armenians.
The armies of Fatemites who were ruling Lebanon were composed of Armenian elements and their SultansAfdal Ashraf and Jamali as well as the Queen Shajarat Al Durr were of Armenian origin.
GratefulArmenians
became FaithfulCitizens
of LebanonNazareth
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The fourth encounter began inthe 18th Century where a lot of Armenians: traders, students,monks and Ottoman ChristianArmenian governors resided in Lebanon.
The largest inflow (more than100.000) came to Lebanon as refugees in the aftermath ofthe 1st World War. Lebanonbecame the focal point of theArmenian diaspora with itsreligious, educational, culturaland political institutions.
The Armenian community ofLebanon has always been gratefulto Lebanon and to all itsconstituent communities. TheArmenians took Lebanon as theirsecond homeland and engaged inall of its institutions as fullydevoted citizens.
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HIDDEN CORNERS, VIBRANT CITIES AND A SECRET – ENTRUSTED ONLY TO THE GORGE
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Nothingcan be more
Chilling“
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Wildlife
Witness their flight and marvel at thesacred Skhtorashen plane trees listed asone of the oldest trees on the planet.
There are places in Armenia that captureyour imagination Magnificent Sevan –the largest lake in the Caucasus.Mandelstam compared the lake to the"gold currency of cognac in a secretcupboard of the mountain sun." He livedin Sevan for a month, observing how"every day at five o'clock the lake is fullof trout and bubbling, as if a large pinchof soda has been thrown into it."
Tucked away high in the mountains ofTavush is the marvelous Lastiver cave.During the Middle Ages, caravanrobbers particularly took a liking toLastiver. Today, it is a favorite destinationfor tourists. The path to the cave isflanked by several quaint treehouses andgoes past а picturesque waterfall – thelegendary “Ottoman of Seven Cyclops",under the Celtic cross khachkar and pastthe church hidden in the tall grass.
When visiting the vibrant town of Shushiin Artsakh, make sure you reach thecanyon of Djdrduz. Nothing can be morechilling than dangling your feet on theedge of the abyss, watching the eagles flyand hearing the secret echo of ghosts –Persian warriors, whose tents were sweptinto the chasm by the raging wind. Theirwhispers accompanied by the melody ofthe duduk connect the past together with
the present and create an experience oftime travel unlike any other. In Armenia,it is a must-see to visit the Symphony ofStones in the valley of Garni, theterracotta cliffs of Vayots Dzor, the cavetown of Old Goris and the meteors ofKhndzoresk. Plunge into the "MermaidHair" waterfall in Jermuk, climb to LakeKari – the stone lake atop MountAragats, dive under the famousUmbrellas – the waterfall of Mamrot Karwith overgrown moss, located in thegorge of Unot in Artsakh, and snap aphoto of a trout by the Trchkan waterfall. They swim upstream for spawning, andcan jump up to 23 meters in one swing.
Stones throughout Armenia arecovered with petroglyphs – therock paintings tell the story of
the life and traditions of the ancientinhabitants of the highlands. A hugecollection of petroglyphs (V-IVmillennium B.C.) is located on themountain plateau of Ukhtasar – a placebeloved by ancient pilgrims that can bereached today using off-road vehicles. Zorats Karer is perhaps the mostmysterious place in Armenia. ItsArmenian name translates literally to"the Stone Army", though people knowit better as the Stonehenge of Syunik.One legend claims that the space wasinhabited in ancient times byindustrious dwarves, for whom giantneighbors built these stone dwellings.According to another legend, in the Vmillennium B.C., it used to be anobservatory: on the day of the autumnalequinox, the sun rises right above thegates of the central ring, and manyboulders have small holes on them,most likely for observing the stars. Athird hypothesis states that ZoratsKarer was once the ancient temple ofthe Sun god. A fourth one claims thatthe stones are obelisks, and an entirearmy is buried beneath.
The earliest of the fundamentallyvisible monuments of Armenia date back to the third millennium B.C. The town of Metzamor, forinstance, is the largest metal productioncenter in the highlands. Thefortifications of the Urartians are alsoscattered across Armenia and thecuneiform inscriptions on them provetheir authenticity.
The temple of the sun god Mithra inGarni has been preserved since pagan
times. Numerous Christian shrines are located on the outskirts of thecapital and across Armenia. You canfind ascetic monasteries or evenmonastic complexes standing alone on hilltops, while there are also cave monasteries and those resting at the bottom of deep valleys. The minimalistic interior of Armenian churches is further enriched with beautifully ornamentedkhachkars (cross-stones), each uniquein its design.
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just like in ancient times, young men andwomen eat a salty cracker on the day ofSt. Sargis to dream of their betrothed.Newlyweds build a fire on the streetsand jump over it on Trndez to have along lasting and happy marriage. Youngparents celebrate Atamhatik when theirbaby’s first tooth appears. Clergymenconsecrate grapes, and on Vardavar, thecelebration of water and fertility(Transfiguration in Christianity) peoplesplash each other all day in the belief thatwater cures and purifies.
Armenians have preserved their familytraditions and the lifestyle of theirancestors. Just as before, the elderly aretreated with a great degree of respectand attention. Hence, when an elderlyperson enters the room, those who areyounger stand and only sit down oncethe elderly person grants permission.
Hospitality is also deeply rooted inArmenian traditions. Despite hardshipsand the fact that not everybody enjoys acarefree life, people are remarkably
welcoming, hospitable, and honest.Customs and traditions are carefullypreserved in Armenia. But somesuperstitions remain in the past.
Today, of course, nobody jumps over apregnant animal to cure sexuallytransmitted diseases, neither do theyconsider it shameful to make love onWednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, orsqueeze through a wolf skin or attemptintercourse with portakar –a navel-shaped stone–to get pregnant. However,
CustomsTraditions&
PRESERVED HERITAGE WITH A MODERN TWIST
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témoignage
