Opening of the Ruben Sevak Museum at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin
On September 10, under the presidency of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, the opening ceremony of the Ruben Sevak Museum was convened in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.
In the museum, located in the 18th century building called Ghazarapat and renovated by the sponsorship of Mr. Hovhannes Chilingaryan, around 200 unique and valuable paintings will be displayed, donated by Mr. Chilingaryan himself. There were also charcoal drawings, belonging to the renowned martyred intellectual Ruben Sevak, personal effects and documents, sacred historical items, valuable Armenian art works and pieces by Western artists.
Present at the opening ceremony were the members of the brotherhood of the Mother See; His Eminence Archbishop Rafael Minsayan, Spiritual leader of the Armenian Catholic Church in Armenia, Georgia, Russia and Eastern Europe; Mrs. Hasmik Poghosyan, Minister of Culture of the Republic of Armenia; Mrs. Hranush Hakobyan, Minister of Diaspora of the Republic of Armenia; education and cultural workers.
After the Catholicos of All Armenians and the benefactor Mr. Hovhannes Chilingaryan cut the museum entrance ribbon, the guests entered the newly-renovated museum building. A Blessing service was held under the presidency of His Holiness Karekin II.
At the conclusion of the Blessing service, Rev. Fr. Asoghik Karapetyan, Director of the Museums and Archives of the Mother See, gave opening remarks. Father Asoghik presented the valuable collection displayed at the museum, which is a source of great inspiration for all Armenians. Mr. Ruben Mirzakhanyan, Dean of the Armenian State Khachatur Abovyan Pedagogical University, expressed his appreciation, thanking the Catholicos of All Armenians and Mr. Hovhannes Chilingaryan for their efforts in opening the museum. Mr. Mirsakhanyan also noted that the museum would become one of the most important cultural centers in the lives of Armenians.
Mr. Chilingarian, benefactor of the museum, and nephew of Ruben Sevak, also spoke. “Today we witness a miracle, as the memory of the martyr of the Great Armenian Genocide of 1915, renowned poet Ruben Sevak was resurrected and immortalized on this sacred land”, he stated in part, expressing his gratitude to His Holiness Karekin II for implementing the project of the museum. Mr. Chilingaryan extended to the Catholicos of All Armenians the appreciation and warm greetings from Ruben Sevak’s daughter, Miss Shamiram Sevak.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, His Holiness Karekin II offered his blessings and message to those present. “The establishment of this museum offers respect and admiration to Ruben Sevak, as well as Grigor Zohrap, Siamanto, Varujan, Komitas, and all the other great people, the one and a half million innocent victims, who remained true to their faith and Homeland and accepted the crown of death. They died with a hopeful vision in their hearts, that the Armenian people would live and survive. This museum holds a special meaning as it is devoted to the commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Through its visitors, the museum will become a perpetually ringing bell tower, which will be heard all over the world and fulfil the efforts in achieving worldwide recognition of the Armenian Genocide.
This museum becomes the immortal voice of the past, present and future, reborn from the dead, rising once again and attaining a path through life. Today in rebuttal to the crimes committed, we answer with immortalization of the memory of the honest son and martyr of our nation; for the demolition – reparation; for the destruction – reconstruction; and for death – life. The Christian spirit of answering evil with good has become our nation’s nature and essence, which will always strengthen us to live and survive. Our great martyred poet Ruben Sevak once said. « … Whoever has the belief for life holds a rope from the sky. Whoever has the hope for victory and love for joy has two wings on his shoulders…», quoted His Holiness Karekin II.
The Catholicos of All Armenians expressed his appreciation to the honourable Mr. Hovhannes Chilingaryan for his sincere commitment, ardent spirit and honest philanthropy. “Honourable Mr. Chilingaryan, your dream of many years came true in the Spiritual Centre of All Armenians, Holy Etchmiadzin. The Ruben Sevak Museum, founded in the historical Ghazarapat building, together with the Armenian Genocide Memorial founded by Catholicos Vazgen I, will eternally keep the memory of the Genocide victims shining, and embolden the spirit to protect our fair trial and the message of immortality of our nation”, noted His Holiness.
The Catholicos of All Armenians offered his blessings to all the individuals who had invested in the efforts of opening the museum, and prayed for a benevolent and productive development for the mission of the museum.
