Preservation of Ancient Monuments

The following article talks about money allotted to restoration of Vorotnavank on the banks of the Vorotan river in Syunik, amongst others.

I went there last October, and was shown around by a man from the local village. He showed me the hiding place used by the priests when enemies came, a tiny hole in the wall about 12 feet off the ground.

State joins International community to preserve
Armenian landmarks

By: Gayane Mkrtchyan

This year, and for the first time in five years, 50
million drams (about $90,000) have been allotted from
the budget of Armenia for preservation of historical
monuments.

"Of course 50 million drams is a small sum but it is
important that the sum has finally been allotted and
from year to year this sum will be increasing," says
Deputy Minister of Culture and Youth Affairs Gagik
Giurjyan.

Three monuments are scheduled to be restored from the
allotted sum: Vorotnavank (medieval architectural
monument and monastery in Sisian), Bardzrial cross (in
Noyemberian) and the old bridge of Ashtarak. Plans are
now being proposed for how the work will be conducted,
after which bids will be held to contract the work.

According to the Agency of Historic Preservation and Preservation of Monuments, more than 30,000 monuments and 4,000 historic complex are being evaluated.

"Twenty-seven to 30 monuments are in extremely
terrible conditions and require immediate
reconstruction, otherwise we can irrevocably lose
them," says deputy head of the agency Samvel Musoyan.

According to him, only small parts of those monuments
have survived, while internationally accepted
standards don't allow restoration of monuments if less
than 30 percent of it still exists.

Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II made big
investments, when in 2001 on occasion of the 1700 th anniversary of the declaration of Christianity, 150 churches which had previously been regarded as state property were returned to the Holy See Saint Echmiadsin.

The Government of Norway invested about $10,000 toward preservation. And the biggest donation came from the Lincy Foundation, which allocated $500,000 for the restoration of Garni and Zvartnots temples.

(Abridged)

Posted by Matt on April 11, 2004 | TrackBack | Email to a friend