Second International Armenian Studies Congress Organized by Academy of Sciences in Yerevan

The Second International Congress on Armenian Studies “Armenian Studies and the Challenges of Modern Times,” was held October 17-19, 2013 in Yerevan, Armenia.

The Congress was sponsored and organized by the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia, under the Presidency of Dr. Radik Martirosyan.

The Congress coincided with the 70th anniversary celebration of the founding of the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia, and a gala celebration was held in the Opera Building on Monday, October 14. The President of the Republic of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan, Catholicos Garegin II of the Holy See of Etchmiadzin and dignitaries from throughout the world were present.

More than two hundred scholars from throughout the world gathered to present their new research and to discuss issues in the field of Armenian Studies.

The Congress was organized in sections, including “History,” “Archaeology and Ethnography,” “Linguistics,” “Literature,” “Art and Architecture,” “Problems of the Armenian Genocide,” “Problems of Armenian Identity,” “Armenian Philosophical,” “Socio-Political Thought: Achievements and Modern Problems of Development,” and the “Armenian Church and Armenian Studies.”

Fresno was represented by Armenian Studies Program Director Barlow Der Mugrdechian who co-chaired the second session of the section on “Problems of the Armenian Genocide,” and who also delivered a paper in the third session on “The Theme of the Genocide in 20th Century Armenian-American Literature.”

A plenary session closed the Congress, which had last been held in 2003.