On the 23rd of September, Gyumri welcomed hundreds of participants of the international conference. The conference was devoted to the study of the historical and cultural heritage of Shirak. The organizer of this conference, Shirak Center for Armenological Studies NAS RA, as always, prepared with responsibility and love. It is noteworthy that it is one of the unique Armenian scientific events convened for the 11st time in the last 30 years of our country's history, with a large number of permanent participants of Armenologists from abroad. It is also an important event in the life of the intelligentsia of Gyumri, thanks to which Gyumri, the city of arts and crafts, national music and sports, today also bears the honorable name of the city of science. "Three years have passed since our last meeting," said A. Hayrapetyan, the director of the Center. A lot has changed in the world during this time. Perhaps our will has remained unchanged: to gather in Gyumri every three years to discuss the current state of Shirak's historical and cultural heritage studies, to outline Armenian literature.

Hundreds of participants of the international conference paid tribute to the memory of the Armenians who died in the recent aggression of Azerbaijan. Y. Suvaryan, N. Baghdasaryan (Shirak Marz Governor RA), Gyumri Mayor Chief Advisor H. Sultanyan greeted the participants and conveyed heartiest greetings to the organizers and the participants.

Shirak has inexhaustible treasures of spiritual and material culture: valuable archaeological and historical monuments, unique folklore, unique way of life, traditions from the depths of centuries, amazing architecture, diverse crafts, traditional song and music. The following issues were under consideration: excavations of Benyamin's ancient site, the cave suburb of Ani, the Urartian fortress-settlement in Haykadzor, the Early Bronze Age temple complex of Mets Sepasar and Azatan’s three layered monument’s discovery and studies(1st millennium BC), excavations in the Jradzor fortress-settlement, as well as in the highlands of Lernakert and Pemzashen communities of the region. The reports were also delivered with reference to the historical-demographic picture and socio-economic life of Alexandropol province in 1918 and 1920. The history of the 25-year-old Center is interwoven with many other realities, which on September 23-24 was enriched by another achievement worthy of the jubilee, traditionally invited "Historical and Cultural Heritage of Shirak" at the 11th International Scientific Conference entitled "Modern Issues of Armenian Studies".

Academician Y. Suvaryan emphasized the significance of such conferences in the field of regional development. Governor of Shirak region N. Baghdasaryan gave importance to the role of such scientific events, forums in the affair of the training of young Armenologists in the region. Rector of Samtskhe-Javakhk State University, M. Beridze stressed the importance of the teaching of scientists of the Shirak Center at their university and the necessity of connecting its best graduates with the Center. At the inaugural plenary session, the following reports were listened with great attention: "Charents and Historical Area"(professor D. Gasparian), "Aleksandrapol city community in the 1890s-1910s" (G.Aghayan), "G. Levoyan and Music Issues in the Pages of "Gegharvest" magazine (Professor, A. Asatryan)". A number of scientific researchers from the Center received awards from the RA NAS presidency, Municipality of Gyumri and Shirak Marzpetaran.

Director A. Hayrapetyan on behalf of the staff of the Center and participants of the conference expressed deep gratitude to RA President V. Khachaturyan, NAS president A. Saghyan, Shirak region governor N. Baghdasaryan, Gyumri Mayor V. Samsonyan for their specific attention towards science. After the break, the work of the conference was carried out in 5 branches. The sections of the archeology and lithography lasted until late evening. Both the audience full of scientists and students, and the remarkable topics of the 10 reports of the day, around which fruitful discussions took place, were encouraging. In the spirit of debate and active discussion, the session of the first day of the branch of history passed, in which many students of humanitarian specialties and history faculty of SUSh, history teachers of regional schools took their active part in the conference.

On the first day of the conference, the 5th session of the philology part was also crowded. There was another working day ahead, just as full, just as interesting. In total, around 50 reports were delivered: 9 in the fields of Archaeology, 14 in History, 7 in Philology and Museology, 10 in Linguistics. In the evening plenary session, the results of the conference were presented and summarized by the co-chairs of the branches. In his final speech, the director of the Center emphasized with satisfaction and enthusiasm the high quality and relevance of most of the presented reports, the significant increase in the number of young people who show serious ambitions to engage in Armenian studies. At the end of the session, a ceremony of signing two new memorandums of cooperation took place. The Center signed a memorandum of cooperation between the Armenian Studies Center of the Institute of Sociology and Regional Research of the Southern Federal University of the Russian Federation and the Scientific Committee of Kazakhstan with the representatives of the Institute of Archeology named after Margulaev.

One of the lasting accomplishments of the Shirak Center for Armenological Studies NAS RA is the international conferences under the title "Historical and Cultural Heritage of Shirak, current issues of Armenology," which are customarily held in Gyumri. The 10th International, an annual event, exceeded the previous ones regarding attendance, the variety of topical issues covered, and the representative mix of attendees. It was celebratory in more than one sense. Originally numbering ten, it was held in the 25th year of the conference. Moreover, this is highly symbolic, it was held in the extravagantly reconstructed cultural center, whose semi-dark hall gave birth to it in 1994 as a sign that the Disaster had not extinguished the scientific heritage of Gyumri. More than 150 people attended the tenth international conference, 20 of whom came from nine different nations: Georgia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Turkey, the Netherlands, Italy, Turkmenistan, France, Greece, and Germany. In most of the reports, the authors were representatives of university chairs of social science and Armenology as well as representatives of the RA NAS system. Throughout the three days of the conference 21 reports from the fields of archeology and lithography, 47 from history and demography, 37 from ethnology, 18 from architecture and art studies, and 26 from philology were heard. The three-day conference began with an opening ceremony attended by the public and political figures as well as statesmen. Both the mayor of Gyumri, S. Balasanyan, and the governor of Shirak, T. Petrosyan, gave welcoming speeches. The significant contribution that the Center of NAS RA has made to the study of the vast cultural legacy of Shirak over the past 25 years was highlighted in the speech given by the director of the Center, Armen Hayrapetyan. The reports of Russian Armenologist Andrey Ivanov on the characteristics of Gyumri folk architecture, Doctor of Philology D. Gasparyan about the Gyumri days of Yeghishe Charents, and the outstanding scientific reports of professor K. Balyan of Moscow, dance professor G. Ginosyan, and ethnographer G. Shagoyan were all presented during the opening plenary session. Following that, the work of the conferences was divided into five branches.

1. Archaeology, anthropology, lithology
The reports covered a wide range of topics in the study of the archaeological material, including animal remains found in the Shirak region, antique tableware from Tigranakert, Artsakh, monument-sacrificial columns of the Early Bronze Age Mets Sepasar, tombs devoid of Early Iron Age remnants, pillar anchors from ancient Armenia, the typology of the pottery belts from the Shengavitian culture of Shirak, Vardbagh, which is used to date burial sites, the "water" code found in the dragon stones of the Armenian highlands, and the mysteries surrounding the relationship between the worship of the sun and the deer in Armenian and Asia Minor cultures. The reports on the 2008–2016 archaeological research of the recently found ancient tombs in Shirak and the excavations of the archaeological monument with a three-layered Azatan culture were passed in the atmosphere of intense debates.

2.Historiography, demography
The branch worked with a great workload: more than 50 programs were heard and discussed. Several questions of a source science nature were discussed, which were related to the study of newly discovered archival documents and Ottoman census data covering some realities of the history of Armenian-Georgian relations. There were also references to coverage of various issues of Armenian history and demography. Several reports were devoted to the lives of Armenian communities abroad, the Armenian public, and political and economic figures. Reports on issues related to the history of politics and jurisprudence, particularly the consequences of modern American policy in the Middle East, the place of Armenian civilization in the cyclical movement of world civilization, etc., were also listened to with attention.

3.Ethnology
In a rich thematic-content context, there were valuable references to many issues of classical ethnography: the features of Shirak-Javakhk women's costume decoration, the Gharagyoz ritual doll and shadow theater, the ceremonial custom and folk beliefs of Shirak Tyarnandaraj, the 19th-century city life, and the culture of Alexandropol. Presentations by L. Gevorgyan (Candidate of Historical Sciences, Associate Professor) and L. Ghushchyan were related to current issues of museology.

4.Architecture and art studies/fine arts
In the work branch, there were almost the same number of programs dedicated to art studies and architecture. Enthusiastic discussions took place on programs related to the problems of art studies. They addressed issues of both art history and contemporary sonority.

5.Philology
Within the 25 scientific reports that were presented, a significant portion dealt with dialectological issues: "Shifts in the grammatical system of the Gyumri speech of Karno dialect", "Examination of the peculiarities of linguistic thinking according to the speech records of Shirak villages", "On spoken borrowings from eastern languages in the modern speech of Gyumri", etc. The studies are written by PhD M. Khachatryan, Ph.D. A. Hayrapetyan, Ph. D. A. Mkhitaryan, and others presented intriguing linguistic style challenges. A literary inclination was seen in some accounts. Ph.D. A. Bekeryan's report "Byron and Isahakyan" drew creative comparisons; Ph.D. Sh. Khachatryan's report on the Armenian translation of the novel "M Auezov's Abay" delved into questions of artistic translation; and L. Tumanyan's (Candidate of Historical Sciences, Associate Professor) report on the "Mystical works of Grigor Verd Hesvatsi" intrigued listeners. At the Centre of National Academy of Sciences, the 10th international conference honouring historical and cultural legacy of Shirak was organised with utmost seriousness. Every attempt was made to provide the optimal technical circumstances for the three days of work of the participants. The centre handled all participant housing, food, and entertainment arrangements. The conference served as the clearest indication of our recent evident advancements in researching the historical and cultural heritage of our people. Highlights included the topical issues of cultural dialogue and interactions, the appropriate use of national cultural heritage in education for the next generation, the need to research how national values are changing within the national cultural area, and the forms and characteristics of cultural capital manifestation.

The 9th international conference on "Shirak's historical and cultural heritage, current issues of Armenian studies" was held in Gyumri on September 24–25, 2016, in honour of the 25th anniversary of the independence of Armenia. The conference aims to shed light on the current state of archaeological, historical, ethnological, and scientific research in the northern region of Armenia; pinpoint implementation issues with different studies; explore fresh scientific perspectives on contentious realities being studied; and outline the extensive research on the ethnography, folklore, history, crafts, and arts of Shirak in the broader context of Armenian studies, along with its future directions and top priorities. One hundred and forty-four scientists from all across Russia, Ukraine, Georgia, Lebanon, Poland, Germany, and other RA scientific and educational institutes, centers, and universities attended the meeting. Bishop Mikael Adjapahyan, head of the Shirak Diocese, Shirak Marz Governor H. Simonyan, and Gyumri Mayor S. Balasanyan all gave welcoming speeches during the opening plenary session. The greetings of these attendees were also heard during the conference: Ph.D. professor A. Melkonyan, academician of the National Academy of Sciences; Ph.D. professor D. Gasparyan, professor at Adygei State University; R. Kandor, Ph.D., professor of musicology and art, H. Harutyunyan, doctor of architecture M. Hasratyan teaches associate philosophy at Berdyansk State University, Ph.D. V. Shkola, in Ukraine. Five branches handled the conference duties.

1. Archaeology, anthropology, lithology
Many subjects were discussed, with an emphasis on the archaeological material: Kur-Araksian pottery; artefacts from the 11th to 9th centuries BC discovered in Spandaryan village of Shirak region; antique pottery from Tigranakert in Artsakh; obsidian arrowheads from early Bronze Age monastics at Mets Sepasar; Olduva civilization located between Aeratsia district and Noragavit village in the southern suburbs of Yerevan with its unusual stone tool set; the historiographical analysis of the glazed pottery centres from the 9th and 10th centuries; an attempt to classify Armenian fortifications typologically based on early mediaeval sources; and a review of the historiographical material concerning the fortification structures of the Akhuryan basin. The team of archaeologists additionally demonstrated the Azatan archaeological monument. A variety of recently discovered truths in source science were discussed by the scientists. S. Adamyan discussed mediaeval monuments of Oshakan, highlighting a special manuscript belonging to Mesrop Archbishop Smbatyantsi; A. Manucharyan regarding the legal nature of inscriptions of Mren, Ani, and Bjni; and A. Harutyunyan concerning three 19th-century inscriptions from the walls of the three-nave basilica church in Horom village constructed in 1861.

2.Historiography, demography
The work of the conference addressed topics about different eras of the history of the Armenian people, enhancing it with fresh thesis and factual interpretations. The historical Shirak, and particularly the province of Alexandropol, was undoubtedly the fundamental material. The 19th and early 20th centuries saw the creation of reports by A. Hayrapetyan, G. Ayvazyan, H. Muradyan, A. Shahinyan, K. Aleksanyan, and G. Makhmuryan devoted to Shirak. The covering of different aspects of Armenian history and demographics was also mentioned. For instance, A. Akopov focused his research on the events that followed the collapse of the Bagratunyats monarchy in Armenia.

3.Ethnology
This field employed scientists, ethnographers, and museum specialists. The discussion of the following topics took place in a rich thematic context: the ethno-psychological aspect of the creative city of Gyumri; the manifestations of snake and baby snake worship in Shirak and Vanand; the folklore heritage of Kars; the comparative analysis of the 1988 Spitak earthquake and the 1926 Leninakan earthquake; the musical life of Shirak in the 1980s of the 20th century, exterior and interior decoration of the St. Seven Wounds (St. Yot Verk Church) and St. Nshan Churches in Gyumri; the forms and methods used to socialization among children in Alexandrapol, etc. A. Gyulbudaghyan discussed the pedagogical challenges associated with the teachings of national culture and Armenian ethnography in public schools. The meeting featured insightful presentations from museologists A. Asoyan, L. Gevorgyan, A. Grigoryan, and A. Nazaryan.

4.Architecture and art studies/fine arts
The critics focused primarily on the contemporary issues surrounding Gyumri architecture and fine arts, such as the artistic and typological traits of Gyumri cemetery monuments, the mysterious origins of Khachatak step-shaped compositions, the external embellishments of St. Astvatsatsin Monastery of Tsghna, Nakhijevan, Shirak School of Painting in the 1960s, post-earthquake cultural issues of Gyumri, the significance of the Yeghegnamor (Changli) temple in religious architecture, and the advancements in Armenian educational building architecture during the independence years of the country.

5.Philology
The majority of the conference was devoted to philology, which covered a wide range of literary and linguistic subjects from an analytical, critical, comparative, and public speaking perspective. Renowned scientists and young researchers participated, generating a lot of discussion and interest in their discoveries. A meeting with Dr. A. Haydosyan, president of Beirut Haykazean University, and Dr. A. Dagesyan, editor of the "Haykazean Armenological Journal," who have been actively collaborating with the Shirak Center for Armenological Studies NAS RA for years, was also arranged as part of the conference framework. The demonstration of the 36th volume of Haykazean arranged by the researchers of the center and the enthusiastic attendance by local scientists and foreign guests showed the significance of the creative and scientific ties between the two Armenological centres and the understanding of how crucial it is to maintain them. The conference also featured a robust cultural programme. Its organisers provided the many attendees with the chance to take part in to participate in the "Gyumri Day" events: the "Bread Festival" traditionally organized by the centre, the preparation and sampling of national cuisine, and several other significant ethnographic activities that made a lasting impression on the conference participants —particularly foreigners.

Shirak Center of Armenian Studies of NAS, RA after the three years of the conference of the same kind in 2010, on October 22-24 organized the eigth scientific session “Shirak’s historio-cultural heritage”. This famous session helding gradually is a prominent phenomenon not only in Gyumri, but also in the republic’s scientific and cultural life. By giving new rush to the town’s scholar idea, it gradually broadens its thematic and representative scopes. So, if the previous seven sessions were of republican nature, the last, the eighth one, was characterized by the active participation of armenologists from different countries (Italy, France, Germany, Japan, USA, Russia, Georgia), who with their efficient participation, really, appreciated Shirak’s historio-cultural heritage by putting on international scale. For three years in the auditoriums of Gyumri’s “Progress” university many armenologists from different outstanding scholar centres made their speeches dealing with Shirakology. As in his speech mentioned associate professor of philological sciences Sergo Hayrapetyan, many of them have been in this forum for many times and their speeches are expected here. At the same time the session was marked with the active participation and achievements of new armenologists. NAS, RA and the humanitarian sciences department’s academician- secretary, session’s orgcommittee’s president academician Vl. Barkhudaryan, Shirak’s vice-regional governor S. Petrosyan, Narek bishop Shaqaryan from Armenian Apostolic Church greeted the participants of the conference and wished them efficient work. The first complete session of the conference was devoted to one of Ani’s church complex ornaments, the millennial anniversary of Bagnayr monastery. K. Matevosyan made an extensive and comprehensive report devoted to this famous complex. (The Matenadaran of Mashtoc) firstly by giving importance to the structure’s architectural high value, then the scientific activity realized there. Doc. of philology A. Isahakyan, D. Gasparyan, N. bishop Shaqaryan, K. Sahakyan made their interesting and pithy speeches in the complete session. Then works were carried out in the departments.In A department were the spheres of archaeology, anthropology, lithography and history. With extensive material were presented the reports devoted to Shirak’s Mets Sepasar early bronze-aged hearths (L. Eganyan, SHAS), the subjects discovered from Shirak’s archaeological monuments (H. Aghekyan, SHM), the lithographes of Khachi Dzor A. Manucharyan< NAS, NIA), to Indo-european migrations (A. Khudaverdyan, NAS, NIA), the economy of Eriakhy country (I. Avagyan.)

In B level of the session were the reports devoted to architecture and art study. The participants of the conference attached greatest interest towards the reports of two Japanese scholars S. Sasano and Y. Fujita. The first one was devoted to the architectural genealogy of Aragats’s St. Trinity church, especially to the structure of the church, the architectural pecularities of its dome. The second one was about the constructional pecularities of Pemzashen church dome. H. Hakobyan (YSU) and M. Hasratyan (NAS, RA) spoke about the structure of old Armenian temples. The decorative ornaments of the Marmashen monastery. V. Mutarelli’s (France) report dealt with the issues of architectural improvements carrying out in Armenia. With the sample of Benyamin antique place G. Khachikyan’s report was about A. Aharonyan’s ‘To Ani’ travelling notes, where was given the appreciation of Bagratunyan dynasty’s architecture by the author of travelling notes. A. Haykazun’s report was unique with its theme and content “The structural composition of the Noah’s Arch and the world’s four side and three distributed system”.Italian armenologist A. Vardanyan amazed the participants with his report which dealt with the study of historio-cultural issues of Noy and Ararat mountains. With the report “Noah’s arch, the rest and the search of Armenianan traces” the results of his researches done in about 20 years were presented, carried out on Ararat. The subject matter of B department was Shirak’s band art with four musicological reports. The center’s scholar secretary’s H. Harutyunyan’s report was devoted to the book of musicologist-folklorist senior scientific worker of SHAS Hasmik Apinyan’s “Love Singer, Ashough Igit”, which the center has prepared for publication. The first chapter of the book is completely about the main phases of the ashough’s life and creative activity, the second one summarizes 55 specimen of ashugh’s manuscript songs. The speaker tried to present the author’s results which mainly refer to ashough’s melodic pecularities and due to their invention, the book’s theoretical- analytical part has been created. The fact was underlined that musicological deep survey, which H. Apinyan devoted work’s result, deserves great evaluation. Nowadays her work is being on in the Center. A. Baghdasaryan’s (NAS, IA) report was about Aleqsandrapol province’s band school representative ashough Jivani’s national-patriotic songs’ prosodic compositions.Great interest was shown towards Z. Tagakchyan’s /NAS report which was devoted to musicologist Q. Qushnaryan’s 1927 recorded” phonogram” band Sheram’s authorized works. About 11 songs were presented and analytical investigation was done. Certainly, band Sheram’s performances as discoveries, deserve great marks and observations.

Besides band songs, a report was also presented in the department for N. Tigranyan’s mughams which the composer has cultivated for European cameral different assemblies /H.Harutyunyan, E. Varosyan, NAS /SHCAS/. Traditionally SHHCH conferences reflect also individual artists’ creative activities. So, L. Athanesyan’s report touched upon Gyumri dweller painter Vazgen Stepanyan’s more than 20 years creative biography, the scope of his interests, his favourite topics with the analysis of genric, urban and rural sights, landscapes. A. Margaryan paid attention to famous Gyumri dweller sculptor Zaven Koshtoyan’s life and creative activity. It was mentioned that in the author’s multigenric work, however, the main hero is the old and new Gyumri dweller with his specific composition. A. Gevorgyan’s speech was more summarized devoted to modern manifestations of Gyumri art. The speaker mainly reflected the issues of alternative trades correspondence in post-disastrous Gyumri. Theatrologist l. Mutaphyan had devoted his speech to the appreciation of Shakesparian performances helding in Gyumri dramatic theatre. In C level of the session, valuable reports were touched upon concerning ethnology, folkloristics, and philology. The works were enriched with the reflection of various themes which rose great interest both among the participants and Gyumri dwellers. Gyumrician S. Gyodakyan , chief editor of “Panorama” cultural magazine (now published in the USA), made his speech with the report “Los Angelesian “ Panorama” and Gyumri”, who spoke about the improvement of motherland- diaspora bonds. Karine Bazeyan’s reports were devoted to traditional folk medicine /NAS SHCAS/ , E. Zaqaryan / NAS SHCAS/. On the basis of recorded material K. Sahakyan and R. Hovhannissyan /NAS SHCAS/ presented St Sargis in folk ideas. Zh. Khachatryan /NAS NIA/ spoke about the ritual of making Andeastan. H. Asatryan’s report was about the formulae meaning of names of child games in Gyumrician children.

N. Margaryan’s report devoted to standing monuments in Gyumri public territories, became the cause of observations and discussions. Gyumri’s traditional dish, this time, was presented in the scopes of “Tari bread/ N. Shamamyan, NAS NIA/ and at the end of the 20th c., and the beginning of the 21th century’s New Year rite/O.Haroyan, NAS SHCAS/. Speeches were heard concerning the role of woman in modern Gyumri’s religious communities as well as and about the results of their attitudes, appreciation/S. Poghosyan, A. Stepanyan, NIA/. The literal life was presented with modern emphasis and approaches. D. Gasparyan’s “From eternity to Kars” speech with sharp emphasis in the first session was devoted Egh. Charents’s newly manuscript heritage. Av. Isahakyan spoke about Shirakian sources of the Isahakyan dynasty. Mkrtich Armen’s Skaut+89” novel’s description was devoted to G. Khachatryan’s /GSPI/report, which gave the fiction description of Leninakian orphanages’ life. A. Karapetyan, headmaster of Armenian writers’ union of Gyumri department presented writer Patvakan Ghukasyan’s portrait, creative heritage. Intercultural modern issues were touched upon in the reports of A. Sargsyan /A. Sahakyan/GSPI/ A. Ter-Minasyan. The works of all branches were summarized both at the end of work agenda and the conference’s final session. Chairmen of the branches made their concise speeches: M. Hasratyan, S. Petrosyan and S. Poghosyan. They nearly made thorough survey for all speeches. So, one forum devoted to armenology was summarized which continued the best traditions of armenological researches.In his final speech Headmaster of ShA center S. Hayrapetyan spoke ShHCH international 8th conference, its foremost problems and the realization of aims. That scientific event of great scope was marked in the context of modern armenological development, due to which the investigations of Shirak researches were underlined and immediate tasks in the first quarter of the 21th century.