Mount Ararat symbol of Armenian identity: Indonesian media on Armenia

YEREVAN, JUNE 14, ARMENPRESS. Reporters of ANTARA, Indonesia’s state news agency, after visiting Armenia published several articles about Armenia, its historical-cultural monuments and sights, highlighting their uniqueness and significance for Armenians worldwide, reports Armenpress.

In the article entitled ‘Armenia, the country of a million monasteries’, the author begins the history of his journey from the very start on how tour guide Hovhannes Stepanyan helped him to explore Armenia.

“The black Ohwa VW Caravelle car drove south of the capital Yerevan towards the first destination, Khor Virap, a monastery and burial complex built in the 17th century. Khor Virap, which in Armenian means dungeon, is a monastery complex located closest to the Turkish border. From the complex, the view of Mount Ararat which became a symbol for the state of Armenia, is clearly visible”, the author writes. “But on that day, the cloud was still covering the peaks of Ararat which are covered with eternal snow”.

Khor Virap is known as a monastery and a place of pilgrimage to honor Gregory The Illuminator, the first leader of the Armenian Apostolic Church. He was a religious leader who contributed to making Christianity the official religion of Armenia in 301.

“At first glance, Khor Virap monastery is more like a fortress than a place of worship because of the shape of the building with high walls and a rather narrow gate”, the author writes.

His next destination was the Noravank monastery complex built in the 13th century.

“I was told that during the holiday season, children of Armenian descent visit the ancestral land of their ancestors. Khor Virap and Noravank are just two among the hundreds of monasteries left over hundreds of years of the history of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Armenia. Other monuments that are no less beautiful and contain a lot of history, are Garni, Geghard, Etchmiadzin chatedral, Zvarnot, Haghpat, Tatev, Sanahin, Odzun, and many more. With so many buildings of historic monastery complexes built hundreds of years ago and some still functioning as houses of worship, Armenia is also known as an "open field museum" or "land of legends”, he said. He also mentioned Tsakhkadzor resort town and Lake Sevan as attractive and beautiful places in Armenia.

Following the traces of Islam in Armenia

In this article the author refers to the Blue Mosque, stating that it is not only in Turkey, but also in Armenia.

“Armenia, a country geographically located in Asia but socially and culturally more inclined to Europe, has indeed experienced tidal history under Muslim rule.The landlocked country is surrounded by Muslim culture because it is bordered on the west by Turkey, south of Iran, east of Azerbaijan and Georgia to the north”, the author said, stating that the the Blue Mosque in Yerevan is the only mosque that still stands majestically in Armenia from seven mosques that existed before. Six other mosques were shut down in the time of the Soviet communist government and changed functions.

“Overall, there are no more than 50 pilgrims in the mosque at the time of breaking the fast. From that number it can be concluded that Muslims are really a minority in Armenia”, he said.

The Blue Mosque was built in 1765. There is a prayer hall area of 442 square meters, the main dome as high as 20 meters and 24 meters tall tower. There is also a library room, 26 classrooms.

Today, the mosque's compound not only serves as a place of worship, but also a place to learn Persian language, libraries, photo galleries, as well as a tourist destination, especially for foreign tourists who are Muslims.

Mount Ararat symbol of Armenian identity

The author of the article writes: “Mount Ararat cannot be separated from the daily life of the Armenian people. Almost all sectors of life in the former Soviet country are always in contact with the name Ararat, ranging from hotel names, drinks, restaurants, football clubs to cigarettes. For the people of Armenia, Mount Ararat is a symbol and identity of the state because it is considered sacred and is believed to be the landing of Noah's prophet. But interestingly, the towering Mount Ararat as high as 5,165 meters and is not in the Armenian region, but in the territory of Turkey”.

He says Mount Ararat, the highest peak in Turkey, had actually been in Armenian territory until the Armenian genocide in 1915, when Turkey took over the territory.

“Despite being outside the territory of the Republic of Armenia, the Ararat is symbolically inseparable from the Armenian identity and historically and culturally still regarded as belonging to the nation. Ararat is the "sacred mountain" for the Armenians since prehistoric times because it is considered the "house of the gods". But along with the rise of Christianity, the myth associated with idol worship has gradually disappeared”, said the author.

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan in an interview with the German daily Del Spiegel once asserted that Ararat will always be in the hearts of every Armenian. "No one can take Ararat from us because we will keep it in our hearts.Wherever the Armenians are scattered all over, you will find a picture of Mount Ararat in their home," Sargsyan said.

The visit of reporters of Indonesian ANTARA news agency has been organized by the Armenian Embassy in Indonesia.

ARMENPRESS news agency has its significant contribution in organizing their visit.