19/04/2026
On April 17, an international symposium dedicated to the Arakelots Monastery and Settlement was held at the Ijevan Branch of Yerevan State University on the occasion of the official visit by a delegation from Europa Nostra and the European Investment Bank Institute.
At this symposium, the nominator of Arakelots and head of the Arakelots project based at the University of Salzburg, J. Dum-Tragut, presented Arakelots, the challenges of research and preservation, but also her visions and plans for its revitalization, conservation, and protection, involving the local population.
The interdisciplinary Arakelots team included H. Abrahamyan, head of the archaeological campaign in Arakelots, , who presented the initial findings of the ongoing excavation; A. Papoyan, fresco restoration specialist, who provided a fascinating introduction to the wall paintings in the monastery church of Arakelots; G. Harutyunyan, who premiered his wonderful video on Arakelots; and V. Fraga-Prol, Advocacy Officer at Europa Nostra, who introduced the 7 Most Endangered Program.
The symposium was attended by numerous students, the rector of Ijevan University, the deputy governor of Tavush Province, representatives of the Ijevan regional administration, as well as the head of the Tavush diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church.
