The defense of Arsen Harutyunyan’s doctoral dissertation on the topic “Medieval Tatev and Its Written Cultural Heritage” took place at the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography

On October 30, in the reading hall of the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia (IAE), the session of the Specialized Council 007 “Archaeology and Ethnography” operating under the Higher Attestation Commission (HAC) attached to the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography took place. During the session, Arsen Harutyunyan, Ph.D., Head of the Department of Epigraphy of the IAE, defended his doctoral dissertation entitled “Medieval Tatev and Its Written Cultural Heritage.”

The event was attended by Arsen Bobokhyan, Director of the Institute, staff members from various departments, as well as scholars and students interested in the topic. The dissertation topic had been approved by the Academic Council of the IAE of the NAS RA. The scientific secretary of the Specialized Council was Yervand Grekyan, Doctor of Historical Sciences. The official opponents were Doctors of Historical Sciences, Professors Karen Matevosyan, Hamlet Petrosyan, and Arman Yeghiazaryan. The leading organization was Yerevan State University.

The dissertation of Arsen Harutyunyan is dedicated to Tatev Monastery — a major spiritual and cultural center of Syunik — as well as to the historical description of the nearby monastic villages and the comprehensive study of their written heritage. The work consists of an introduction, the chapters “The Tatev Monastic Complex and Its Rock Inscriptions,” “Tatev Monastery as a Center of Script and Scholarship,” “The Historical and Cultural Heritage of the Ancient Monastic Villages of the Vorotan Gorge,” “Small Churches Adjacent to Tatev Monastery,” “The Revival of the Eremitic Movement in Syunik,” and conclusions.

The chairman of the Specialized Council, Doctor of Historical Sciences, Corresponding Member of the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia, Pavel Avetisyan, introduced the candidate and emphasized the importance of the research conducted. The Head of the Department of Archaeology and Ethnography of the Faculty of History at Yerevan State University, Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor Hayk Avetisyan, also shared his observations regarding the scientific value and relevance of the dissertation. Following the presentation of the work, questions, comments, and suggestions were raised, after which the official opponents delivered their speeches. With the recommendation to take the noted comments into account, the dissertation was unanimously approved, and Arsen Harutyunyan was awarded the degree of Doctor of Historical Sciences.