Museum of the Bible to celebrate Armenia’s rich biblical and cultural history with day of events, demonstrations, food, artifacts and more
WASHINGTON — Museum of the Bible will host its “Armenian Culture Celebration” on Saturday, Jan. 29. The event will highlight Armenia’s historic role as the world’s first Christian nation.
Visitors to the museum are invited to explore the sacred traditions, culture and stories of the Armenian people by sampling traditional foods, hearing choral performances of Armenian hymns and songs, and enjoying art, dance performances and more. Presentations that day will feature the history of the Armenian Bible and Christmas traditions in Armenia.
Museum of the Bible’s “Armenian Culture Celebration” comes one year before the opening of “Breath of God: Armenia and the Bible,” an exhibit on Armenia’s historic role in the development of Christianity in collaboration with the national museums of Armenia and the Armenian Apostolic Church.
“Breath of God: Armenia and the Bible” will explore the significance of the Armenian Church and people to the history of the Bible. The Bible, or the “breath of God” in Armenian, is deeply ingrained in Armenia’s culture. In this exhibition, guests will explore the ancient and resilient story of the Bible in Armenia and view artifacts displayed for the first time in Washington, D.C.
Scheduled events for the “Armenian Culture Celebration” on Jan. 29 include:
Local Armenian Artisan Market
10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Gathering Room, Floor 6
Featured products include Armenian silk scarves, jewelry, art, hand-made soap, edibles, and souvenirs.
Digital Exhibition — Ancient Faith: The Churches of Nagorno-Karabakh
10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Gathering Room, Floor 6
Take a virtual exploration of the sacred spaces, Christian culture, and stories of the people who live and worship in Artsakh, known internationally as Nagorno-Karabakh.
Education Station
11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Floor 4
Special activities related to Armenia including the khachkar and Armenian alphabet.
Christmas Traditions in Armenia: A Special Lunch and Learn with Dr. Christina Maranci
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., Gathering Room, Floor 6 and via Zoom
Christina Maranci, Arthur H. Dadian and Ara T. Oztemel Professor of Armenian Art and Architectural History and chair of the Department of the History of Art and Architecture at Tufts University, will discuss Christmas traditions in Armenia.
Taste of Armenia
12:00 –1:00 p.m., Gathering Room, Floor 6
Join us to sample several traditional Armenian dishes in this celebration of Armenian cuisine.
Artistic Presentations
1:00 – 1:30 p.m., Gathering Room, Floor 6
Enjoy a selection of dances and poetry from students at the Shnorhali School.
Armenian Hymns and Folk Songs
1:45 –2:45 p.m., Gathering Room, Floor 6
Join the Hye Choral Group to enjoy Armenian songs in Armenian, with a short presentation of their meaning afterward.
Remarks by Her Excellency, Lilit Makunts
3:00 p.m., Gathering Room, Floor 6
H. E. Lilit Makunts, Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia to the United States of America.
The History of the Armenian Bible
3:00 –4:00 p.m., Gathering Room, Floor 6 and via Zoom
For Armenians, the development of the Armenian Bible is imbued with sacred importance, since it enabled the spread of Christianity, the development of Armenian theology, and the survival of a distinct, unified cultural community.
The presentation will be given by Dr. Jesse S. Arlen, director of the Krikor and Clara Zohrab Information Center, and postdoctoral research fellow in Armenian Christian Studies at the Orthodox Christian Studies Center of Fordham University.