KHACHATUR ABOVIAN ARMENIAN STATE PEDAGOGICAL UNIVERSITY KHACHATUR ABOVIAN ARMENIAN STATE PEDAGOGICAL UNIVERSITY KHACHATUR ABOVIAN ARMENIAN STATE PEDAGOGICAL UNIVERSITY Dedicated to the 90th anniversary of the foundation of the Pedagogical University “Mankavarzh” Publishing House Yerevan 2012 Concert of the Armenian State Chamber Orchestra at the diploma awarding ceremony at the Armenian Pedagogical University, graduation celebrations of 2011 À 283 Kh. Abovian Armenian State Pedagogical University. - Yerevan. Kh. Abovian ASPU, 2012, p. 108 Compiled by Aelita Dolukhanyan, Ara Yeremyan, Mher Karapetyan Editor of the original version (in Armenian) Artashes Martirosyan Translators and editors of the version in English Shushanik Yavuryan, Tigran Mikayelyan Artistic design and layout by Aram Urutyan The compilation comprises materials from the archives of the Museum of Kh. Abovian Armenian State Pedagogical University. ISBN 978-99941-69-31-3 © Kh. Abovian ASPU, 2012 CONTENTS President of the Republic of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan’s congratulation message on the 90th anniversary of the foundation of Khachatur Abovian Armenian State Pedagogical University . 6 Supreme Patriarch of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Catholicos H.H. Garegin II’s congratulation message on the 90th anniversary of the foundation of Khachatur Abovian Armenian State Pedagogical University . 9 Invention of the Armenian Alphabet. Foundation of Illustrious Schools and Monastic Universities in Armenia in Middle Ages . 13 Education from the end of the 19th to the beginning of the 20th century in the Eastern and Western Parts of Armenia . 25 Foundation of the Pedagogical University and the early activities developed (1922 1940) . 31 Participation of the Pedagogical University in the Great Patriotic War (1941 1945) . 47 Pedagogical University between the postwar period and the declaration of Independence (1945 1990) . 55 Pedagogical University’s participation in the Heroic War for Artsakh (1991 1994) . 73 Pedagogical University since the 1990s till nowadays . 81 Distinguished Alumni of the Pedagogical University . 104 5 President of the Republic of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan’s message on the occasion of the 90th anniversary of foundation of Kh. Abovian Armenian State Pedagogical University 6 President of the Republic of Armenia Yerevan, August 28, 2012 ON THE OCCASION OF THE 90TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUNDATION OF KHACHATUR ABOVIAN ARMENIAN STATE PEDAGOGICAL UNIVERSITY On the occasion of the 90th anniversary of the foundation of the Armenian State Pedagogical University after Khachatur Abovian I extend my warmest wishes to the Administration, Professors, Students, graduates and the whole Staff of the University. For decades the Pedagogical University has been one of the most sig- nificant centres of higher education in our Country, as the formation and progress of the Educational System of the Republic is unthinkable without this University. Together with its irreplaceable mission of the major teacher training cradle, the University has also proved to be a dais for pedagogical and psychological sciences and keeps maintaining its traditions alive. Reiterating my congratulations on the occasion of this delightful anniversary, I wish the University could promptly and efficiently accom- plish the ongoing reforms. At the same time I wish everlasting achieve- ments as the new attainments will motivate as well the upsurge of the sci- entific and educational level in the Republic of Armenia, which is the final imperative and priority that we all share. SERZH SARGSYAN 7 8 Congratulation Message by the Supreme Patriarch, Catholicos of All Armenians, H. H. Garegin II 9 THE BENEDICTION MESSAGE OF THE SUPREME PATRIARCH, CATHOLICOS OF ALL ARMENIANS, H. H. GAREGIN II ADDRESSED ON THE OCCASION OF THE 90TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUNDATION OF KH. ABOVIAN ARMENIAN STATE PEDAGOGICAL UNIVERSITY (Yerevan, 2012) Honourable Mr. Ruben Mirzakhanyan, Respectable Professors, dear Colleagues and Students, We convey our greetings and benediction from the Mother See Holy Echmiadzin on the occasion of the 90th anniversary of the foundation of Kh. Abovian Armenian State Pedagogical University. This memorable anniversary is a beautiful opportunity to value the considerable merit of this education centre in the lives of our people and country, as well as to memorize with appreciation those sons of our Nation who have invested their efforts and devotion in the foundation, development and long-time effective activities of the University. The establishment of the Pedagogical University proceeded under extremely rough historical circumstances. Our Nation that had survived the Genocide was obliged to strive in order to rebuild their Motherland in a small territory of the Eastern part of Armenia already ruined because of 10 long-lasting wars and exhausted due to numerous eco- nomic and social problems. Despite all the privations, as it had been in the course of the whole history, in that period as well the devotion of Armenians to sci- ence and education did not fade. In 1922, though with limited possibilities, however with great visions the Pedagogical University was founded bringing about new hope to the resuscitating Armenian life. Among the professors who founded the Pedagogical University there were graduates of Gevorgian Theological Seminary Professors Mr.Arshavir Shavarshyan and Mr. Arakel Arakelyan. Further on, in the course of decades among numer- ous eminent specialists who delivered lectures at the University there were Academicians Mr. Ararat Gharibyan, Gurgen Sevak, scholars Ashot Abrahamyan, Vagharshak Kosyan, Petros Bediryan and others. They educated various generations of tal- ented pedagogues who endowed their lives with sup- portive spirit on the consecrated mission of teaching and educating the Sons of their Nation. Our Nation has always expressed a deep reverence towards the Teacher, and that esteem actually is also an express evaluation of the decades of the thankworthy activi- ties developed at the Pedagogical University. Our Dear Sons and Daughters, On the occasion of the anniversary we extend from our cherished sanc- torium Mother See Holy Echmiadzin our congratulations and best wish- es to Rector Mr. Ruben Mirzakhanyan, the honourable teaching staff, as well as to the administration, graduates and students of the academia. We wish you to be bestowed by Omnipresent God and let all your efforts be under His daily blessings granting you with the same vigour, the same affectionate spirit towards your Motherland and Church for the sake of further consolidation and prosperity of your prominent academe. Let Supreme God uphold under his blessing the Armenian State Pedagogical University after Kh. Abovian in order to provide our Country and Armenians dispersed all over the World with copious and upright yields! Let you be under the support of God, be granted with strength by Holy Spirit and be eternally blessed by Lord and by Us! With blessings, GAREGIN II CATHOLICOS OF ALL ARMENIANS 11 INVENTION OF THE ARMENIAN ALPHABET FOUNDATION OF ILLUSTRIOUS SCHOOLS AND MONASTIC UNIVERSITIES IN ARMENIA IN MIDDLE AGES KHACHATUR ABOVIAN INVENTION OF THE ARMENIAN ALPHABET ASPU he new Armenian vigour revived due to the redeeming ambit of the invention of the Armenian Alphabet. Both the religious and secular authorities were looking for modes to enliven the nation- al spiritsT and morale, as they did believe that only the national language and faith could impede the assimilation policy imposed by the Persians and Byzantines. Thus, among the major vocations brought about were as follows: to invent a new alphabet, to translate the primary Christian Scriptures, specifical- ly the Old and New Testaments, preaching the New Religion to the Armenian Christians in their national language, making the humanistic essence of that religion much more explicit and eventually heading for a new unity. The invention of the Armenian alphabet brought together three brilliant figures Mesrop Mashtots, Sahak Partev and King Vramshapuh. The idea was achievable only due to the devoted cooperation between the Armenian State and the Armenian Church. Though the event was detailed by a considerable number of Historians, the genuinely initial source is “Life and Deeds of Mashtots” by Archimandrite, highly educated scholar Koryun. Koryun was among Mashtots’ disciples, so he was well aware of the circumstance of the invention of the Armenian alphabet. In the Preface of his manuscript he refers to the Armenian letters as a divine gift and produces a narra- tive of utter inspiration on his Teacher’s life, deeds and the very fact of the invention of the Armenian alphabet. Mesrop Mashtots was born in 361 in Hatsekats village in the Province of Taron. The course of time has preserved only his father’s name - Vardan. He was educated at a Hellenic school where he showed an outstanding academic progress from the very beginning which gained for the young Student the career of Secretary at the Court of Armenian King Khosrov. He mastered the Greek, Persian, Assyrian, Georgian and Alanian languages. As Archimandrite Koryun witnesses, Mashtots began his career as a military man and only after retirement he could be received into the rank of clergy, become an Archimandrite and leave for Goghtan Province to preach Christianity. He chose Goghtan as the first target of his spiritual mission, as that Armenian province had developed relatively more feeble Inventor of the Armenian Alphabet St. Mesrop Mashtots (361440). Christian bases showing still certain dependability