Culture

Dadivank Monastery – Armenia

Dadivank Monastery is a unique place. Is it gorgeous? Absolutely! Is it sacred? Ancient? Undoubtedly, since traditionally, Dadi has been the disciple of Thaddeus, one of Jesus’ Apostles who preached Christianity in Armenia back in the 1st century AD.

Mkhitar Gosh, a writer, thinker, and a representative of the Armenian Renaissance, called Dadivank Monastery “Arakelagir”, literally meaning “founded by an Apostle.” Dadivank as if symbolizes the continuation of the legend of Hayk, the progenitor of Armenians. However, Hayk symbolizes the birth of a nation, while Dadivank represents its maturing.

This representation relates not only to Armenia but the whole Christian culture as a whole. This culture is still alive and tangible here and there, though it slowly dissolves year after year. Dadivank is a thin thread connecting the past, the present, and the future. The role of Dadivank is comparable to that of such symbols of Christianity as the St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City.

And this is particularly topical these days, when the relations between Christian Armenia and Muslim Azerbaijan are worsening day after day with no improvements in sight because the latter doesn’t wish submit to their loss of control over Artsakh.