Vyacheslav Kornienko, Deputy General Director of the Sophia Kievskaya National Nature Reserve, in an interview with AnalitikaUA.net noted the prospects for Ukrainian-Armenian scientific cooperation. According to Kornienko, the centuries-old presence of Armenians in Ukraine has led to a large amount of materials in the archives of both countries, opening up prospects for studying the history of both Armenia and Ukraine.
The scientist spoke about the close connection of Armenians with the Sophia Kievskaya nature reserve which in the 16th century acquired a unique meaning. This happened after the Armenian temple on Podil was destroyed in a fire, forcing the Armenians to hold their church services in the main shrine of Kiev.
“Everyone knows that dozens of unique Armenian inscriptions have been preserved on the walls of Sophia Kievskaya,” said Vyacheslav Kornienko, “But if you delve deeper, you can find Armenian motifs even in the carved and picturesque ornaments of the St. Sophia Cathedral. I think that among the masters who arrived from Constantinople to decorate the church, there could be Armenians or masters who had studied with Armenians.”
Interestingly, one of the founders of the temple was Anna Byzantine, the wife of Vladimir the Great and an Armenian by descent, said Kornienko. He then gave an example of a fresco with images of the princess on the walls of the cathedral.
According to Kornienko, Anna Byzantine played a crucial role in the history of Ukraine, being also one of the initiators of the baptism of Russia. “For most Ukrainians, alas, the personality of the princess is little known,” the historian added, emphasizing the need to popularize knowledge about the Armenians of Ukraine.
Kornienko is assured that scientific cooperation will be mutually fruitful since the Armenian community that had existed in the capital since the Middle Ages is one of the oldest in Ukraine. According to him, the Ukrainian archives contain a storehouse of unexplored Armenian documents, and you can find details about the history of Ukraine in the manuscripts of Matenadaran.
“I would like for the study of Armenian documents and their introduction into scientific circulation to become the prerogative of modern historical science,” Kornienko emphasized.
Kornienko also spoke about joint activities with the Union of Armenians of Ukraine and shared his impressions of Armenia, wishing peace in both countries.
Recall that on December 12, 2018, the Union of Armenians of Ukraine solemnly transferred an important national relic, a khachkar, to the Sophia Kievskaya Museum as a symbol of the centuries-old friendship of the Armenian and Ukrainian peoples.
The Union of Armenians of Ukraine under the leadership of Vilen Shatvoryan became the only all-Ukrainian organization to unite all Armenian organizations operating in the country. The Union of Armenians of Ukraine pays special attention to the fields of science, education, and culture.
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