The Italian online publication Venezia Eventi has published an extensive article on Armenia and Armenians. In particular, the publication says that the island in the southern part of the Venetian lagoon, San Lazzaro degli Armeni, Is one of the most important world centers of Armenian culture.
“In the monastery of St. Lazarus are collected 170 thousand old printed books and 4,500 manuscripts. This is a huge collection located outside the Armenian homeland. For three centuries, the island has been part of the spiritual world of Armenians,” writes Venezia Eventi.
The publication notes that about 60% of the Armenian artistic and cultural heritage was destroyed and burned during the period between the Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman Empire of 1915 and the revolution in Russia.
“Three million people now live in Armenia, and a nine million diaspora extends from the United States to Russia,” notes Venezia Eventi.
Venezia Eventia emphasizes that in 1717, several monks led by Mkhitar Sebastatsi reached Venice, fleeing from Turkish persecution. The monks were presented with a small island in the Venetian lagoon, writes Sputnik-Armenia.
However, as Venezia Eventi notes, the connection between Venice and Armenia has much earlier roots – traders from the slopes of Ararat have appeared here back in the Middle Ages.
“The ancient toponyms are a testimony to this. Armenians from the city of Julfa (now in Iran) have settled in Ruga Giuffa near St. Mark’s Square. There, near the square, the Church of the Holy Cross and a small 13th-century chapel have been erected.
One could also recall that the Venetians call apricots “armelin”, and apricots are abundant in Armenia. And Marco Polo also mentioned Greater Armenia. He was a guest in the Armenian city of Artashat located on the Silk Road. He was received very well there,” writes Venezia Eventi.
Talking about the national peculiarities of the Armenians, Venezia Eventi notes that this is a small nation that has been surrounded by Muslims for centuries. Thanks to their neighbors, Armenians have “learned special wisdom.”
Venezia Eventi also did not ignore the fact that Armenia was the first country to adopt Christianity as a state religion in 301, adding that “they [Armenians] have always been ahead of time.”
