PRESS RELEASE
LAND AND CULTURE ORGANIZATION
Vardanants 5, Yerevan, Armenia
Tel.: (374-1) 52-91-71
Fax : (374 -1) 54-28-98
E-mail: info@landandculture.org
Web-site: www.landandculture.org

Bridging the gap between the old and the new


On June 25 to 27, 2004, a group of 85 volunteers from different parts of Armenia and the near Diaspora headed out on a mission. They were all enrolled in the Faith and Heritage campaign which offered the participants the opportunity to discover parts of the hidden Armenia and engage their physical energy to clean up those historic sites hidden way up in the mountains. The plan was to separate the group in two smaller teams and send them off in different directions within the Vayots Dzor Province, rich in national and religious historical monuments.

The Faith and Heritage campaign started four years ago when the late Archbishop Mesrob Ashjian came up with a concept to connect today's Armenian youth with their ancestral heritage. Starting in 1998, Archbishop Ashjian had lived in Armenia and performed extraordinary charitable work including the care of orphans, the elderly and the re-transmission of the faith to the people after 70 years of Communist rule. He brought back to life centuries-old monasteries and churches, and published hundreds of books. Throughout his service he approached his duties with dedication and an enthusiasm that earned the love and respect of those around him. His Eminence died of a massive heart attack in 2003 at the age of 62. Archbishop Ashjian was one of the founding members of the The Land and Culture Organization's (LCO) USA Chapter and was an active board member of both the Armenia chapter and the International Union of Land and Culture Organizations until his untimely death.

The LCO first became involved in the project in 2003. This year however, the organization decided to sponsor the campaign to honour the memory of the late Archbishop. Dr Gevorg Yaghjyan, President of LCO/Armenia chapter, explains how the organization became involved with Faith and Heritage. "Last year was the first time that we collaborated with the Espace Ecological Youth Club to organize the Faith and Heritage program which was spearheaded by the late Mesrop Srpazan." He continues to say that "It is in the good memory of Srpazan that the Land and Culture Organization proudly sponsored the 2004 Faith and Heritage program in collaboration with the " Espace" Youth Club." He adds, "Mesrop Srpazan truly understood that through volunteerism individuals could be brought together not only to serve but also to learn from their experiences and come out with new and valuable relationships."

Many of the participants who are mostly from Yerevan joined a group of 15 youth from Yeghegnadzor who were more than ready to learn about the hidden treasures of their own country. Volunteers from Stepanavan, Gyumri, Abovian as well as from Akhlkalak, the Javakhk region of neighboring Georgia, joined this dynamic group. The campaign created a cross cultural exchange amongst Armenians from various backgrounds and regions, the only common denominator being their dedication. They shared information about their towns and lifestyles. Maria Stepanyan from Javakhk explains that "It is very different for us from Javakhk. We live on our homeland but not within our Republic. It was a special treat for us to be here. I will tell all my friends about my discovery. "

During the days, the volunteers hiked and cleaned the surroundings of historic monuments such as Noravank, St. Khach in Arkaz,Tsakhats Kar, Shadin, Smbadabert, Zorats church and Gndevank, to name only a few. The hikes were sometimes very challenging and the heat unbearable, but the results were far more gratifying. Hripsime Ghazaryan from Javakhk said, "I am dumbfounded. I thought that these places only existed in fairy tales. I hadn't realized how beautiful Armenia is with its mountains, fortresses, churches and the breathtaking nature."

Smbadabert will be engraved in Hripsime's memory for a very long time. It is the voluntary spirit and the active engagement of the participants from the different parts of Armenia and Javakhk that make the Faith and Heritage campaign a unique weekend experience. Pavel Gharakeshishian (from Makur Yerevan) was one of the participants who especially enjoyed this aspect of the campaign: "To discover other young Armenians from Stepanavan, Akhalkalak and Yeghegnatdzor who shared the same vision and motivation as the rest of us from Yerevan was one of the best discoveries of this weekend."

Davit Davtyan, one of the organizers from "Espace" Youth Club was further inspired with the final results. "It was impressive to see how deeply involved the local youth had become, with a great team we were able to accomplish much more than we had thought. That weekend, 85 of our youth rediscovered their own land and their own history, they felt they were the owners of these lands and monuments. This is what Faith and Heritage stands for.

LCO believes that the future of Armenia is dependent on today's youth. They will be the torchbearers of the Armenian heritage and a strong Republic. Now is the time to invest in the younger generation and provide them with tools they will need to develop a better future together. Dr. Yaghjyan notes that "…attracting a new generation of volunteers who are mentally and physically prepared for service plays a central role in fueling the future corps of active Armenian volunteers in Armenia." He continues to say that the "program draws the very best of the Armenian youth. With positive experiences founded on the Faith and Heritage program and the sponsorship of the LCO of this inspirational undertaking, the ties developed among the participants will certainly inspire these young Armenians to constructively step up to the task of building together the future of their homeland."

At the end of the weekend, after completion of this particular project, the regional government office (marzbedaran) with the leadership of the "mazbed" Samvel Sarksian, held a special celebration to honor and congratulate the volunteers and to thank them for a job well done.

For more information about the Land and Culture Organization's activities in Armenia, Karabagh, the Aterpatakan region (northern Iran) or Kessab, Syria, visit our site www.landandculture.org or write info@landandculture.org.

"LCO is an amazing concept. It introduced the deprived Diasporan to their land and their people. It is a wonderful introduction to Armenia and something every young man or woman should experience."
Madlene Minassian Ispirian, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, Yerevan, Armenia