TEHRAN – Coinciding with the start of Armenian Cultural Week, the artistic medal of Khachatur Kesaraci, the founder of Iran and West Asia’s first printing press, was unveiled on Friday at the Vank Church Museum in New Jolfa, Isfahan.
According to Mehr News Agency, the cultural event was held with the support of the Nerses Shnorkhali Library in Vank and was attended by Bishop Sipan Kashcan, the religious leader of the Armenians of Isfahan and southern Iran, Noel Minassian, chairman of the Chamber of Deputies of the Armenian Caliphate of Isfahan and southern Iran, and a group of artists and researchers in the fields of Armenian history and research. culture.
The Khachatur Kesaratsi Art Medal is the work of artist Masih Ahmadi and was designed and created as the first medal in a series centered on famous Armenians of Isfahan.
In this work, we recreated some of the lead letters used in the printing of the first Armenian books in Jolfa in the 17th century, and incorporated into the design of the medal the symbol of the Armenian alphabet, the divine symbol of the Armenian alphabet, used in the printing of the Psalms of David in 1638 AD.
At the beginning of the ceremony, the head of the Archives and Manuscripts Department of the Vank Church Complex spoke about the life and scientific legacy of Khachatur Kesaratsi, saying that Kesaratsi was not only the founder of the first printing press in Iran and the Middle East, but also transformed New Jolfa into one of the scientific and intellectual centers of the East with his efforts and cultural vision.
He added that the establishment of the printing press in Jolfa, Isfahan was a turning point in the history of the transmission of knowledge and art from Europe to Iran.
Masih Ahmadi, the artist who created the piece, then explained the process of designing and making the medal. “The idea to create a series of artistic medals in memory of prominent Armenians of Isfahan was born about two years ago, and now the first medal in this series has come to fruition, inspired by the life and work of Khachatur Kesaratsi.”
He added that in addition to the artistic aspect, the medal also contains a message to protect the role of Armenians in Iran’s cultural history.
At the end of the ceremony, the Khachatur Kesaratsi medal was unveiled by Bishops Sipan Kashcan and Masih Ahmadi, and a copy of it was donated to the Armenian Caliphate Council in Isfahan. A short film showing the medal design and manufacturing process was also shown to attendees.
Khachatur Kesaratsi was an Armenian archbishop of Safavid Iran. He is credited with establishing the first printing press in Iran in 1633 or 1636. The first book has been printed. Sagmosaran (Psalms) of 1638.
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