200th anniversary of Khachatur Abovian celebrated at the University of Tartu

PanARMENIAN.Net - The University of Tartu celebrated 200th anniversary of the founder of new Armenian literature Khachatur Abovian . A scientific conference dedicated to the life and work of Abovyan, photo exhibition and a concert of the students of the Tartu-based Armenian Sunday school, was held as part of the celebration.



The events were attended by the Armenian Ambassador to Estonia Ashot Galoyan, as well as representatives of the Armenian community, press office of the RA foreign ministry reports.



Khachatur Abovian - Armenian writer, educator, democrat-illuminator, founder of the new Armenian literature and new literary language, teacher, ethnographer. He was born in the village Kanaqer near Erivan (Yerevan) in a noble but ruined family. He studied in Echmiadzin, then in the Nersessian seminary in Tiflis (1824-1826). He graduated from the Dorpat University (now Tartu) in 1836. Upon returning to his homeland to devote himself to academic work, Abovian faced hostility of the Armenian clergy and the royal bureaucracy, because he spoke out against dogmatism and formalism in schooling. From 1837 was superintendent of the Tiflis district school, in 1843 transferred to the same office in Yerevan. On April 2 (14) 1848 Abovian left home and disappeared.