A special place in Yerevan is Tsitsernakaberd Hill, where the Memorial Complex in Memory of the Victims of the Genocide is located. The memorial is dedicated to the memory of 1.5 million Armenians killed during the genocide in the first half of the 20th century by the Ottoman Empire.
The history of the founding of this Memorial is interesting. Under Soviet rule, everything related to national ideology was absolutely unacceptable and forbidden, and commemoration of the victims of the genocide was also impossible.
In 1965, when the entire Armenian diaspora was celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, there was no such opportunity in Soviet Armenia. And therefore, on April 24, mass demonstrations were organized in the central squares of the cities and in Yerevan demanding the establishment of a memorial to the memory of the victims of the Genocide.
Under pressure from the population, the Armenian government decided to erect a monument, and with the permission of Moscow, the project was approved.
In April 1965, a nationwide competition for the creation of a memorial was announced in Armenia, in which many architects took part. Each of them presented their own project, but the project of A. Tarkhanyan and S. Kalashyan was chosen as the winner. They chose Tsitsernakaberd Hill as the place for the memorial, during the construction of which objects of the Bronze Age were found.
The grand opening of the Memorial took place on November 29.1967.
The complex occupies an area of .4500 square meters and consists of three main elements: the wall of memory, the sanctuary with the Eternal Flame and the "Revival of Armenia" stele.
You can get to the building of the sights of Yerevan by walking along the mourning spruce alley. All trees were planted by representatives of states that recognized the fact of the genocide. Along the alley is a 100-meter basalt memorial wall with the names of cities carved on stone, the population of which was slaughtered by the Turks during the genocide.
The central composition of the memorial complex is a round monument-sanctuary. Twelve basalt slabs form a circle, their shape reminiscent of traditional Armenian khachkars with large carved crosses. They symbolize the 12 provinces of Armenia lost in the war with Turkey, which today are part of Turkey. The Eternal Flame burns in the center of the monument-sanctuary, its flame is accompanied by the sounds of mourning melodies. The steepness of the steps makes visitors involuntarily bow their heads in reverence, going down one and a half meters to the Eternal Flame.
The 44-meter granite stele symbolizes the rebirth of the Armenian people. It is divided by a deep vertical fissure and symbolizes the tragic and violent scattering of the Armenians, and also shows their unity.
In 1995, on the anniversary of the 80th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, the Museum-Institute of the Armenian Genocide was built near the Memorial Complex.
The museum is underground. There are photographs that tell about those terrible events. Also here you can see pictures of German photojournalists and their articles, materials from various international organizations and government bodies that categorically condemned the genocide.
Despite the sadness that the Museum causes, I still advise you to visit this place, especially in 2014 Forbes magazine included the Museum of the Armenian Genocide in the list of 9 memorial museums that everyone should visit.
The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 11:00-16:00. Admission is free, but donations are welcome. It is not allowed to eat, drink and smoke in the museum, as well as take photos and videos, and talk on the phone.
The Memorial can be reached on foot from Republic Square in 45 minutes. There is an easier way - take a bus to Hamalir station or walk from Barekamutyun metro station.
A very beautiful view of Yerevan opens up from the hill.
Want to visit?
Tours to Armenia - Travel Agency "Hot Line", www. hot. com. ua +38(044)599-46-30, +38(050)346-4599, +38(067)462-9242
The history of the founding of this Memorial is interesting. Under Soviet rule, everything related to national ideology was absolutely unacceptable and forbidden, and commemoration of the victims of the genocide was also impossible.
In 1965, when the entire Armenian diaspora was celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, there was no such opportunity in Soviet Armenia. And therefore, on April 24, mass demonstrations were organized in the central squares of the cities and in Yerevan demanding the establishment of a memorial to the memory of the victims of the Genocide.
Under pressure from the population, the Armenian government decided to erect a monument, and with the permission of Moscow, the project was approved.
In April 1965, a nationwide competition for the creation of a memorial was announced in Armenia, in which many architects took part. Each of them presented their own project, but the project of A. Tarkhanyan and S. Kalashyan was chosen as the winner. They chose Tsitsernakaberd Hill as the place for the memorial, during the construction of which objects of the Bronze Age were found.
The grand opening of the Memorial took place on November 29.1967.
The complex occupies an area of .4500 square meters and consists of three main elements: the wall of memory, the sanctuary with the Eternal Flame and the "Revival of Armenia" stele.
You can get to the building of the sights of Yerevan by walking along the mourning spruce alley. All trees were planted by representatives of states that recognized the fact of the genocide. Along the alley is a 100-meter basalt memorial wall with the names of cities carved on stone, the population of which was slaughtered by the Turks during the genocide.
The central composition of the memorial complex is a round monument-sanctuary. Twelve basalt slabs form a circle, their shape reminiscent of traditional Armenian khachkars with large carved crosses. They symbolize the 12 provinces of Armenia lost in the war with Turkey, which today are part of Turkey. The Eternal Flame burns in the center of the monument-sanctuary, its flame is accompanied by the sounds of mourning melodies. The steepness of the steps makes visitors involuntarily bow their heads in reverence, going down one and a half meters to the Eternal Flame.
The 44-meter granite stele symbolizes the rebirth of the Armenian people. It is divided by a deep vertical fissure and symbolizes the tragic and violent scattering of the Armenians, and also shows their unity.
In 1995, on the anniversary of the 80th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, the Museum-Institute of the Armenian Genocide was built near the Memorial Complex.
The museum is underground. There are photographs that tell about those terrible events. Also here you can see pictures of German photojournalists and their articles, materials from various international organizations and government bodies that categorically condemned the genocide.
Despite the sadness that the Museum causes, I still advise you to visit this place, especially in 2014 Forbes magazine included the Museum of the Armenian Genocide in the list of 9 memorial museums that everyone should visit.
The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 11:00-16:00. Admission is free, but donations are welcome. It is not allowed to eat, drink and smoke in the museum, as well as take photos and videos, and talk on the phone.
The Memorial can be reached on foot from Republic Square in 45 minutes. There is an easier way - take a bus to Hamalir station or walk from Barekamutyun metro station.
A very beautiful view of Yerevan opens up from the hill.
Want to visit?
Tours to Armenia - Travel Agency "Hot Line", www. hot. com. ua +38(044)599-46-30, +38(050)346-4599, +38(067)462-9242
Translated automatically from Russian. View original
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