Austrian parliamentarians and heads of diplomatic corps visited Vienna‘s Mekhitarist Congregation

06 June, 2017

The Armenian Embassy in Austria, in association with the Austrian «Society» magazin, organized the visit of members of the Austrian Parliament and heads of diplomatic missions accredited in Vienna to the Monastery of Armenian Mechitarist Congregation. This visit aimed at familiarization of Austrian politicians and public figures, as well as foreign diplomats on Armenian cultural heritage in Europe.

The members of the Austria-Armenia parliamentary group at the Austrian Parliament, ambassadors accredited to Austria and permanent representatives to the OSCE and other international organizations in Vienna, other employees of the Austrian Foreign Ministry, attended the guided tour arranged specially for this purpose.

The visit began with welcoming remarks by Armenian Ambassador to Austria, the Permanent Representative to the OSCE and other international organizations in Vienna Dr. Arman Kirakossian, who made a short overview of the Mekhitarist’s heritage, pointing out its being an integral part of the Armenian culture, briefly introduced the history of cooperation between the Mechitarists monks with Habsuburg‘s imperial dynasty and the Austrian Government, told the auditory about Armenian printing traditions and reminded several episodes related to preservation of Armenian cultural heritage.

Thereafter the Mekhitarists monks, Father Vahan Hovakimyan, made a guided detailed tour for high-ranking guests, took them to the museum, familiarized them with the rich collections preserved for centuries by monks, made them aquiantant to the world-renowned publishing house and the library of the Congregation.

The guided tour concluded with the small reception organized by the Armenian Embassy, providing the Austrian MP’s and diplomats with the opportunity to taste the 400-year-old recipe Mekhitarine liqueur.

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