Archive for December, 2012
I recently discovered 100 Armenian legends published by the Ararat Brandy company on their website and would like to share some of them with you (now and then). This one is about one of most ancient Armenian cities called Moush (in today’s Turkey known as Muş).
The Legend of the City of Moush
There was a city on the Aratsani River where people used to quarrel among themselves. They were arrogant and remained enslaved by their morose vanity. Pride prevented them from forming impartial opinions, even about themselves.
All they did from dawn until dusk was argue with each other and lecture each other, finding faults with each other for no reason. When disputes flared up so much that things came close to a fight, the Armenian goddess of wisdom Nane came to people’s aid. She would send such a thick blanket of fog over the entire city that the people caught in it could not see anything around them. In the end, they were forced to stop shouting their threats and insults into white nothingness.
“You just wait!” they would cry. “As soon as the fog lifts we’ll continue our discussion!”
But the fog floated over the city like a cloud, thick and slow. The fog lasted until the irreconcilable wranglers forgot their grievances and peaceful tranquil life returned to the city. The wise Nane did that quite frequently. She would cover the city in mist as if calling people to righteousness. And eventually she succeeded! The people of the city became quiet, polite and attentive to each other. They even learned to enjoy the frequent fogs.
Because of these fogs the city became known as Mshoush* and a few centuries later it was shortened to Moush.
Awesome new music video from Sirusho with traditional Armenian flavor.
One of our earliest but most ingenious devices — the astrolabe. With thousands of uses, from telling time to mapping the night sky, this old tech reminds us that the ancient can be as brilliant as the brand-new.
Here is a small selection of beautiful Armenian wallpapers I found. Don’t forget to push View full article button!
Armenia, Ann
Armenian train
Armenia country side
The Armenian epic “Daredevils of Sassoun” was today inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity of UNESCO. The Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage meeting was held at UNESCO Headquarters.
Daredevils of Sassoun statue in Yerevan
Performance of the Armenian epic of ‘Daredevils of Sassoun’ or ‘David of Sassoun’
Armenia — The traditional Armenia epic Daredevils of Sassoun recounts the story of David of Sassoun, a defiant youth who defended his homeland in an unequal duel against the evil. This heroic epic is recounted and sung in sections in a lyrical voice with rhythmic enunciation. It is performed, usually sitting, to the musical accompaniment of a duduk during weddings, birthdays, christenings and major national cultural events. There are 160 variants and performances may last up to two hours.
Source: UNESCO
Beautifull song from Anush Arshakyan, performing one of classical Armenian songs by Komitas (founder of modern Armenian classical music)
St. Blaise confronting the Roman governor: Scene from the life of St. Blaise, bishop of Sebaste (Armenia), martyr under the Roman emperor Licinius (4th century). Stained glass window from the area of Soissons (Picardy, France), early 13th century.
Saint Blaise 4th c. (Armenian : Sourb Barsegh) In Christian legend, bishop, patron saint of physicians, wax chandlers, and wool combers. Invoked against throat infections. Feast, 3 February.
Blaise was a physician before he became a bishop in Armenia. He studied philosophy in his youth, was a doctor in Sebaste in Armenia, the city of his birth, and exercised his art with miraculous ability, good-will, and piety. When the bishop of the city died, he was chosen to succeed him, with the acclamation of all the people. His holiness was manifest through many miracles: from all around, people came to him to find cures for their spirit and their body; even wild animals came in herds to receive his blessing. He suffered beheading after his flesh was torn with iron combs used for carding wool. One legend tells that while the bishop was in prison awaiting his martyrdom, he miraculously cured a little boy who nearly died because a fish bone was stuck in his throat.
During the Middle Ages, St. Blaise was one of the most popular saints. In central Europe and in Latin countries people are still given pan bendito (St. Blaise sticks), which they eat when they have a sore throat. One of the most popular customs of the Roman church is the blessing of throats, held on St. Blaise’s feast day. A priest holds crossed candles against the head or throat of a person, saying: “Through the intercession of St. Blaise, bishop and martyr, may the Lord free you from evils of the throat and from any other evil.” In certain parts of Italy priests touch the throats with a wick that has been dipped into blessed oil. Throughout Europe many places and churches ware named after him. In Cornwall UK the village of St Blazey derives from his name, where the parish church is still dedicated to Saint Blaise. The council of Oxford in 1222 forbade all work on his festival. There is a St. Blaise’s Well in Bromley, Kent (UK) where the water was considered to have medicinal virtues. Many German churches, including the former Abbey of St. Blasius in the Black Forest and the church of Balve are dedicated to Saint Blaise/Blasius. In Italy he is known as San Biagio. In Spanish-speaking countries, he is known as San Blas, and has lent his name to many places (see San Blas).Saint Blaise’s remains rest at the Basilica over the town of Maratea (Italy), shipwrecked there during Leo III the Isaurian’s iconoclastic persecutions.
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