Discussion on a Collective Monograph

On May 20, the Institute of Oriental Studies of the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia organized a meeting-discussion with renowned Armenologist and Byzantinologist Igor Dorfmann-Lazarev (currently affiliated with Sofia University).

The purpose of the meeting was to present the collective monograph Monuments and Identities in the Caucasus: Karabagh, Nakhichevan, and Azerbaijan in Contemporary Geopolitical Conflict (Brill, Leiden-Boston, 2024), edited by Igor Dorfmann-Lazarev and Armenologist-lawyer Haroutiun Khatchadourian (Paris). Published as the 31st volume in the "Texts and Studies in Eastern Christianity" series, this 550-page English-language volume offers an in-depth exploration of cultural heritage and identity transformations in the Caucasus amidst contemporary geopolitical conflicts. During the presentation, Dr. Alexan Hakobyan, a member of the Diocesan Council of the Diocese of Artsakh, introduced his section on Armenian sources regarding the Christianization of Caucasian Albania and its relationship with Armenia. The speakers provided detailed insights into the three parts of the monograph, highlighting contributions from international scholars such as Claude-Armen Mutafian, Étienne Copeaux, and others.

The discussion underscored the monograph's significant contribution to understanding the fate of the invaluable Armenian cultural heritage under Azerbaijani control and its relevance to contemporary geopolitical dynamics.