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Ministry of ESCS of the RA
Culture

Conference Marking the 150th Anniversary of the Birth of Hrachia Acharian Held under the Title “Life as Science: Hrachia Acharian”

October 29, 2026

As part of the celebrations marking the 35th anniversary of Armenia’s independence, a conference dedicated to the 150th anniversary of the birth of renowned Armenologist, linguist and academician Hrachia Acharian was held at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris under the title “Life as Science: Hrachia Acharian.” The conference was attended by ESCS Deputy Minister Tigran Virabyan, diplomatic representatives accredited to UNESCO, as well as scholars and students specializing in Armenology.

The conference focused on highlighting Acharian’s scholarly legacy and his significant contribution to the development of Armenian linguistics. His research into the origins and history of the Armenian language, its dialects and its connections with other languages has made an important contribution not only to Armenology but also to the broader field of international linguistics.

The conference was organized at the initiative of the Matenadaran – Mesrop Mashtots Institute of Ancient Manuscripts, with the support of the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of the Republic of Armenia.

It should be noted that the opening of the exhibition entitled “The Square and Time: From Past to Future”, dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the founding of Republic Square in Yerevan, took place the previous day.

The program of anniversary events will conclude with a joint concert by the Hover State Chamber Choir and the Vahagn Hayrapetyan Trio, featuring jazz arrangements of Armenian folk songs.

The anniversary events are jointly organized by the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of the Republic of Armenia and UNESCO.

It should be recalled that, at the 43rd session of UNESCO’s General Conference last year, a decision was made to include the 150th anniversary of the birth of prominent Armenian linguist and academician Hrachia Acharian (1876–1953), as well as the 100th anniversary of the launch of construction of the Republic Square in Yerevan (1927), in UNESCO’s 2026–2027 Calendar of Anniversaries with which UNESCO is Associated.