Events marking the 150th birth anniversary of Hrachia Acharian and the 100th anniversary of the launch of construction of Republic Square in Yerevan have opened at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris. Both anniversaries are included in UNESCO’s 2026–2027 Calendar of Anniversaries of Eminent Personalities and Important Events. The events also commemorate the 35th anniversary of Armenia’s independence.
As part of the program, a photo exhibition entitled “The Square and Time: From Past to Future” has opened. Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of the Republic of Armenia Tigran Virabyan delivered remarks at the opening ceremony.
Welcoming the attendees, the Deputy Minister highlighted UNESCO’s longstanding commitment, as part of its mission, to promoting human creativity, cultural diversity and the preservation of historical monuments.
“A century ago, the renowned Armenian architect Alexander Tamanian created a masterpiece that brought together Armenian architectural traditions and modern urban planning approaches. Built from Armenia’s distinctive pink tuff stone, this architectural ensemble became not only a symbol of the statehood and independence of the Republic of Armenia, but also an integral part of the history of world urban planning and architecture and of our shared cultural heritage,” Tigran Virabyan said.
He added that Republic Square, with its exceptional symmetry, national character and ability to embody collective memory, stands as a vivid testament to how stone can become history, culture and a platform for dialogue.
According to the Deputy Minister, the exhibition is particularly distinctive in that it not only traces the Square’s 100-year history but also offers an opportunity to discover the creative vision of contemporary Armenia.
“We can see how the ornamental patterns of the Republic Square are reflected in traditional Armenian costumes and in the works of artists and designers working in the fashion industry,” Tigran Virabyan noted.
He informed that this section of the exhibition is presented by the Teryan Cultural Centre, which is implementing the grant program “Culture is My Way” under the 2005 UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions.
The ESCS Deputy Minister reiterated Armenia’s commitment to preserving this magnificent heritage, cherishing it with care and passing it on intact to future generations. He also expressed his gratitude to the Permanent Delegation of the Republic of Armenia to UNESCO, represented by Ambassador Aram Hakobyan, as well as to UNESCO leadership, for providing the opportunity to organize the events and for their support.
The exhibition will run from October 28 to November 2. Around 40 photographs documenting the history of the Republic Square have been selected from the archival collections of the National Archives of Armenia, the History Museum of Armenia, the Chamber of Architects of Armenia, the “Armenpress” news agency and individual photographers.
Alongside the photo exhibition, the ‘Teryan Cultural Centre’ is presenting a display of traditional Armenian costumes featuring ornamental patterns inspired by the architectural motifs of the Republic Square.
The anniversary events are organized jointly by the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of the Republic of Armenia and UNESCO.
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) and the 100th anniversary of the launch of construction of the Republic Square in Yerevan (1927) in UNESCO’s 2026–2027 Calendar of Anniversaries of Eminent Personalities and Important Events.