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Armenians Celebrate Saint Krikor Lousavorich Church's 90th Anniversary


Fri 03 May 2019 | 12:32 PM
maydaa nadar

The Armenian community in Egypt celebrated the 90th Anniversary of founding the Saint Krikor Lousavorich Church. The event took place at the Belekdanian Hall of the Kalousdian, at the Nubarian Armenian School in Cairo.

Several prestigious figures were present, including the Armenian Orthodox Bishop in Egypt Ashod Mnatesgnian, Egyptian-Armenian cartoonist and caricaturist Alexander Sarukhan's granddaughter.

[caption id="attachment_48864" align="aligncenter" width="600"]Armenian Orthodox Bishop in Egypt Ashod Mnatesgnian Armenian Orthodox Bishop in Egypt Ashod Mnatesgnian[/caption]

Worth noting is that the church holds a special place in the heart of Egypt's Armenian Orthodox community, as it was the first worship house built for them in Cairo.

On the anniversary's sidelines,  an artistic exposition displaying the church's items took place. The exhibition included thuribles, religious books, bibles, tablecloths, and glasses.

About Rita Kevorkian

Amongst the pieces exhibited were ten paintings for the 15-year-old artist Rita Kevorkian. Out of these ten, two depicted the church's architectural style, two portrayed the Armenian Saint Krikor Lousavorich (after whom the church was called), and one showed Bishop Ashod Mnatesgnian.

[caption id="attachment_48865" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Armenian-Egyptian Artist Rita Kevorkian Armenian-Egyptian Artist Rita Kevorkian[/caption]

Drawings were all acrylic, except for one that was pencil portrayal. It depicted the faces of two important persons who composed significant Armenian Orthodox hymns in 1915.

[caption id="attachment_48866" align="aligncenter" width="600"]The Only Pencil Drawing Exhibited The Only Pencil Drawing Exhibited[/caption]

Speaking about her beloved depiction, Kevorkian told SEE, "From the ten drawings, the closest one to my heart is the one showing the Holy Family's journey, as it includes the Virgin Mary, Jesus, and carpenter Saint Joseph. It was the only portrayal that I named. I called it From Egypt I Called my Son"

Kevorkian's first exhibition was held a couple of years ago and it was titled "Egyptian-Armenian Faces". The event's theme focused on the Egyptian-Armenian figures who played an important and vital role in the Egyptian community such as former Prime Minister Nubar Pasha and Saroukhan.