Komitas' Works Registered in UNESCO's International Memory of the World Register

The works of Father Komitas have been registered in UNESCO's International Memory of the World Register by unanimous decision of the UNESCO Executive Council. Nikolai Kostandyan, the director of the Komitas Museum, announced this during a press conference, noting that this event coincides with the 9th anniversary of the museum's establishment.

“The registration of Komitas’ works in UNESCO's international register is a significant responsibility. This has been made possible through 7-8 years of extensive work and cooperation with the museum, the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” said Kostandyan.

Deputy Foreign Minister Vahan Kostanyan congratulated everyone on this important event and emphasized that in 2019, the 150th anniversary of Father Komitas was included in UNESCO’s list of notable anniversaries for prominent individuals and significant events and was celebrated grandly worldwide.

“I want to emphasize that the International Memory of the World Register includes documentary samples of exceptional value. The purpose of this program is to prevent the loss of existing archives, libraries, and valuable collections around the world and to contribute to their effective preservation and dissemination,” noted Vahan Kostanyan.

At the museum-institute, citizens will soon have the opportunity to see Komitas’ study room through information technologies via a VR exhibition. The project enables access to Father Komitas’ study in his apartment located in Istanbul using VR glasses. The virtual study room, designed using three-dimensional modeling, features Komitas' piano, a fisarmonica, and other personal items. Throughout this experience, the sound of Komitas' music can also be heard.

Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Zhanna Andreasyan emphasized the importance of utilizing modern technologies and expressed delight that the Komitas museum-institute will join the ranks of museums that allow visitors, especially children, to discover Komitas’ study in a completely new way using cutting-edge technologies.

“And I am sure this will be an unparalleled experience for our children, when they see, for example, the keys on which Father Komitas played,” noted Minister Andreasyan.

On the occasion of the museum's anniversary, the collection titled “A Thousand and One Songs,” which features a volume on Armenian folk songs titled “Working Songs,” was also presented to the public.