PRESENTATION OF “FROM THE ARCHIVE OF LEVON MELIKSET-BEK” COLLECTION IN TBILISI

On December 14, 2025, with the blessing and under the presidency of His Grace Bishop Kirakos Davtyan, Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, the presentation of the collection “From the Archive of Levon Melikset-Bek” took place at the Diocesan “Hayartun” Educational, Cultural, and Youth Center (Director: Eugenia Markosyan).

The collection was published within the book series of the Viktor Hovsepyan House-Museum. It was compiled by Armenologist and Doctor of Philological Sciences Bondo Arveladze and Gissane Hovsepyan, Head of Viktor Hovsepyan’s Literary Archive. The collection includes letters addressed to Levon Melikset-Bek, which were handed over to B. Arveladze by Melikset-Bek’s younger son, international chess referee Yevgeny Melikset-Bek. The letters were written by prominent figures such as Nikolai Marr, Ekvtime Takaishvili, Ivane Javakhishvili, Hrachya Acharian, Hakob Manandyan, Suren Yeremyan, Karo Ghafadaryan, Avetik Isahakyan, Ashkhen Tumanyan, as well as other distinguished representatives of science, culture, and literature. The collection concludes with Konstantine Gamsakhurdia’s article “Tbilisi University,” written on the occasion of the founding of the university.

Through the archival material, the scientific, literary, cultural, and public life of the previous century comes vividly to life. Against this backdrop emerges the multifaceted image of Levon Melikset-Bek as a historian, source scholar, ethnographer, folklorist, literary critic, devoted friend and companion, a true Tbilisian, and a great teacher. The collection was published with the financial support of Patrik Bezoyan (Russian Federation).

A review of the collection was presented by Emma Akhtyan, Candidate of Philological Sciences. Speeches were delivered by Armenologist and Doctor of Historical Sciences Nino Aptsiauri, researcher at Tbilisi State University; Van Bayburtyan, editor of the “Vrastan” (Georgia) newsletter, as well as students of Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University—Arevik Papoyan, Lusine Sukiasyan, and others.

In his address of blessing, His Grace Bishop Kiros Davtyan emphasized the vital role of distinguished scholars in the education and upbringing of future generations, the preservation and development of culture, and the strengthening of friendship among peoples. The Diocesan Primate presented Emma Akhtyan, a distinguished figure of contemporary Armenian philology in Georgia, with the St. Nreses the Gracious (Nerses Shnorhali) Medal, awarded by His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians. The Letter of Blessing from His Holiness was read by the Rev. Father Samvel Torosyan.

The musical program featured pianist Yesayi Abovyan and the St. Nerses Shnorhali Children and Youth Choir of the “Hayartun” Center (choirmaster: Aida Bazoyan).