With the assistance of the President of Armenia, a fresco was  restored in the Church of St. Mesrop Mashtots

ArmInfo.Armenian President Armen Sarkissian and his wife Nune Sargsyan visited the Church of St. Mesrop Mashtots in Oshakan.

According to the press service of the RA President's Office, with the  support of Armen Sargsyan, the painting of the church "Glory to  Armenian Written Language and Literacy" was restored. Last year, the  Aragatsotn Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church appealed to the  President of the republic with a request to help in the restoration  of the fresco. The fresco with a three-dimensional composition,  considered one of the best works of Armenian monumental art of the  20th century, was painted in 1964-1966 by the artists Hovhannes  Minasyan and Henrik Mamyan. Over the years, due to moisture, it has  been damaged, in some areas the paint layer has darkened. The head of  the research center for the restoration of frescoes Arzhanik  Hovhannisyan, who carried out the restoration work, presented the  restored works, noting that the fresco "Glory of the Armenian  Writing" is one of the best examples of Armenian frescoes of the 20th  century.

The Primate of the Aragatsotn Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic  Church, Bishop Mkrtich Proshyan, thanked the President for his  commitment to preserving this pearl of art and completing the work.  The heirs of the authors of the painting, Martin Minasyan and Lusine  Mamyan, noted that they followed the work with great enthusiasm.  Expressing gratitude to Armen Sargsyan, the specialists of the  Aragatsotn Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Martin Minasyan  noted that a group of dedicated specialists headed by Arzhanik  Hovhannisyan had done a wonderful job. "Our parents created this work  with enthusiasm and love. It is very important for us that the fresco  has been restored. We are grateful for this great work. I think that  everyone for whom the Armenian culture is important will be grateful  for the preservation of the fresco," said Henrik Mamyan's daughter -  Lusine.

The Church of Mesrop Mashtots in Oshakan was built in the 19th  century on the grave of Mesrop Mashtots. Wall painting <Glory of the  Armenian writing and literacy> corresponds to the traditions of  Armenian miniature painting, medieval sculpture and fresco painting.  The fresco on the western wall depicts Mesrop Mashtots holding a  newly created alphabet. The fresco is divided into two parts by an  arched window. The Armenian alphabet is written on the glass of the  window opening. As part of the restoration work, a lighting system  was installed to ensure full visibility of the fresco. The  restoration of the image of "The Mother of God and the Child" (by  Hovhannes Minasyan) has been carried out.

"It's so beautiful that even for the usual Sunday liturgy you come  from Yerevan and get here. The Liturgy here had a special, mysterious  meaning. Congratulations to all of us: There are several things at  once: the word and spirit of God, our culture, our literature, the  art of translators, the art of painting. This is a very unique place.  Maybe this will become an example for us to start the restoration of  frescoes in Armenia, because such quality, such colors, this  saturation one  will not see anywhere else. Thank you all, "said the  president.