INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE DEDICATED TO 150th ANNIVERSARY OF BIRTH OF GERMAN MISSIONARY JOHANNES LEPSIUS HELD IN YEREVAN
Noyan Tapan
Se p 8, 2008
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 8, NOYAN TAPAN. An international conference
dedicated to the 150th anniversary of the birth of the German
missionary Johannes Lepsius was held at the RA National Academy of
Sciences on September 8 on the initiative of the Armenian Genoide
Museum-Institute. Speeches were made by Armenian scientists, as well
as foreign ones, including independent expert Artyom Ohanjanian of
Austria, Rubina Pirumian from the U.S. and others.
According to the director of the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute
Hayk Demoyan, J. Lepsius was a faithful friend and defender of the
Armenian nation. During the first large-scale massacres of Armenians
in 1894-1896, he used all the oppostunities to help the genocide
survivors. Orphanages, hospitals and schools were founded with his
direct assistance.
In 1912-1914 J. Lepsius took part in the development of a project of
Armenian reforms. In 1919 he published "Germany and Armenia 1914-1918",
a collection of German documents on the Armenian Question and the
Armenian Genocide.
H. Demoyan said that the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute announced
2008 a Year of Lepsius. On this occasion a corner about the life
and activities of the German missionary has been created in the
museum hall.