Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan attended the opening of an exhibition showcasing a unique specimen of medieval Armenian woodcraft—a wooden door leaf from an Armenian church dating back to 1188, the Prime Minister’s Office said in a readout.

The artifact, considered an exceptional example of historical and cultural value, was acquired from the Sam Fogg gallery in London. The acquisition was carried out by a government decision within the framework of the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports’ state program aimed at acquiring and repatriating cultural values.

A total of 175.36 million drams was allocated from the state budget reserve fund to the Cultural Development Fund for the purchase and transportation of the artifact, which had been put up for sale at an international auction.

Carved from oriental walnut, the piece dates back to the Bagratuni period and represents an outstanding example of medieval Christian art. Its iconography combines biblical and royal themes.

The central composition depicts the biblical scene of Daniel among the lions, while the lower sections illustrate various animal fighting scenes associated with the symbolism of Daniel’s vision. The composition also features a “winged” type of cross adorned with floral motifs symbolizing fruitfulness, reflecting the concept of the tree of life in Armenian church art.

The exhibition will open to the public at the History Museum of Armenia on April 3.