CULTURE IS NOT SIMPLY A MATTER OF CELEBRATION — IT IS A MATTER OF CONTINUITY.

• In today’s global context, why is it crucial to make Armenian heritage visible and present beyond Armenia’s borders? 

In today’s increasingly interconnected yet fragmented world, culture is not simply a matter of celebration—it is a matter of continuity. For a nation such as Armenia, whose historical experience has so often required its culture to survive beyond the protection of statehood, the international presence of its heritage becomes an essential form of resilience. 

The word of Maestro Petrenko carries great influence. It would be truly wonderful if young British composers were inspired to attend the Maestro’s Academy this summer in Armenia, deepening artistic exchange and fostering new cultural bridges between our societies. 

Introducing Armenian culture to the British public—and indeed to other global audiences—ensures that Armenia is known not solely through the prism of geopolitics and tragedy, but through its contributions to world civilisation: its music, literature, spiritual traditions, architecture, and philosophical outlook. This kind of cultural diplomacy fosters recognition, empathy, and intellectual curiosity. 

• What is your impression of the concert Together We Celebrate Armenian Culture & Spirit at Saint Yeghiche Armenian Church in London? 

The Together We Celebrate Armenian Culture & Spirit concert at St Yeghiche Armenian Church was a deeply moving occasion, filled with kindness, warmth, joy, and humility—not only for the Armenian community in the United Kingdom, but equally for our British guests who joined us in such encouraging numbers. 

I wholeheartedly congratulate the team of the Primavera Foundation for their excellence and professionalism in all that they do. It is an honour to support their work and the important cultural mission they continue to advance. 

What made this evening particularly special was the atmosphere of shared discovery. For many members of the British public present, this was a first encounter with the depth, subtlety, and emotional register of Armenian sacred and classical cultural expression. The fact that St Yeghiche—a spiritual and architectural landmark of the Armenian presence in London—became a space of intercultural dialogue for an evening reflects the very best of what Armenian cultural life can offer. 

At a time when cultural understanding is too often mediated through politics or crisis, this concert allowed Armenia to be encountered through its civilisational voice: music, spirit, and artistic continuity. It was heartening to witness so many British attendees engaging with Armenian heritage not as distant observers, but as participants in a shared cultural experience. 

• How do cultural initiatives abroad strengthen the Armenian diaspora and deepen its connection to Armenian identity and heritage? 

Cultural initiatives such as the concert play a vital role in sustaining the Armenian diaspora’s living connection to its identity and heritage—particularly for communities several generations removed from Armenia itself. 

Events held in culturally respected settings such as St Yeghiche Church do more than preserve tradition; they actively transmit it. They create opportunities for younger members of the diaspora to experience Armenian culture not as an abstract inheritance, but as a vibrant and contemporary presence within their everyday British environment. It was also a particular source of pride for our diaspora community to witness the remarkable talent of young and gifted Armenian musicians, whose performances were a true inspiration. 

I would also like to extend my sincere thanks to Bishop Hovakim, as well as to the trustees and colleagues of the St Yeghiche Trust, for welcoming us all so generously and for opening their wonderful church so unreservedly to the wider public. 

At the same time, when these initiatives are open to the wider public—as this concert so successfully was—they transform culture from an inward-looking exercise into a shared civic offering. This outward engagement strengthens the Armenian community’s sense of belonging within British society while maintaining its distinct cultural voice. 

For those of us committed to advancing Armenia’s long-term cultural and civilisational security, such initiatives are indispensable. They nurture informed cultural ambassadors who can articulate Armenian identity confidently in an international context, ensuring that Armenia’s heritage continues to be recognised, understood, and valued far beyond its borders.