The Meaning of Khatchkars. Public Lecture by Dr. Haroutune Merzian this Monday

Khatchkars are intricately-carved stone crosses that dot the landscape of Armenia. They are considered one of the great and most characteristic achievements of Armenian art. Dr. Merzian's lecture is the fourth in the Seminary's lecture series entitled, Strength and Beauty in His House: Armenian Sacred Art and Architecture.
To download a Lecture Series brochure CLICK HERE (5.5MB).

Haroutune Merzian is an independent scholar residing in Los Angeles. A child of Holy Shoghagat Armenian Church (Belleville, IL), he served as an altar server for many years after attending the St. Nersess Deacons' Training Program as a teenager.
After earning his M.B.A. degree he put his business career on hold to study Armenian. He spent two years in Jerusalem, where he served in the accounting office of the Armenian Patriarchate from 1994-5. After studying Italian for one year, he was admitted to the Oriental Institute of the University of Venice. He studied Armenian and Turkish and earned a doctorate in Art History. Merizan is a specialist in the mutual influence of Armenian, Ottoman and Islamic art.
Merizan also studied at the renowned Courtauld Institute of Art in London.
Theology Carved in Stone
A dynamic speaker, Dr. Merzian will analyze a number of medieval khatchkars, showing how their design and motifs express aspects of Armenian theology.
The lecture will take place on Monday, March 17 at 7:30PM. It is free and open to the public.