On March 13, within the framework of the international exhibition “Sacred Dialogues: From the Louvre to the History Museum of Armenia,” a lecture entitled “The Earliest Shrines and Saints of the Christian East: Saint Thecla the Protomartyr” was delivered by Zaruhi Hakobyan, Candidate of Art History, Associate Professor, and Head of the Chair of Art History and Humanities at the State Academy of Fine Arts of Armenia.

The opening remarks were delivered by Nzhdeh Yeranyan, Deputy Director for Research at the History Museum of Armenia, who emphasized that the international temporary exhibition “Sacred Dialogues: From the Louvre to the History Museum of Armenia” not only offers the public an opportunity to become acquainted with exceptional artifacts, but also creates a platform for professional discussions. He also highlighted the importance of studying early Christian heritage, particularly in the context of the cultural connections between the Middle East and Armenia.

The speaker addressed several renowned early Christian saints and shrines of the Middle East, as well as distinctive objects acquired by pilgrims, such as flasks and the images depicted on them. Special attention was given to the spread of the cult of Saint Thecla the Protomartyr in the Middle East and Armenia, particularly through “newly discovered” examples of the saint’s image in early medieval Armenian sculpture.

At the conclusion of the event, the speaker answered questions from the audience.