The armenian Minister of Diaspora inaugurates a Khatckar in honor of King Leo V

On Saturday 13, Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan came to France in the town of Lusignan to inaugurate a Khatchkar dedicated to the last king of the Armenians Leo V of Lusignan and in memory of the Armenians dead for France and to the victims of the genocide. French-Armenian journalist Jean Eckian informs about this.  

The ceremony was organized by National Association of Armenian Veterans and Resistants (ANACRA) chaired by Antoine Bagdikian, the city of Lusignan and local association Ararat chaired by André Valotau in the presence of Ambassador to France Viguen Tchitetchian, Archbishop Norvan Zakarian, Pastor René Leonian, Guy de Lusignan (descending of King Leo V), Lévon Sayan producer, Raffi Bakian (ex-Universal Music manager), MP Jean-Michel Clément, Jean-François Macaire, President of the regional Council, Mayor of the city of Lusignan René Gibault …

About 250 people attended the event, followed by a conference conducted with historian Claude Mutafian, museum visit and special church service dedicated to the victims of the Armenian Genocide with Father Gérard Touraynne and Bishop of Poitiers. Pastor René Leonian read the prayer of St. John Chapter 12, and Archbishop Norvan Zakarian sang Der Voghormia and other religious songs.

On Saturday evening, the girls of Nairi Ensemble offered a beautiful dance performance. Charmed by these girls, Hranush Hakobyan promised to invite them to Yerevan.

For the occasion bookstore Lusignan Library offers a collection of books dedicated to Armenia and the Armenian people.

The possibility of twinning between Yerevan and Lusignan is envisaged.

Leo V of Lusignan, King of Cyprus, Jerusalem and Armenia ruled the throne of Cilicia from 1374 to 1375. The recumbent figure of Leo V is in France in the Cathedral of Saint-Denis.

Sources :