Firstly and most importantly she started with a map, explaining to us the location of Armenia, which even I as a map-lover and geographer would have struggled to identify precisely. For Shoghik the preservation and appreciation of Armenian culture and heritage isn’t just a passion, it’s a way of life. They say that Lucy is a giver of light and certainly our guide shared her knowledge of Armenia with us on a hot and humid summer afternoon, surrounded by the lapping waters of the Venetian lagoon. In fact I’ve written about Santa Lucia and the church dedicated to her next to the railway station in Venice. This won me over immediately, Lucia (Lucy) is one of my favourite saints. Shoghik explained that her name was the equivalent of Lucia in Italian. Her first language was Armenian and Italian was her second. Born into the Armenian Community of Venice, she had lived her entire life in the city. OUR YOUNG GUIDE had the most impressive of Armenian names, Shoghik Baghdasaryan. I’m sure I wasn’t the only one hoping to be invited for lunch! Places were set for each of the resident monks in the wood-panelled refectory. When we visited it was Sunday lunch time and the smell of roasting meat was drifting tantalisingly through the cloisters. It is home to about a dozen Armenian monks. To this day it remains an important monastery, library and sanctuary of Armenian history and culture. Originally a leper colony, hence the name Lazzaro after Lazarus the patron saint of lepers, the island had been abandoned and was given as a gift to the Armenians by the Venetians. The island is about 20 minutes by boat from St Mark’s Square. It’s a small monastery island, a stone’s throw from Lido di Venezia, where a group of Armenian monks have lived and worked for more than 300 years. I was invited by my friend Mary to one of the less well known islands of the lagoon. Today was a very interesting day, a very interesting day indeed. JULY 2020 – Sunday, 19th July to be precise.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |