A conference titled "Iranian Literary Heritage and Ferdowsi", dedicated to the renowned Iranian poet Ferdowsi and the International Day of Persian Literature, was jointly organized by the Chair of Iranian Studies at YSU Faculty of Oriental Studies and the Cultural Center of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Armenia.
At the opening of the event, Professor Ruben Melkonyan, Dean of the Faculty of Oriental Studies, noted that this was the first event held in Ferdowsi Hall specifically dedicated to the eminent poet.
"Today, Ferdowsi’s voice will be heard here," emphasized the dean, highlighting the symbolic significance of the event.
Mehdi Sobhani, Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran, spoke about the origin of the Persian Gulf’s name, underscoring the relevance of the topic. He emphasized that Persian is a language of culture, love, and emotion that has been preserved throughout centuries despite the absence of state support.
Vardan Voskanyan, Head of the Chair of Iranian Studies and Professor, stated that Persian as a language developed under unique conditions. Without state support, Persian found usage not only in governmental and religious institutions—becoming the second language of Islam and the primary language of Iranian mysticism—but also as a language of international communication.
Mohammad Asadi Movahed, Cultural Counselor of the Iranian Embassy, started his speech with a quote from Ferdowsi’s Shahnameh, stressing that Ferdowsi was not only a great poet but also the preserver of the Persian language and a moral teacher through myths and legends. He noted that Ferdowsi’s Shahnameh is not only a literary work but also a national and cultural document reflecting Iran’s political, geographical, and historical foundations.
During the conference, Gurgen Melikyan, Professor at the Chair of Iranian Studies, delivered a presentation titled "Ferdowsi in the Armenian Context". He discussed the cultural elements of the Shahnameh present in Armenian heritage, highlighting that Armenian writers, particularly Hovhannes Tumanyan, showed great interest in Iranian culture.
The conference also featured scientific reports by the chair’s lecturers, including T. Amryan, L. Petrosyan, G. Misakyan, A. Arushanyan, A. Vardanyan, G. Gevorgyan, and A. Tonoyan.
Liana Petrosyan, Assistant and Candidate of Philological Sciences at the Chair of Iranian Studies, presented a report titled "The Discourse of Iranian Nationalism in Ferdowsi’s Works" within the framework of the Armenian Higher Education and Science Committee’s thematic program.
Garik Misakyan from the same chair presented on "The Historical and Cultural Significance of the Shahnameh as a Symbol of Iranian National Identity" within the framework of the aforementioned program.
During the conference, Mehdi Sobhani, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Armenia, and Mohammad Asadi, Cultural Counselor of the Embassy, awarded Professor Vardan Voskanyan, Head of the Chair of Iranian Studies, for his contributions to the dissemination of the Persian language and Iranian studies.
The conference served as an important platform for discussing Ferdowsi’s literary heritage and its role in contemporary cultural dialogue. The event concluded with a high appreciation of Ferdowsi’s work as a national and cultural treasure.
