On the initiative of YSU Faculty of Oriental Studies, an international Oriental studies summer school titled "Orbeli - 2025" was held from July 4 to 12 at the "Tsitsernak" camp in Vanadzor, in honor of the world-renowned Armenian orientalist Hovsep Orbeli. The co-organizers of this academic event included prominent international Oriental studies centers such as the Faculty of Asian and African Studies (St. Petersburg State University) and the Institute of Asian and African Studies (Moscow State University). The summer school was supported by Yerevan State University, the Diocese of Gougark of the Armenian Apostolic Church, the Pan-Armenian Foundation for the Support of Armenian Studies (under the auspices of the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia), and the Russian House in Yerevan (Rossotrudnichestvo).
In his opening speech, Ruben Melkonyan, Dean of YSU Faculty of Oriental Studies and Doctor of Philological Sciences, Professor, stated: "This is our first summer student camp organized in collaboration with our Russian partner institutions – the Faculty of Asian and African Studies at St. Petersburg State University and the Institute of Asian and African Studies at Moscow State University. It is one of the key directions of our broad cooperation. The Armenian and Russian Oriental studies schools share common traditions, and it is important that the younger generation of orientalists not only be aware of these traditions but also continue them. I hope that the summer school will contribute significantly to this."
The summer school program comprised an intensive academic curriculum, featuring a series of lectures, discussions, and practical sessions on the intersection of Oriental studies and Armenian studies.
The participants included 55 students specializing in Oriental studies from YSU, Moscow State University, and Saint Petersburg State University. They had the opportunity not only to attend the academic program but also to take part in educational excursions to various places, including the Orbeli Brothers Museum, Sevanavank Monastery, the Vaskenian Spiritual Seminary in Sevan, the Haghpat and Sanahin Monastic Complexes, the Mikoyan Brothers Museum, and the city of Gyumri.
At the conclusion of the summer school, students who successfully completed the program were awarded certificates of completion.
The "Orbeli" International Oriental Studies Summer School will be held annually, with "Orbeli – 2026" planned to take place in Saint Petersburg.
