Armenian workdays and holidays as seen by photographer Yulian Angelov

published on 11/8/10 1:49 PM

Photo: Архив

Armenian Workdays & Holidays is a photographic account of the life and culture of the Armenian minority in Bulgaria narrated by young photographer Yulian Angelov. In thirty images he captures the diversity of Armenian traditions immune to the passage of time, as well as scenes from the habits and ways of Armenians who live in Bulgaria. The photographs have been printed on canvas thus acquiring the quality of paintings. This is the 13th exhibition of the young photographer – it is on from 3 to 7 Nov. at Sredets art at the Ministry of Culture in Sofia. From 10 to 19 Nov. the display will move to the Danube town of Silistra, and from there – to other big towns with strong Armenian minorities. Armenian Workdays & Holidays is underway under the patronage of the Ministry of Culture and the Embassy of Armenia to Bulgaria, and has been supported financially by Unicredit Bulbank.

“The Armenian minority is both known and unknown to Bulgarians”, Yulian Angelov says. “When we try to take a closer look at the Armenian culture and traditions, we can see an ethnic community with unique traditions and with the determination to preserve them at any cost. Armenians are very proud people who have common goals and moral values to unite them.”

Photographer Yulian Angelov has travelled the country for a few months to take the best pictures he could and to do some research too. “It is no easy job to get into a closed minority. It takes quite some time, good will, diligence and luck”, the photographer recalls. The Armenians have preserved most of their traditions because this was vital for their survival as a nationality, he explains. They have five key holidays: Xmas and Easter, Virgin Mary’s Day, Transfiguration and the Fast of the Holy Cross. The people strictly observe traditional practices – they meet to dine together. The Armenians, Yulian Angelov goes on to say, are deep believers. Once, before a concert, I heard them reciting the prayer Our Father, he recalls, something unusual for Bulgarians.

The exhibition Armenians Workdays & Holidays is the first step in the execution of a major photo project about Armenians in Bulgaria. Yulian Angelov has the ambition to create a series of photo-albums about the history, traditional culture and religious feasts of Bulgaria’s Armenian community.

English version Daniela Konstantinova

По публикацията работи: Rumyana Tsvetkova

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