At the invitation of the Mayor of the City of Dubrovnik, Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia Ashot Hovakimian took part in the celebrations of the Day of Dubrovnik

02 February, 2024

Օn February 2-3, at the invitation of the Mayor of the City of Dubrovnik, Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia Ashot Hovakimian took part in the celebrations of the Day of Dubrovnik – the 1052th anniversary of the Festivity of Saint Blaise (Festa Svetog Vlaha).

The Saint Blaise (Blasius, Vlasius, Vlah) was an Armenian Bishop and doctor of the beginning of 4th century in the town of Sebaste. After his martyrdom he was venerated as all-Christian Saint. The Bishop of Armenian origin after centuries became the patron saint and protector of the City of Dubrovnik. He is portrayed on the Flag of Dubrovnik; his statues could be seen everywhere in the town. In the Church of Saint Vlah the relics of the saint, his head, a bit of bone from his throat, his hands and his leg are kept. Everyone in Dubrovnik knows, that their Sveti Vlah was an Armenian, which the Archbishop of Zadar Milan Zgrablić once again reminded in his homily at the solemn mass to the tens of thousands people.

Ambassador participated in the opening ceremony, Celebratory Holy Mass and procession, and at the reception given by the Mayor of Dubrovnik.

On February 3, Ambassador of Armenia Ashot Hovakimian, Mayor of Dubrovnik Mato Franković, the Chairman of the City Council Marco Potrebica, a number of Ambassadors and Honorary Consuls, historian Vinicije Lupis, visited the exhibition “Holy Armenia” by the famous Croatian art historian Miljenko Domijan, which is opened as a part of the official program of celebrations, in the solemn hall of the State Archive of Dubrovnik (Palazzo Sponza).

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