THE NEW YORK TIMES
By Jason Farago
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| A four-sided stela commemorating Armenia’s conversion to Christianity in the fourth century opens the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s exhibition, “Armenia!”CreditCreditThe Metropolitan Museum of Art |
They were mostly young people who came out in the streets of Armenia this past spring, waving balloons of red, orange and blue. Less than six weeks later, Mr. Pashinyan was named interim prime minister of Armenia, ushered into office on the shoulders of the extraordinary, nonviolent “velvet revolution.” This spring we learned its future might be as eventful as its past, which makes it a timely moment for “
Armenia!,” the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s eye-opening appraisal of the art, manuscripts, textiles and religious artifacts of a nation that is still adding surprising chapters to its dramatic history. Mr. Pashinyan attended the opening last month. His Holiness Karekin II, the catholicos (or supreme patriarch) of the Armenian church, was also spotted in the galleries. [
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| Arm Reliquary of St. Sahak Partev, from the late 17th to early 18th century. This silver, gem-studded reliquary is said to contain the remains of St. Gregory’s last known male descendant. |
