ZOROASTRIANISM RELIGION AND PAHLAVI STUDIES: A BOOK BY MASTER PROGRAM STUDENT RUBEEN NIKOGHOSYAN HAS COME OUT

According to Ruben Nikoghosyan, he started to study the theme 5 years ago when he was a baccalaureate student. He said that his interest in Iranian Studies arose due to Farsi which he began to study at the age of 14, so his choice of major was not a coincidence.

Zoroastrianism was the religion of Sassanid Empire. It was widely studied by western specialists of Iranian studies, however this religion was little referred to in Armenian scientific circles, so there is no other work which can present more or less complete characteristics of Zoroastrianism.

Stressing the importance of the study for Armenian Studies, Ruben said that there are some opinions that Zoroastrianism was spread among Armenians before the Christianity.

Ruben highlighted the most interesting aspects of Zoroastrianism, compared it with the Christianity, Islam and Buddhism. The main ideology of Zoroastrianism relates to dualistic cosmology of good and evil. Some rituals of this religion resemble Armenian customs which probably appeared in Pre-Christian times.

Ruben also expressed his opinion about the crisis of humanitarian sciences. He connects this crisis with the desire to get the results as soon as possible while with humanitarian sciences the results are not seen at once. 

“Iranian influence is either overestimated or underestimated. Iranian civilization had a great influence on the history of mankind. That is why Iranian Studies are so important in the world history. In this field I would like to emphasize the role of YSU Chair of Iranian Studies”, added Ruben.

It should be noted that the monography focuses at Zoroastrianism and its literature. The scientific work consists of three parts.