“THE CATHARSIS OF JOHANNES LEPSIUS IN SUMMER OF 1915”: DIRECTOR OF LEPSIUSHAUS ROLF HOSFELD’S REPORT AT YSU

Johannes Lepsius’s grandson Manfred Ashek, YSU Vice-Rector on Academic Affairs Menua Soghomonyan, the Vice-Rector on Scientific Policy and International Cooperation Arsen Babajanyan, Scientific Secretary Levon Hovsepyan, the head of the Department of International Cooperation Alexander Markarov, Doctor of History, Professor Ashot Hayruni, the Dean of the Faculty of History Edik Minasyan, the head of the Genocide division of the Institute of Armenian Studies, Suren Manukyan, lecturers and students were present at the event.

Menua Soghomonyan greeted those present and stressed the importance of the activity of the guests.

In his report the director of Lepsiushaus Rolf Hosfeld presented the activity of Johannes Lepsius since the Hamidian massacres. He also spoke about his active work during the Armenian Genocide, taking German documents from archives and their publication, as well as touched upon Lepsius’s efforts to make German society aware of the Armenian Genocide.

Manfred Ashek spoke about Lepsius’s activities due to which Turkish crimes were registered. Mr. Ashek also expressed delight with the meeting and stressed that the day is symbolic as the park after Lepsius is opening in Yerevan today. He recollected his first visit to Armenia which was in 1989.

Professor Hayruni presented the memories of Lepsius’s daughter about her father’s activity. The “Reference on the Life of Armenians in Turkey” work published in 1916 was to be spread rapidly as the critics could ban it, and the father told his daughter to spread it as soon as possible in the mailboxes of the city.

The students present at the event had the opportunity to address questions to Manfred Ashek and Rolf Hosfeld.