Romania celebrates the Day of the Armenian Language, Alphabet and Culture annually on October 12. The day has been chosen to coincide with the Feast of the Holy Translators, which honors Mesrop Mashdots, the founder of the alphabet, and Catholicos Sahak Partev, who translated the Bible together with some of their students in the first half of the 5th century.
The draft law on the establishment of October 12 as the Day of the Armenian language, alphabet and culture was initiated by MPs Varujan Vosganian (ALDE) and Varujan Pambuccian (UAR, national minorities). The law was approved by the Romanian Senate and the Chamber of Deputies passed the legislation in 2019. President Klaus Iohannis signed it into law on October 10, 2019.
According to the law, the celebration of this day “can be organized by central and local authorities, by the institutions under their subordination or coordination, as well as by civil society. It stipulates that cultural, educational, artistic, social or scientific events, devoted to the promotion of the Armenian language, alphabet and culture can be organized to mark the day.
On October 15, 2024, on the occasion of the Day of the Armenian language, alphabet and culture, an extraordinary piano recital by Ilinca Dumitrescu will take place at the Great Hall of the Romanian Academy, starting at 7:00 p.m. Works by Armenian composers Arno Babageanian, Komitas, Suren Zakarian, Karen Ananian, Aram Khachaturian will be performed. The event is organized by the George Enescu Philharmonic in collaboration with the Armenian Union of Romania and the Armenian Archdiocese of Romania, according to the official website of the Armenian Union of Romania, Agepress reports.