The dissertation provides a comprehensive analysis of the cultural life of the Armenian diaspora in the conditions of independence of the Ukrainian state. Previously unexplored materials on the experience of functioning, problems and results of the activity of the Armenian communities during the period of 1991-2018 were introduced into the scientific circulation.
The first chapter covers the state of development of the topic, analyzes the source of the research and presents the methodology and categorical apparatus for solving certain problems. Analysis of the literature on the chosen topic showed the presence of a number of works on resettlement of Armenians in the lands of Ukraine since the Middle Ages and at the same time a low level of coverage of the Armenian diaspora life on the turn of the XX–XXI centuries.
Solving the problems posed in the dissertation helped: axiological approach, cross-cultural and structural-functional methods, cultural analysis, the use of historical-typological and historical-genetic types of comparison. A significant amount of information is obtained through the use of sociological surveys, interviews, and included observations.
The second chapter concisely traces the history of Armenian-Ukrainian inter-cultural relationships. It is noted that the Armenians live on Ukrainian lands more than a millennium, as a result of which today there are numerous monuments of Armenian material and spiritual culture such as: temples, khachkaras (stone stele with the image of the cross), icons, paintings, books, epistolary, sculptures, samples of jewelry, gunsmith, leather art, and so on.
Many modern Ukrainian artists of Armenian origin have been identified (S. Mazoyan, B. Egiazharyan, S. Chakhoyan, A. Kostandyan, A. Berberyan, S. Paradjanov, R. Balayan S. Shakhbazyan and many others).
The conditions of the period of institutionalization and structural design of the Armenian public associations of Ukraine after the proclamation of independence were analyzed. Currently successfully operating 23 regional Armenian societies, united in the Armenian Union of Ukraine and 10 separate communities, which maintain contact with the union, acting under the memorandums of cooperation.
The third chapter analyzes in detail the legal principles, directions, peculiarities and characteristics of the cultural activity of Armenian societies in accordance with their statutes and programs. The legal basis for the cultural activities of the Armenians in our country is the legislative documents of the Ukrainian state in the field of providing civil liberties; interstate agreements on cooperation between Ukraine and Armenia, constituent documents of Armenian public associations. The subject analysis of the statutes of the existing Armenian cultural societies of Ukraine made it possible to distinguish their common intentions which are: promoting the development of the Armenian communities of Ukraine, the implementation and protection of the constitutional rights and freedoms of the peoples of Ukraine, the study and propagation of the national historical and cultural heritage of the Armenians of Ukraine and the comprehensive development of the material base of national culture. It was emphasized that the international relations of the Armenians of Ukraine with their compatriots are actively supported by the Pan-Diaspora organization - the Armenian Apostolic Church, as well as the projects of the Ministry of Diaspora – “Kyle Depi Tun”, “Our Famous”, etc.
The main organ of the Armenian Diaspora of Ukraine, which is engaged in the protection of monuments, is the Committee on Issues of Historical and Cultural Heritage, which works in different planes: in work with temple Armenian buildings, Armenian manuscripts, in preserving the ancient and constructing the modern khachkars, etc. The results of the community publishing activities include books, textbooks, methodical literature, booklets, cartographic materials, catalogs, calendars, leaflets, newspapers, magazines, etc.
The practice of Armenian public associations of Ukraine for organizing cultural and leisure events is analyzed. These projects include: cultural days, festivals, exhibitions, musical and literary evenings, memorial holidays, symposiums, forums, seminars, conferences.
Key words: national minority, Armenian diaspora, community, cultural cooperation, intercultural integration.
