Belmont, MA - On May 28, 2006, at the Holy Cross Armenian Catholic
Church, located on Lexington Street, Belmont, MA, there will be the
unveiling of two historical murals, and an art exhibit by the artist
Daniel Varoujan Hejinian. The murals are 48"x79" each, they are located
on the side walls of the church, and depict the Baptism of King Drtad and
the Creation of the Armenian Alphabet.

To the left of the center altar, one mural celebrates the 1,700th
anniversary of Armenia Christianity. This panel depicts the Baptism of
King Drtad as the first Christian King in 301 AD. Saint Gregory the
Illuminator stands on the bank of the Euphrates River and baptizes the
King, who is bowed in humility. Queen Ashkhen and the king's sister
Princess Khosrovitookht stand behind him, wile two soldiers witness the
event. Also depicted in the mural are Mount Ara! rat in the distance, and
in its shadow, the Holy Echmiyadzin Church, which was built 305 AD by
Saint Gregory and King Drtad.

Located on the wall to the right of the center altar, the second mural
celebrates the 1,600th anniversary of the Armenian alphabet and Armenian
culture. It depicts Saint Mesrob Mashdotz who created the Armenian
alphabet in 405 AD for the purpose of translating the Bible into the
Armenian language. In this panel, Saint Mesrob holds a pen while through
a stream of light the alphabet floats to him through divine inspiration.
Behind him, there is the symbolic image of Ft. Mekhitar, who in the 1700's
founded the Mekhitarist Order in the island of San Lazarus. Also depicted
in the background is the bell tower of the San Lazarus Monastery, because
its congregation was devoted to the advancement of learning and the
publication of works in the Armenian language, in addition they
established schools in populated Armenian communities throughou! t the
world.

"The Mekhitarists contributed to the influence of the Italian Renaissance
in the Armenian culture," said Father Raphael Andonian, who has been with
the Holy Cross Armenian Catholic Church since 1993. Nine years ago, after
viewing several religious and corporate murals in Italian Renaissance
style painted by Varoujan, Father Raphael believed that the artist had the
spiritual understanding and the cultural background to paint beautiful
murals that would meet his expectations. He commissioned Varoujan to paint
the Last Supper and Christ Rising from the Cross. This 21'x17' mural is
located behind the center altar of the church. "The cross is not the end,
it is the preparation of the resurrection," explained Father Raphael.

Last year Father Raphael engaged Varoujan to paint the dome of the church
above the altar as a continuation of the original mural. A dove as a
symbol of the Holy Spirit soars above the rising body of Christ. These
murals give the impression that space is not confined within the w! alls
of the physical church building, and Mass is celebrated "in the open
world." The beautiful sky expands the space beyond the altar, and
symbolically merges the celebration of Mass with the Last Supper depicted
in the mural. This is a space of worship with a sense of light and
harmony. It is joyful, peaceful and very inspiring.

Father Raphael said that Varoujan brings a fresh interpretation of the
Renaissance and he's capable of translating artistically the concepts
envisioned for the Church. For this reason, in the future he may have in
mind other projects for Varoujan.

The Holy Cross Armenian Catholic Church in Belmont, is the seventh church
to display religious murals painted by Varoujan. Saints Vartanantz
Armenian Apostolic Church in Chelmsford, Massachusetts, was the first
church to commission Varoujan's religious murals. Twenty years ago,
Daniel Varoujan Hejinian completed 46 murals covering the northern and so!
uthern walls of Saint Vartanantz Armenian Apostolic Church. Sinc e then,
he has painted many religious murals and paintings in Armenian Churches
throughout the United States including St. Gregory the Enlightener
Armenian Church in White Plains, New York; Armenian Apostolic Church of
the Holy Ascension, Trumbull, Connecticut; Saint John the Baptist Armenian
Apostolic Church, Greenfield, Wisconsin; Saint Stephanos Armenian
Apostolic Church, Elberon, New Jersey; and Our Savior Armenian Apostolic
Church, Worcester, Massachusetts.

Varoujan has brought the Italian Renaissance to Boston. He has painted
several corporate murals in the Renaissance style such as the Causeway
Street Mural, a 50'x50' five-story high mural, which is the gateway to the
historical North End; the murals at Fillippo's Restaurant in the North
End; and Luccia's Restaurant, Winchester, MA. Varoujan's murals are
beautiful, perfectly executed and depict historical moments...