The Armenians in the country of pharaohs for Egypt alone are Hurghada, charm al-Sheikh with their warm red sea, for others Egypt are pyramids, pharaohs, and the legendary Nile. Of course, you can’t argue about tastes.

Armenians in the country of pharaohs

For some, Egypt is Hurghada, charm al-Sheikh with their warm red sea, for others Egypt are pyramids, pharaohs, and the legendary Nile. Of course, you can’t argue about tastes. But for me personally, Egypt is not only pyramids and warm seas, but also the legendary Armenian community, which has been living for several centuries in this country. I went to them … to the legendary.

Alexandria – the city of Armenian scientists

I began my Egyptian route in Armenian traces with Alexandria not by chance. It is from here, from Alexandria, that the roots of the Armenian diaspora of Egypt, which was already mentioned in the 1st century, Roman historian Sallust, emanate. This is now Alexandria – the second after the Kair in terms of population and the economic significance of the city of Egypt. And in the old days she was the first. And, perhaps, even throughout Africa. With the exception of Carthage. The city became famous shortly after its founding. Kings from the Ptolemy dynasty in the 3rd century BC A unique library was built here and invited all the most significant scientists and writers of their time to the city. For example, in the 4th century Mesrop Mashtots, Saak Parthev, Egish studied in Alexandria. Later, Movses Khorenatsi and David Anacht. The last two studied at the famous theological school with Cyril of Alexandria. Unfortunately, nothing left of the buildings of that ancient library. The death of the corps did not occur immediately: the main library died in 273, when Emperor Aurelian destroyed and burned Bruheion during the capture of Alexandria, suppressing the rebellion of the Queen of Zenobia; The part of the library, stored at the church of Serasprip, was probably lost later. The time of the final death of the library has not been exactly established, however, it is known that in 391, unrest and conflict occurred in Alexandria between the Gentiles and Christians, which lasted until 410. Around this period, the last remains of the buildings were destroyed. Further, approximately until the VIII century, a small part of the preserved fund was located in separate educational institutions. From this it follows that only Mashtots and Partva was lucky enough to improve his knowledge in the real buildings of the library. But the years of work and study of the rest of their Armenian compatriots – Egish, Khorenatsi and David Anacht, have already passed outside the walls of the ancient bookstore …

Embankment of Alexandria. Photo: Antioport

Walking along the embankment of Al-Gish Avenue, I got to the student town, where the Alexandria library is located on the place of the former. The idea of ​​the revival of the megachitalny was nominated in 1974. For these purposes, Egypt allocated four hectares of land for construction and established the National Higher Commission for the Alexandria Library.

Alexandria Library. Photo: Antioport

The head of state Hosni Mubarak oversaw the process. In 2002, the construction was completed. Since then, the “Library of Alexandrina” has been functioning as a modern library and a cultural center, in memory of the original Alexandrian library.

Armenian counters on the walls of the library. Photo: Antioport

The walls are faced with Asian granite, with graphics carved on it of 120 different human written systems, including Armenian. Around the building of a crowd of students in a hurry to “gnaw the granite of sciences”. Youth in Alexandria is sociable. Even too much. For example, when I walked along the sidewalk, a car drove past me, then, sharply slowing down, the car passed it back. A young man leaned out of an open window, smiling, turned to me:

– Ya Basha [respectful appeal to a man in Egypt, from the Ottoman Pasha. – approx. Aut.], we have the same T -shirt with you.

I compared my T -shirt with the one on the guy. They really were one to one. Honestly, I did not know how I was supposed to react to this. You never know who is dressed in what.

– It happens, – everything that came to my mind to answer.

The dark -skinned Egyptian again exposed his snow -white teeth, pressed on gas and was that. And I still think what my actions were to be in such cases, what I had to do. These pharaoh children are strange.

Karabakh head of Egypt

In the history of this country, there have been cases when Egypt was led by representatives of Armenian nationality. Moreover, from the Middle Ages to the end of the 19th century. I will talk about some of them in subsequent chapters. In the meantime, we will dwell on Nubar-Pasha (Nubar Nubaryan), who became the first Prime Minister of Egypt and remained in this position for 17 years (1878–1895). The official biography says that Nubar Nubaryan was born in 1825 in the family of Armenians from Smirna [Now Izmir, Turkey. – approx. Aut.]What is reality. However, the roots of the father of Nubar Mkrtich come from Karabakh. Mcartic's great -grandfather was the Armenian commander David Bek, who defeated the Ottoman army in the Transcaucasia and later received the recognition of the Iranian Shah Tahmasp II and the rule over Syunik.

Monument to Nubaru-Pasha at the entrance to the Alexandrian opera. A photo: Antitoport

Nubar grew up a smart and inquisitive boy. Contrary to his distant ancestor, he was far from military affairs, but had a craving for linguistics and humanitarian disciplines. Soon, parents sent the child to study first to Switzerland, then to France. And at the age of 17, Nubar returned to Smirna a brilliant educated young man. His return from Europe successfully coincided with the visit of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Egypt by Bogus Bey Yusufyan to Constantinople, who was also the native of Uncle Nubar, the brother of the boy’s mother. During the visit, Bogs-Bey decided to visit relatives in Smirna. Seeing the educated nephew, the Egyptian official persuaded his sister and son -in -law to let the nubar with him in Egypt, arrange for work in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.Soon, the young man became the secretary of the uncle, and after three years he was appointed at all the personal secretary of the Vice Corol of Egypt Abbas I Hilmi. The career of a young man grew from year to year. It got to the point that Nubaru was given diplomatic orders: for example, in Vienna he managed to conclude a deal for the construction of the Cairo-Suez railway track. And in 1866, the new ruler of Egypt Ismail Pasha sent Nubar Bey to Constantinople to convince the Sultan Abdul-Aziz in the need to allocate a fabulous amount for the construction of the Suez Canal. The construction of the canal between the Mediterranean and Red Seas would be the most important event of the century! – said the Sultan firman. Satisfied with the results of the visit of Nubar-Bey to the Sultan, Ismail Pasha instructed him to take the completion of the work on the Suez Canal (the non-ninesters rarely trusted this). Nubar-Bey went to Paris to settle controversial issues between Egypt and the French company of the Suez Canal. The solution to the issue was submitted for the arbitration of Emperor Napoleon III. This cost Egypt 4 million pounds. Upon returning from Paris, Nubar Bey took the chair of the Minister of Public Works and was awarded the title of Pasha. And soon he became the Prime Minister. I note that, despite the high position, Nubar Pasha also headed the Armenian diaspora in the Middle East. By the way, his son, Pogos, Nubar Pasha brought up in love for the Armenian and Egyptian peoples. Which also affected the career of Nubar Jr.: for many years he was the director of the railways of Egypt, founded an omnibus company in Alexandria. These cars are still popular in this city today. And in 1906, together with Yerwang Agaton and Yakub Artin, he was discovered by the All -Armenian charity union (Agbu), which is in more than 30 countries of the world today. Both in Alexandria and Cairo there are streets named after Nubara-Pasha. The Egyptians are warmly related to their first prime minister, since many transformations in this country are associated with his name. And it is no coincidence that at the entrance to the Alexandria Opera Theater, the stone statue of Nubar-Pasha, which gave the city this theater, decorishes in the chair. The politician was a very gifted person. Therefore, the author of the monument depicted Nubar Pasha as a fair lawyer, in which the foundations of the First Egyptian Constitution were laid. Under the right hand of his statue, the sculptor depicted the constitution, and in the left hand of Nubar Pasha the shield with the inscription Justice is the basis of the entire government.

Arakel Nubar – Savior of black peasants

By the way, I happened to visit the grave of Nubar Pasha. For some reason, a number of sources report that he is buried in the Heliopolis area. What is wrong. Nubar Pasha, although he died in Paris, was buried in the garden of the Armenian Apostolic Church of Alexandria. Here I met with the abbot of the temple by Father Grigor.

“We are very proud of our church, since it is not only one of the oldest in Alexandria, but also the greatest sons of Armenia and Egypt have a hand here,” says the priest, “in Egypt 10 thousand Armenians. Of these, three thousand live in Alexandria. Among them there are our Orthodox Armenians, there are Armenians-Catholics, there are atheists, but such divisions do not restrain them. All of them come here with pleasure, since it is with this place that the names of the great Armenians of Egypt are associated, some of which are buried here.

Armenian Church of Alexandria. Photo: Antioport

Father Grigor is right. Here, in the garden of the temple complex, truly worthy sons are buried by both Armenian and Egyptian peoples. For example, the same Uncle Nubara Pasha, about whom I mentioned above-Bogos Yusuf-Bey.

The crypt of Bogos Bey-the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Egypt at the beginning of the 19th century. Photo: Antioport

During his lifetime, he was not only the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the country, but also a rather rich person who died in poverty. For a few months before his death he bequeathed to the needs of the future Armenian community of Egypt. So he said, dying: “I came to this world naked. Naked and leave. By the way, with the name of Bogos Yusuf-Bey in Arabic philology, one of the famous citrus fruits is associated-Mandarin. In Arabic, Mandarin-al-yusfi. And so he was called not by chance: before Bogos Yusuf-Bey became an official, he was engaged in international trade. Once Bogos Yusuf brought the tangerines seedlings from the island to Egypt and put them in the garden of the Egyptian Vali [Governor. – approx. Aut.] Muhammad Ali. The latter liked fragrant trees and juicy fruits, hitherto unknown to the Egyptians. Muhammad Ali named the fruits of al-Yusfi (Yusufiks) in honor of the discoverer of the fruits of Bogos Yusuf-Bey.

A little to the left of the grave of Bogos Yusuf Bey is another curious tombstone under which the Governor of Hartum rests [modern. Capital of Sudan. – approx. Aut.] Arakel-Bey Nubar. His grave is decorated with sphinxes, guarding peace of the deceased. And above the tombstone, the sculpture of Fellyakh bowing his head [Arabic peasant. – approx. Aut.].

The tombstone of Arakela – the governor of Sudan. A photo: Antitoport

He is here for a reason. The fact is that Arakel Nubar was the good ruler of this African country and ensured equality between different social strata of the population. It was under the rule of Arakela Nubar in Khartom and further throughout Sudan that serfdom was canceled in 1854. Note that in African Sudan this happened seven years earlier than in Russia. Here you have Africa! By the way, when Arakel governor in Hartum, he was not even 30. Yes, and he died early, at 32 years old. In memory of himself, he left not only love for him of ordinary peasants, but also a school for Armenian children of Alexandria, who released thousands of children, including have become world celebrities. For example, Alexander Ruben Kuyumjyan (stage pseudonym Alec R.Kostandinos), who wrote for Demis Roussosa a hlyage Souvenirs …

The oldest Armenian school in Alexandria. Photo: Antioport

By evening, Father Grigor volunteered to conduct me personally to my hotel. We got in his car and drove along either along the narrow Alexandrian streets of Al-Labaan. We drove no more than 40 km per hour. Along the way, there were some kind of workers-Arabs, with a raised hand, Grigor's greeting father.

– Everyone knows you in this area? – I asked the priest with surprise.

“So this whole area belongs to us, the Armenians,” Father Grigor answered as if nothing had happened. – All these people rent premises for workshops, trading shops, car wash and pay us. After all, these premises on our land, left by us with rich Armenians of the XIX – XX centuries. Money enters the fund. And from there for the needs of the Egyptian Armenians. For this reason, it is convenient in Egypt by Armenian in Egypt. Armenian children study for free at school. After graduation, they can enter any university in the world and continue their studies. Again, the fund pays. Also, medical services are paid by the fund.

– So you are shaking here? – The surprised grimace still did not leave my face. Father Grigor smiled.

– You can say so! All these benefits from our departed compatriots. Basically, from Nubar, Arakela, Bogos, Tigran … They bequeathed to the Armenians of Egypt most of their inheritance. So that our nation in this country has a future and does not need anything. So we reap the fruits, but we ourselves are not only consumers. We also try to increase our children, grandchildren for the future. After all, they continue to live in this country.

Father Grigor told me a lot of curious. This whole story reminded my trip to India, in which the Armenians have no less benefits from the deceased Armenian rich past centuries and there is also a fund. The only difference is that in Egypt everything is honest, and the Indian are robbed … You can read about this in my note In the Indian traces of Michael Nalbandan.

“There are mixed families here,” continued Father Grigor. -For example, Armenian-Kopt. But in these families, children are recorded exclusively by “Armenians”. Even if Father Copt. Because, as you know, Copts in Egypt is difficult to live, and Armenians can use the fund. So they become “purebred” Armenians, study at the Armenian school, say Armenian, wear Armenian surnames … What are mixed families! The Coptic Church is located on the earth belonging to us …

In my hotel room, I was already late in the evening. I opened the window overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, brewed coffee and, savoring the drink, rushed into my thoughts somewhere into the distance. He looked and thought: “But the Egyptian Armenians are a worthy example to follow us all. They live today, but think about tomorrow. And this very “tomorrow” concerns not only their family, but also all compatriots in the country of pyramids. They live one big family. Armenian family.And with all this, they actively take part in the construction of the Egyptian Arab Republic. Their names are associated with both the Suez Canal, and with the construction of the Asuan dam, cities and irrigation of complex sections of the Sahara … The Armenians of Egypt truly deserve respect not only among their compatriots, but also among all the Egyptians. ” Time is inexorable. Unfortunately, I did not have time to visit the Armenian cemetery and the Armenian Catholic Church. I will leave these visits for the future. In the meantime, in Cairo!

Armenians in the country of pharaohs. Part II

Having overcome five hours of journey in the Egyptian express, I arrived in Cairo – the largest metropolis on the African mainland and, at the same time, the Center for Panarabian and Coptic culture. In our case, I would still say, and Armenian too. After all, the presence of the Armenians in Cairo is already tracked from the early Middle Ages: from Viziers to military leaders, from artists and to ministers – all this is Misrahai. They will be discussed in the continuation of our epic “Armenians in the country of pharaohs”, in the second part.

Creating Fatimids

One of the 12th century travelers, Veniamin Tudelsky, who made a voyage from the Spanish Navarra to Jerusalem, left this record after visiting Cairo: “Cairo is a big city decorated with squares and shops; There is never rain there, but the Nile, emerging annually, irrigates the country … which makes it unusually fertile. ” Already nine dozen centuries have passed since then, and the sensations that Tudelsky describes the modern Cairo. Unless the Nile does not come out of the shores and is equipped with dams. And there were no rains for centuries, and no. Therefore, I had a great opportunity to “dry” after moist Alexandria, where rains and showers are watered daily daily. In any case, I did not recall not a single “dry day” spent in Alexandria.

In Cairo, I settled in the apartment, in the very center of the city on Ramses Avenue. The place is noisy, but tolerant, given that my balconies did not go to the avenue itself, but to the yards. However, I never bothered the noise. I love life too much to hide in silence. Therefore, without losing a minute, changing around, he went to inspect the surroundings.

Ramses Avenue. Photo: Antioport

Yes, I almost forgot, the house in which I settled was built in 1912. In the same year, the elevator. Is it worth it to describe what I was experiencing while going down on it from the third floor to the first? True, I thought about security. However, if you don’t think about it and look at the unique miracle of the technique left for us from the ancestors, you can experience incredible sensations from touching history: forged elevator, handmade from iron to wood, with unique exclusive shutters …

I went to a lively prospectus and headed towards the Nile. The farther he moved away from the house, the more it seemed that everything was familiar to me here – and buildings, and streets, and merchants, and garbage, and sticking, asking for alms.However, the explained deja-vu, given the remaining dozens of countries of the East.

Nevertheless, unlike all these dozens, Cairo has its own rod, its color. And the Muslim world refers to this city with great respect, along with Mecca and Medina. After all, before the beginning of the X century, Cairo [Arabsk. Al-Kahira-Victorious. – approx. Aut.] was the center of the Islamic religion. The Al-Azhar mosque built in 972 in 988 included the university of the same name. For more than a thousand years, it remains the center of study and interpretation of Islam, as well as the most important higher educational institution of the Arab world. 20,000 students from many countries study here. To get a certificate of spiritual Islamic education, students must study in Al-Azhar mosque for 17 years. I also note that the university is founded during the Fatimid Caliphate Ismailites. And they were known for their gravity for knowledge and tolerance to representatives of other faiths. Under the Fatimids in Al-Azhara, Jew was taught Maimonid and Armenian Grigor Magistos, who later moved to Sanain. Under the Fatimids, the Armenian Christian horse infantry was created, and individual representatives became large military leaders and even viziers. They and their descendants in Egypt are called Misrahami – from Arabsk. Masr – Egypt and Army. “Hai” is an Armenian. So it is worth mentioning about them separately.

Misrahai

It is generally accepted in Cairo that Misrahai counts from the Fatimids, who formed the Armenian detachments from the Levant and Ani after the fall of the Armenian kingdom of the Bagratides in 1045. In fact, everything happened much earlier. Apparently, the Fatimid Caliphate takes on the basis, as I said above, due to religious, respect for sciences and the formation of national armies consisting of Christians. But Christians – in our case, Armenians – served in the Egyptian army long before the Fatimids. For example, in the history of the country, the name of Vardan al-Rumi al-Armani is well known, or, as it is also called, Vardan of the Znamenosets. Traditions are silent about how he got into Egypt, but it is known that in 641, with the siege of Alexandria, a simple soldier Vardan-Armenian from Byzantium saved the life of the commander of the Arab army Amr Ibn Al Asani. In gratitude for his salvation, the military leader generously rewarded Vardan, giving him 40 selected horses, raised him with the rank and supplied the Savior with a detachment. For this reason, Vardan al-Rumi Al Armani began to be called a banner. Currently, in the oldest area of ​​Cairo Fusteta, the name of Vardan is called the market, in the place of which, under King Faruk I, was the cavalry regiment Vardan Znamenosets. By the way, Vardan himself was a Christian, but it is known that one of his descendants of Ali Ibn Yahya Abul Hassan al-Armani received Islam. However, even as proselytic, Ali al-Armany did not shame the name of his great-great-great-grandfather Vardan at all, commanded the army of Abbasid, and soon the caliph appointed a brave armed fighter-Armenian as a spiritual and political leader of Baghdad's Muslims.“The courageous Ali al-Armani was a knowledgeable in military science and the amazing interpreter of the Qur'an,” the medieval Islamic historian Ibn Tagribirdi wrote about him.

As you guessed, my readers, Misrahai are the same Egyptian Armenians, with the only difference being that the former did not attach much importance to religion, and their sources are taken from the early Middle Ages, which means that they are peers of the Islamization of Egypt. Hence the patriotism to Egyptian land, and devotion to the caliphs, who changed one empire after another. In the history of the country, the names of several more Armenians are known, who left an indelible mark in medieval Egypt and Islamic civilization. One of them is Bedros Gardmanuni, known in Egypt under the name Badr Aljamali. He was called up in 1073 by the Fatimid Caliph al-Muntasir to Egypt to help a country, weakened by internal struggle and devastated drought, hunger and epidemics. Later Badr formed an army from Armenian soldiers, whose fathers served in the Bagratid troops. But after the collapse of the Armenian principality, the waves of refugees found refuge in Egypt. Badr became the first military man to become a vezir (minister), setting a tendency for a centenary of viziers, mainly Armenians, with the same monopoly on civilian and military powers. The sons of Badra did not follow in the footsteps of his father, became architects. The talent of the eldest of them, al-Afdal, belongs to the palace in Cairo Dar Al Byzarra and the gardens with recreation areas by Lake Birket Al Arman (“Armenian Lake”). The name of this artificial pond, as you understand, gave al-Afdal himself. By the way, the architectural thought of Al-Afdala also belong to the three monumental collar of Cairo, which he built with his brothers Harutyun and Artakes-Bab al-Nasr and Bab Alfutukh. They were erected in 1087. And in 1092 they built the gate of Bab Zuvily.

The Ayubid dynasty has replaced by the Fatimids-Shiits, in Egypt, the dominance of Sunnism. The attitude towards Christians and Jews was not as disposed as under the former rulers, but there were exceptions to the rules if the Gentile inspired confidence and correctly served the caliphate. One of these loyalists was Bahram al-Armani, who rose to the vizier in 1135. And with mamluks, three Armenians distinguished themselves, perpetuating their names in Egypt. This is a native of Tiflis Mustafa Jabarty, a native of Sunik Muhammad Kekhiya al-Armani and Artsechean Genes Petros times. The first, Mustafa, was a rich merchant who put a huge fortune on the trade of precious stones. In 1690, he arrived in Cairo, where he met with the compatriot and governor of the province of Munnifey Amir Sogomon al-Armani. With its help, Mustafa acquired allotments in the Cairo Armenian quarter of al-Zuvuel, built a hospice and dwellings for poor Armenian families. The second, the one that Muhammad from Syunika, though not famous, was an Armenian affairs, was an excellent diplomat.It was he who was sent by the vizier in 1798 for negotiations with Napoleon Bonaparte to Alexandria so that the French spared the population of Cairo. Napoleon was so impressed by the conciliatory tone, political insight and diplomatic skill of the Armenian-Mamlyuk that he later appointed him the head of the Cairo political issue. So, thanks to his skillful diplomacy, Mahammad al-Armani became figuratively speaking, “the servant of two gentlemen”. Well, the third, Artsakh Armenian-Mamlyuk, Talls of Petros times. There is little information about him. It is only known that he was brought to Egypt as a slave, accompanied Napoleon. And then he completely became the bodyguard of the emperor and fought hand in hand with Napoleon at Austerlitz and Spain.

Here, however, I told you a little about Misrahai and their glorious past in the country of the pyramids. Unfortunately, in the modern Cairo, as in all of Egypt, not a single Misrahai was left, and their descendants have long been arabed in the caliphates. But there are Armenians of Egypt. I told you about them in Alexandria, I will continue to talk about them and now, in Cairo.

The city of garbage holders

Thematic trips have their pros and cons. The pluses make it possible to familiarize themselves with the country, to learn about the peoples living in them. Well, the minus is a time deficit. After all, the topic is taken as the basis. In my case – Armenians. And only if they remain free day or two, then you can use them on museums, attractions, any other pastime. In Cairo I did not have such days. However, if there was time, he spent it not on museums, but on a tribute to respect for the greatest actor of the twentieth century Omar Sharif, buried in his homeland in Cairo. No, the maestro was not an Armenian. But his talent belongs to the roles in which he incomparably played Armenians. For the first time, this happened in the 1964 Anthony Movie, the Fall of the Roman Empire, where Omar Sharif played the role of the king of the Great Armenia Sokhemos. And later, in 1991 and 1992, the actor appeared in Henri Vernay's films “Mayric” and “Paradis Street, 588.” Here, Sharif masterfully tried on the image of Hagop Zakaryan – the head of the Armenian family, who, together with his family, escaped from the genocide and fled to France. I am sure that someday I will return to Cairo again and put the flowers on the grave of the master.

As for the second place where I would like to visit, but this “city of garbagemen” failed, or, as the Cairo themselves call this area, “fun”. However, the “fun” is in Arabic a “garbage man”, the word comes from “zibil”-“garbage”. Yes, many Armenians speaking in dialects are familiar with this word, and, as you understand, “zibil” penetrated the Armenian language from Arabic. This happened, apparently, in the years when Armenia was part of the Arab caliphate. Arabisms began to penetrate into the Armenian language in this era. True, the literary Armenian rejected their and arabisms began to be present only in some dialects … But we will lower etymology and return to the fun.Their area is inhabited by Copts, and their main occupation is the collection of garbage and its sorting. And almost 40 thousand people live like this by several generations. Based on statistical data, Coptes-Balins dispose of 85% of the garbage of the residents of Cairo. In 2012, the city hall concluded a contract with the French to collect and dispose of garbage in modern ways. However, funny began to protest and did not allow firms interference in their craft. After all, “dirty” affairs give fun the main income. Yes, and the city hall caught on during the protests of the garbage holders – to transfer the garbage to the French to leave tens of thousands of people without work. The contract was terminated, Coptes-Balins continued to do their own business.

Nevertheless, it cannot be said that the fun consists of continuous debris and stench from it. No no and one more time no. There are quite decent places here, which attracts tourists. In the city of Glazchikov is the monastery of St. Simeon Sapozhnik. This is a magnificent Coptic Orthodox Monastery, consisting of several churches and chapels located both in buildings and in caves in the depths of the rock. Not only is the monastery itself unique, but its walls are also decorated with the work of the chief icon painter of the Copts Yuhanna al-Armani. He was born and raised in Egypt in the 18th century, was an Armenian by nationality. Hovannes's talent for painting opened early. To make ends meet, young Hovannes put his paintings to the streets of Cairo, but the trade was not briskly. Local Muslims did not acquire them for religious reasons, because Sunnism negatively refers to images of people, animals and other compositions prohibited by the Qur'an. Then Hovannes moved to the role of icon painting with the hope that compatriots will pay attention to his work. But they could not sell anything, because Armenians have almost no traditions of icon veneration. But the Copts who were ready to lay out fabulous money for the work of Hovannes had them. They began to acquire Hovannes icons and decorate them with Coptic temples. And after a few years, Hovannes began to write his paintings on religious stories exclusively for Coptic churches. Soon, Hovannes began to be called Ughannaya in the Coptic manner. Yuhanny al-Armani (Yuhanna-Armenian). Experts argue that the technique of Yuhanna seriously influenced the Coptic icon painting of the 18th century and became one of the possible causes of the Coptic religious Renaissance. To date, 291 icons of Yuhanna al-Armani are known, located in the Coptic churches and monasteries of Egypt, including 9 icons in the Coptic Museum of Cairo and the falling church of the Virgin.