European voluntary service project ''YOUTH PLATFORM'': ARMENIA

Armenia (Armenian Հայաստան, Hayastan, [/ɑːrˈmiːniə/]) is the only country remaining from 3,000 year old maps of Anatolia. It became the world's first Christian country more than 1,700 years ago in 301 AD and has a large Diaspora all over the world. As a former Soviet republic lying in the Caucasus region straddling Asia and Europe, Armenia has a rich and ancient culture. Landlocked, Armenia is bordered by Turkey to the west, Georgia to the north, Iran to the south, Azerbaijan to the east. Five percent of the country's surface area consists of Lake Sevan (Sevana Lich), the largest lake in the Lesser Caucasus mountain range. Armenia's many mountains and mountain valleys create a great number of microclimates, with scenery changing from arid to lush forest at the top of a mountain ridge.

Culture

As Armenia straddles Europe and Asia, East and West, so does Armenian culture. Many Armenians refer to Armenia as a European nation, but their social conservatism in some realms hasn't been seen in Europe proper for a few decades. The collapse of the Soviet Union has opened up many channels with the West again and change is coming rapidly, although much more so in Yerevan than in the rest of the country. Armenia's small, very homogeneous population (about 99% Armenian) is strongly family-oriented. All across the land, people place a lot of pride in their hospitality. Show up in a village without a penny, and food and a place to stay will come to you along with drinks and endless toasts.

Religion

In 301 AD, Armenia became the first country in the world to adopt Christianity as a state religion. One can find thousands of churches and monasteries in Armenia. Armenians are Apostolic Christians and have their own Catholicos (religious leader, like the Pope for Roman Catholics).

Soviet Armenia

In many ways, the Soviet period was a golden one for Armenians. The price they paid for it was extraordinarily high, though, with arbitrary borders being drawn between Armenia and Azerbaijan (setting the stage for future conflict)). The country boomed economically, and there were heavily subsidized cultural education and activities. Yerevan mushroomed from a dusty garrison town of 20,000 to a metropolis of 1 million.

Mount Ararat

Mount Ararat, which was historically part of Armenia, is the highest mountain in the region. Now located in Turkey, but clearly visible from Armenia, it is regarded by the Armenians as a symbol of their land. Because of this, the mountain is present on the Armenian national emblem today.

Armenian cuisine

Khash (Armenian: խաշ, Persian: کله پاچه)
հեղուկ տաք ապուր։ Հնագույն հայկական ուտեստներից մեկը, որը տարածում է ստացել Կովկասում և Անդրկովկասում և հավանաբար ունեցել է արարողական բնույթ։ Ի սկզբանե եղել է աղքատների սնունդ։ ‎ Is a dish of boiled cow or sheep's feet. It is a traditional dish in Armenia, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Greece, Georgia, Mongolia and in some other countries.

«Խաշ» անվանումը, ըստ ամենատարածված վարկածի, առաջացել է հայերեն «խաշել» բառից, նույն բառից են առաջացել նաև այլ կերակրատեսակների անվանումները (խաշլամա)։
The name khash originates from the Armenian verb khashél (Armenian: խաշել), which means "to boil."

Dolma is a family of stuffed vegetable dishes common in the Mediterranean cuisine and surrounding regions including the Balkans, the Caucasus, Russia, Central Asia and Middle East. Common vegetables to stuff include tomato, pepper, onion, zucchini, eggplant, and garlic. Meat dolmas are generally served warm, often with tahini or egg-lemon sauce. Dolmas prepared with olive oil and stuffed with rice are generally served cold with a garlic-yogurt sauce.

Harissa (Armenian: հարիսա) is an Armenian dish. It is a thick porridge made from korkot (dried or roasted cracked wheat) and fat-rich meat, usually chicken or lamb. Herbs were substituted for meat in harissa when Armenian religious days required fasting and penance. The extremely long cooking process is an essential part of the harissa tradition. Like other ritual dishes, the time taken for preparation is part of its cherished value.