Movses Khorenatsi (c. 410-493), called the Father of the Armenian historiography, is the greatest Armenian historian of the Middle Ages. Poet, translator, philosopher and theologian Movses Khorenatsi's works hold particular significance because they record the old oral traditions of the Armenian people during its pagan era and, more importantly, traces Armenian history from Khorenatsis' days to its origins.
The masterpiece of Khorenatsi is the “History of Armenia”, which covers a time-frame from the formation of the Armenian people, i.e. from the 10th century B.C., to the fifth century AD. It contains the richest and most unique material on ancient Armenian legends, the pagan religion, the internal and economic life of the country, its social and state structure, juridical system, and its relations with the world. It also contains plentiful data on the history and culture of neighboring people, their interrelation, in particular, about Persia, the Byzantium, Assyria, Georgia, Albania and others, thus being an indispensable source for the study of their historical past. The first time in the Armenian historiography, Khorenatsi introduced the idea of timeline.
In the 2nd and 3rd books of the “History of Armenia”, along with the dates of the reign of the Armenian kings and Catholicoses, he mentions the reigning years of the rulers of the neighbouring Persia and Rome. First edition of the “History of Armenia” was published in Amsterdam, 1695; the second in London, with a Latin translation, 1736; the third in Venice, 1752; it was translated into French (Venice, 1841), Italian (1841, 1950), German (partially, 1869), English (1979), Russian (1809, 1858) and other languages. Having worked for more than six years in the famous Library of Alexandria, Movses Khorenatsi got acquainted with the works of antic authors and used works of Greek and Syrian authors, quoting from them. Some of them are world-known only thanks to the works of Khorenatsi. Most of the works of Movses Khorenatsi that are known to us, such as 1) History of Armenia; 2) Treatise on Geography; 3) Letter on the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary; 4) Homily on Christ’s Transfiguration; 5) Oration on Hripsime, an Armenian Virgin and Martyr; 6) Hymns used in Armenian Church Worship; 7) Commentaries on the Armenian Grammarians; 8) Explanations of Armenian Church offices; 9) Geography (“Ashkharhatsyuts”) - description of the World with maps; 10) Treatise on Rhetoric hold particular significance because he elaborated not only on the Armenian history, culture and traditions, but also of the people at the regional and universal level.
Photo legend: Movses Khorenatsi and the Prince Sahak Bagratuni.
History of Armenia, Ms. 2865, 13th century.

In the first half of the nineteenth century, Ivan Khrutsky was the best master of still-life painting style. He developed his own type of still life by introducing it into portraits.
For his outstanding talent, Saint Petersburg Academy awarded him the title of Academician in 1839. The following year he settled in the family estate in the Polotsk region. This period was one of commissioned religious art, mostly from Lithuania. Besides religious paintings, he also worked on portraits of renowned personalities.
Photo legend: Portrait of unknown

Zachary Hristovich Dimitrov (1810-1853), better known as Zahari Zograf (or Zahariy Zograf) is the most famous Bulgarian painter of the Bulgarian National Revival, noted for his church mural paintings and icons and often regarded as the founder of secular art in Bulgaria. He was proclaimed a master at the age of 21 in 1831. Painter of icons and frescos, he has decorated a number of churches and monasteries which are widely admired. Zachary Zograf lived and worked on Mount Athos between 1851 and 1852, where he decorated the outer narthex of the Great Lavra.
Photo legend: Self-portrait

Professor Memel-Fotê, a citizen of Côte d’Ivoire, anthropologist and eminent African intellectual (1930-2008) made a major contribution to the development of the social sciences. At the Institute of Ethno-Sociology of Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire) he contributed to the development of the discipline and to bringing together sociology, anthropology, ethnology and history. He also brought about fundamental changes in approaches to the problem of slavery by going further than a purely economic perspective and looking to its political and ideological dimensions and emphasizing the interaction between social processes within Africa (domestic slavery) and outside the continent (the slave trade). In this way his work sheds light on the dialogue of civilizations built on violence, resistance and cultural, scientific and technological fusion. Professor Memel-Fotê, a pan-Africanist, was one of the African intellectuals who fought colonization and actively contributed to the formation of young people in Africa and to African thinking on freedom, dignity and independence.
He was a founding member of numerous institutions and research groups in the social sciences in Africa, President of the Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA) from 1979-1982, and he also occupied academic posts as a lecturer and researcher at the Ecole de Hautes études en sciences sociales, where he was associate director of studies, and the Collège de France, where he held an international Chair. He contributed to the foundation of the Academy of Sciences of Africa and the African Diaspora (ASCAD).

Robert Schumann (1810-1856), German composer, aesthete and music critic, was one of the most famous Romantic composers of the 19th century. During his brief career, he worked as a piano professor at the Leipzig Conservatory under Mendelssohn and also later as a conductor. Starting much later than some other composers, he completed four symphonies, a well-known piano concerto, some chamber works, songs and song cycles and a wealth of shorter works for piano. Schumann had a great interest in literature, philosophy and the arts. He was also accomplished in journalistic circles as a music critic, and in that capacity he recognized and promoted the talents of Chopin, Brahms and Berlioz. In 1840, Schumann married his teacher’s daughter, pianist Clara Wieck, who also composed music and had a considerable concert career, including premieres of many of her husband’s works.

The construction of the Historical District of Saint George’s was ended with the addition of several administrative buildings in 1710. The town was laid out on a grid system with a central square and developed predominantly over the course of the eighteenth century. The original urban plan has remained intact since then and a large body of Georgian architecture adjusted to Caribbean circumstances has been preserved. From the natural harbour of Saint George’s and the contour lines of the surrounding hills, an unplanned area has expanded and developed from the early nineteenth century onwards. The significance of the architecture of Saint George’s is that it represents the finest collection, in the Caribbean, of two storey red and yellow exposed brick, and masonry structures with stucco and topped with steep-pitched hip roof covering the entire structure, typical of the 17th and early 18th century “Caribbean Creole” architecture. The urban pattern and architectural styles of the Saint George’s Historic District add up to present a blend of cultural features of outstanding universal value. The Historic District of the town of Saint George’s is part of UNESCO’s World Heritage Tentative List.
Photo legend: © Nigel Mathlin

Mother Teresa, the renowned Roman Catholic nun and missionary, was born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu in 1910. In 1928 she went to India, where she devoted herself to helping the destitute. In 1948 she became an Indian citizen and founded the order of Missionaries of Charity in Kolkota (Calcutta) in 1950, which became noted for its work among the poor and the dying in that city. For over 45 years she ministered to the poor, sick, orphaned and dying, while guiding the Missionaries of Charity’s expansion, first in India and then in other countries, including hospices and homes for the poorest and homeless. Mother Teresa’s work has been recognized and acclaimed throughout the world and she has received a number of awards and distinctions, including the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979, India’s highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna in 1980 for her humanitarian work, the Pope John XXIII Peace Prize (1971), the Nehru Prize for her promotion of international peace and understanding (1972) and the Balzan Prize (1979). Following her death she was beatified by Pope John Paul II and given the title Blessed Teresa of Calcutta. She had always stated, “By blood, I am Albanian. By citizenship, an Indian. By faith, I am a Catholic nun. As to my calling, I belong to the world”. Her tomb in the Mother House of the Missionaries of Charity quickly became a place of pilgrimage and prayer for people of all faiths, rich and poor alike. Mother Teresa left a testament of unshakeable faith, invincible hope and extraordinary charity as a “mother of the poor”. She became a living symbol of compassion to the world, and a living witness to the thirsting love of God.
Mother Teresa’s message is fully in accordance with the UNESCO Constitution, and this celebration in 2010 will be a good opportunity to explain to young generations her message of compassion, tolerance, mutual respect, solidarity and peace. The commemoration of this anniversary would help to further disseminate globally Mother Teresa’s universal message.

The Shâhnâmeh is the work of the renowned tenth-century poet Ferdowsi (941-1020), who was the Persian equivalent of such poets as Homer for the classical world, and Shakespeare and Pushkin for English and Russian speakers. The work established Persian as a significant literary language, and is a key text in the history of the Persian Empire. International art historians consider this text as one of the most important of its kind ever produced. The text is also of critical significance as it helped to establish Persian as a monumental language and saved it from disappearing.
Prince Bayasanghor, who commissioned the work, was the grandson of Timur, known to Western history and literature as Tamerlane.
The Shâhnâmeh is listed on the Memory of the World Register and its world significance has been consequently established. The Islamic Republic of Iran plans to organize an international congress to commemorate this anniversary, and UNESCO should be associated as a partner of the conference in order to stress the importance of safeguarding documentary heritage and its contribution to preserving memory.
Photo legend: A battle-scene from the Baysonqori Ms of the Shahnameh.
© Golestan Palace

Nara was the capital of Japan from 710 to 784. During this period the framework of national government was consolidated and Nara enjoyed great prosperity, emerging as the fountainhead of Japanese culture. The city’s historic monuments – Buddhist temples, Shinto shrines and the excavated remains of the great Imperial Palace – provide a vivid picture of life in the Japanese capital in the eighth century, a period of profound political and cultural change.
Nara is a World Heritage site. The flowering of Japanese culture during the period when Nara was the capital is uniquely demonstrated by its architectural heritage. The layout of the Imperial Palace and the design of the surviving monuments in Nara are outstanding examples of the architecture and planning of early Asian capital cities. The Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines of Nara demonstrate the continuing spiritual power and influence of these religions in an exceptional manner.
On the occasion of the 1300th anniversary of Nara Heijo-kyo Capital, many commemorative events will be held in and around Nara throughout the year 2010.
© UNESCO / G. Boccardi

The Latvian School Youth Song and Dance Celebration is a festival which has taken place every five years in Riga since 1960. It aims to ensure the maintenance of the Baltic Song and Dance Celebration tradition, which was proclaimed Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity in 2003 and which has pertained, as from November 2008, to the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
The Baltic Song and Dance Celebrations’ tradition is common tradition to all Baltic States – Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Its regional significance underlines a common responsibility for the continuation of the common tradition. In this regard, the Latvian School Youth Song and Dance Celebration is an important event for the continuity of the Baltic Song and Dance Celebration, which is a living example of strong choir singing, folk dance, folk singing and brass band traditions.

Ignacy Jan Paderewski (1860-1941), Polish pianist, composer, diplomat and politician, studied music in his childhood at the Warsaw Conservatorium. In 1881 he went to Berlin to study music composition and in 1884 he moved to Vienna, where he made his musical debut in 1887. He soon gained great popularity and his subsequent appearances (in Paris in 1889, and in London in 1890) were major successes. His brilliant playing created admiration; and his triumphs were repeated in the United States of America in 1891. His name became synonymous with the highest level of piano virtuosity. He became one of Poland’s world-renowned pianists and composers. In addition to delighting Poland and the world with his music for over 50 years, Paderewski also became one of Poland’s great statesmen.
Photo legend: © Centrum Paderewskiego. Tarnów – Kąśna Dolna

Fryderyk Chopin (1810-1849), a Polish composer and pianist, was one of the most famous virtuoso pianists of the nineteenth century and an important composer of Romantic music. His music (mazurkas, polonaises, nocturnes, piano concertos, etudes, ballades and others) is still among that most frequently played today and remains essential to an understanding of piano music.
He spent the first part of his life in Warsaw, where he received comprehensive education and became a virtuoso pianist. During this period his compositions were described in Vienna as showing signs of genius. In 1830 he left Poland and in 1831 settled in Paris. Promptly joining the circle of musicians most in the public eye (Liszt, Ferdinand Hiller and Berlioz), he was enormously successful and soon became a famous and celebrated musician. Together with Franz Liszt, he was the father of modern piano technique and inspired a whole line of composers in his wake.
Photo legend: Gottfried Engelmann, lithograph drawings by Pierre Roche Vigneron published by Maurice Schlesinger in Paris, 1833, 287 x 217. Collections: Museum of Frédéric Chopin - Warsaw [M/936].

Anton Pavlovich Chekhov (1860-1904), Russian short-story writer, playwright and physician, is considered to be one of the greatest short-story writers in world literature. His career as a dramatist produced four classics (The Seagull, Uncle Vanya, Three Sisters and The Cherry Orchard) and his best short stories are held in high esteem by writers and critics. He made formal innovations which have influenced the evolution of the modern short story. His originality consists in an early use of the stream-of-consciousness technique, later adopted by James Joyce and other modernists. Chekhov practised as a doctor throughout most of his literary career.