"The reason why Naregatsi is not known to the world is that he wrote in Armenian. If he had written in Latin–French–English–German or Russian the whole world would have known him."
YEREVAN (Armenpress)–A prominent French expert in Armenian studies–member of the Armenian Academy of Sciences–also a member of Armenia-France Association Jean Pierre Mahe–who is better known as the brilliant translator of the works of medieval Armenian historian Movses Khorenatsi and poet Naregatsi into French–delivered on September 18–a lecture on the Krikor Naregatsi’s Book of Sad Psalms at the Armenian Association of Ties with Foreign Countries.
Speaking about the translation that took him five years to complete (1980-1985)–Mahe said one should either be very brave or mad to undertake translating Naregatsi.
Speaking in pure Armenian he described Naregatsi as one of the greatest poets of all times: "The reason why Naregatsi is not known to the world is that he wrote in Armenian. If he had written in Latin–French–English–German or Russian the whole world would have known him," he said.
Chair of the Armenia-France Association Dsovinar Chaloyan–and chair of the Union of Writers Levon Ananian–commended the Frenchman for his devotion and contributions to Armenian studies.
By president Kocharian’s degree–Jean Pierre Mahe received on Wednesday–one of the highest Armenian orders–the Order of Movses Khorenatsi.