The Fourth Annual Grace and Paul Shahinian Armenian Christian Art Lecture Series Returns

Washington D.C. – “Armenian Art and the World,” the fourth annual Grace and Paul Shahinian Armenian Christian Art and Culture Lecture Series returns to The Catholic University of America in Heritage Hall, Father O’Connell Hall on March 26, 2026 at 5 p.m.

The 2026 lecture, “Armenian Art and the World,” will be presented by Helen C. Evans, Ph.D., the Mary and Michael Jaharis Curator for Byzantine Art Emerita at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

From domed churches to illuminated manuscripts, Armenian art is central to Armenian identity, with a global impact on art and culture that spans centuries. On March 26, these themes are explored in “Armenian Art and the World,” the fourth annual Grace and Paul Shahinian Armenian Christian Art and Culture Lecture hosted at Catholic University.

“The Grace and Paul Shahinian Armenian Christian Art and Culture Lecture Series serves as a signature annual event that permits our Catholic University community to engage thoughtfully and rigorously in the rich tapestry and important legacy of Armenian history, culture, and art on the wider world. The series continues to bring to our campus from across the nation distinguished subject matter experts, like this year's keynote speaker Dr. Helen Evans, who graciously engage our students and faculty and share their unparalleled insights on how Armenian art and culture shape our deeper understanding not only of Armenia, but also of ourselves,” said William Roth, senior vice president of advancement at Catholic University. “Catholic University has had a longstanding dedication to engaging with the Armenian Church and Armenian culture from its prominence as a focal point of our dynamic Institute for the Study of Eastern Christianity to our Armenian language and history courses to our libraries' robust archival holdings.  The Shahinian Lecture Series extends that legacy and our University's commitment to Armenian study and understanding in very human and tangible ways.  We are immensely grateful to Dean Shihinian for his vision, partnership, and generosity in establishing and stewarding this series over its initial four years.”

Grace and Paul Shahinian embraced and supported Armenian Christian culture and community and passed this commitment on to their son, Dean. He founded the Grace and Paul Shahinian Armenian Christian Art and Culture Lecture Series to explore and cultivate the study of these traditions, as well as introduce a wider audience to the work of renowned scholars in the field.

The keynote speaker for the fourth annual lecture will be Dr. Helen C. Evans. She will discuss the varied and rich history of Armenian art, which includes ornate textiles, gilded reliquaries–the repositories of relics–and sculpted images. Drawing from her scholarship, Evans’ talk will present the important role Armenians played, and still play in the larger world over the centuries.

“Over centuries, Armenian art shaped the region, its people, and the world. We are pleased to host these lectures that showcase that history through the ages,” said Father Stefanos Alexopoulos, who serves as director of the University’s Institute for the Study of Eastern Christianity, which hosts the Grace and Paul Shahinian Armenian Christian Art and Culture Lecture series.

For nearly 140 years, Catholic University has served as an important and rare U.S.-based center for the study of the ancient Armenian language and its literature.

The event is free and open to the general public. Guests may register online.