Commemorative ceremony ahead of the first anniversary of the Honorary Consulate
Bari, September 21, 2025 – This morning at 6:40 AM, a significant flag-raising ceremony took place at Bari City Hall, where the Armenian tricolor was hoisted alongside the Italian flag on the balcony of the municipal building. The community elder, Rupen Timurian, had the honor of raising the flag in a moment of great emotion.
The ceremony was organized and presided over by the Honorary Consulate of the Republic of Armenia in Bari. Participants included Dario Rupen Timurian, Carlo Coppola, Siranush Quaranta, and Tito Quaranta. The initiative was made possible by a request submitted in recent days by the Honorary Consulate, which was promptly accepted by the Mayor and the municipal administration of Bari.
The gesture represents a concrete sign of affection and recognition toward the Armenian people, their millenary history, the extraordinary resilience demonstrated throughout the centuries, and especially their deep-rooted presence in the city of Bari.
Deep Historical Roots in the City of Saint Nicholas
The ties between Bari and Armenia have deep historical roots, documented by sources dating back to at least the end of the 8th century. The Armenian presence in the Apulian city is testified by documents that attest to the presence of an Armenian community at least from the second generation, thus from the late 9th century. As testimony to this connection, the city preserves the oldest document written in Armenian alphabet found on Italian soil, a tangible symbol of a presence spanning millennia. Even the first person to benefit from Saint Nicholas once he arrived in Bari was the Armenian judge Curcorio, perhaps also among the organizers of the enterprise to steal the Saint’s relics from Lycia.
The Twentieth Century Renaissance: From Nazariantz to Nor Arax Village
In the 20th century, the Armenian presence in Bari experienced a new chapter of extraordinary importance. The poet Hrand Nazariantz (1880-1962), in the 1920s, thanks to the initiative of the Armenian poet and philanthropist Umberto Zanotti Bianco, the village “Nor Arax” (New Arax) was born on the outskirts of Bari. In 1924, it welcomed just over a hundred Armenian refugees who escaped the genocide. These compatriots revived the art of making the famous Armenian carpets, creating an important productive reality that contributed to the local economy and kept Armenian artisanal traditions alive.
Today’s Event
In this context, today’s ceremony has taken on particular significance in anticipation of September 28, 2025, which will mark the first anniversary of the opening of the Honorary Consulate of the Republic of Armenia in Bari. This important milestone has been achieved thanks to the support of the highest administrative authorities and representatives of civil society in the Apulian capital and throughout the regional territory.
The Armenian tricolor will fly throughout Sunday, September 21, 2025, alongside the Italian flag, representing an ideal bridge between two peoples united by shared history, culture, and values.
The Armenian Honorary Consulate in Bari finally extends special thanks to Mr. Gino, a valued municipal collaborator who contributed to the technical operations of raising the flag with a spirit of friendship.
Contact Information: Honorary Consulate of the Republic of Armenia – Bari
info@consolatoarmenobari.it
