THE YOUNG MEHER STATUE
Meher -- a legendary figure of inspiring power symbolizing the invincible faith of the Armenian people and the first nation to embrace Christianity (301 AD).
The dimensions are: Sculpture (includes upper base with reliefs): approx. 168 x 70 x 120 in.; Lower base (red granite): approx. 28 x 79 x 128 in. SIRIS offers the following description: A bronze standing male figure, "Meher," in a middle ages battle uniform, facing south, with proper left leg forward and bent, proper right leg extended behind. Figure appears to be in process of kneeling. Face is pointed upward and arms are raised high with elbows bent; both hands are clutching a cross. Figure stands atop a granite upper base that contains bronze figurative reliefs depicting scenes from Armenian history. The statue and upper base are supported by a thick lower base. A flat rock, situated in front of the sculpture supports a plaque with text.
The two bronze plaques in front of the monument (found on the ground), which are attached to a large, flat rock, read:
*The Sculpture*
*MEHER* A legendary figure of inspiring power
symbolizing the invincible faith of the Armenian people,
the first nation to embrace Christianity (301 A.D.)
​
Sculpture by KHOREN DER HAROOTIAN
Initiated by the Knights of Vartan
Directed and brought to fruition by
The Armenian Bicentennial Commemoration Committee
On this day, April 24, 1976,
commemorating the 61st anniversary
of the martyrdom of the Armenian nation
and celebrating the bicentennial year
of American independence,
We Americans of Armenian heritage
in eternal gratitude to God
dedicate this monument
to our adopted land of freedom,
The United States of America
THE FOUR RELIEFS
LEFT- Keeping watch over the spiritual and cultural
heritage of Armenia
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BOTTOM LEFT - Day of Infamy - April 24, 1915 - The Genocide and martyrdom of the Armenian nation
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BOTTOM RIGHT - St. Vartan at the Battle of Avarayr (451 A.D.) History's first defense of the Christian faith
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RIGHT- Amid the ashes of martyrs, mother and child look to freedom for Armenia and all nations
ABOUT THE ARTIST - KHOREN DER HAROOTIAN
Khoren Der Harootian was born in Ashodavan, Armenia, in 1909. He came to the United States with his mother and sisters in 1921 after witnessing the tragic scenes of the Armenian Genocide. He lived in Worcester, Massachusetts, and began to paint while he was still a high school student. After finishing his studies, he moved to Jamaica to paint, and become fascinated with sculpture, primarily carving in the island’s native hardwoods. Der Harootian came back to the United States and had his first one-man show of paintings and sculpture at the Kraushaar Gallery, New York, in 1945. From then on, working in his New York Studio, he concentrated on sculpture in stone and marble. He was commissioned by the Philadelphia Bicentennial Committee in 1974 and created a 22-foot bronze sculpture of Meher. His work stands in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art and was unveiled during the American Bicentennial commemoration. Khoren Der Harootian passed away February 1991.
