Article Summary

The article, presented as an interview with the Viennese publicist and radio journalist Barbara Denscher, is devoted to her many years of research and creative experience studying Armenia, Armenian culture, and the history of the Armenian diaspora in Vienna, as well as issues concerning the preservation of the heritage of the Mekhitarist Congregation.

Introduction and Methodology
The material is structured as a conversation covering a wide range of topics — from the author's personal impressions of her first trip to Armenia to an analysis of cultural and religious processes in contemporary Europe. The interview was translated from German by Alexander Karalevich.

First Impressions and Creative Path
B. Denscher recounts that she first visited Armenia in June 2000 in connection with the "Vienna Music Days" festival, held by the Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Loris Tjeknavorian. The key discoveries for her were:

• the high artistic level of Armenian musical art;
• the beauty of natural landmarks and historical-architectural monuments (Echmiadzin, Geghard, Garni, Sevan);
• the friendliness and hospitality of the Armenian people.

These impressions subsequently formed the basis for a series of Austrian radio programs and the book Im Schatten des Ararat. Armenische Kontraste, intended to introduce German-speaking audiences to the history and culture of Armenia.

Language and Culture
The author shares observations on studying the Armenian language, noting its logical structure and structural similarity to Latin and German, explained by their common Indo-European origin. Particular attention is given to her collaboration with Germanic-studies students from Gyumri and her interest in Armenian fine art, in particular the achievements of the academies of art in Yerevan and Gyumri.

Social and Political Reflections
Denscher offers a balanced position on questions of multiculturalism, Armenian-Turkish relations, and the role of Christianity in contemporary Europe, emphasizing that European identity has been shaped not so much by religion as by the humanist values of the Enlightenment (Voltaire, Kant, Lessing, Goethe).

The Mekhitarists and the Problem of Heritage Preservation
The central part of the interview is devoted to the Viennese Mekhitarist Congregation, their printing house, and their library and museum collections. The author describes her personal experience of collaborating with the Congregation's superior, Paulus Kodjanyan, and the scholarly works of Helmut Buschhausen on the study of miniatures in Mekhitarist manuscripts. She emphasizes the urgent need for:

• complete cataloguing of the collections;
• digitization and scanning of archival materials;
• attracting additional support, including from the international Armenian community.

Conclusion
The key conclusion of the interview is that the preservation and scholarly study of the Mekhitarist cultural heritage require coordinated efforts by state and public institutions in Austria and Armenia, as well as by the international Armenian diaspora, since this heritage represents a unique and vulnerable part of both Armenian and broader European cultural history.