Medieval Travelogues With Cross-Cultural Value

The article focuses on the travels of two Armenian clergymen of the Middle Ages to famous Christian shrines in Europe. The first one - Martiros Erzincatsi, traveled to Rome, met the Pope, visited the main monasteries of different European countries and recorded his impressions. The second one was Simeon Lehatsi, who traveled from Poland to Istanbul, from there to Rome and Venice, also visited Egypt and left a detailed description of the countries and places he saw. Today, these travelogues have a unique historical and cultural value. Their cognitive nature is relevant and gives a clear idea of why, from ancient times to the present day, knowledge of the world and the rapprochement of cultures have had universal value. Such directions actually became the basis for the recognition and rapprochement of cultures of different peoples and contributed to the cultural progress of different countries. In this context, we can mention Alexander the Great, who created the phenomenon of Hellenism, which contributed to the development of painting, sculpture, architecture, theater, literature and culture and other fields in different countries of the world. The same can be said about the art of the Christian period, about the manifestations of which the two aforementioned Armenian clergymen report valuable facts, urging them to take from Europe everything that is progressive and promotes a dialogue of cultures. These clergymen were also, in a sense, brave and inquisitive people, true adherents of the goal, who, as they themselves testify, overcame many difficulties and achieved their goals.