LECTURE SERIES
Artblazing Tours presents a series of engaging Zoom lectures designed to illuminate the cultural and historical context of each tour destination. These 90-minute sessions are complimentary for registered trip participants and open to "armchair travelers" who may register for individual lectures or the full series through our Lecture Registration page.
ILLUMINATING ISTANBUL: 5-Lecture Series
How did Istanbul, one of the world’s most fascinating and storied cities, come about? This series of 5 lectures, presented by Sevan Melikyan, surveys the history, lore, people, art, and architecture that define a rich and complex metropolis that has been populated for over 2500 years.
Zoom lectures on Wednesdays at 2:00 PM, in August and September.
$15 per lecture or $60 for the series (save $15). Register today!
Lecture 1: From Byzantion to Constantinople: The City Before Justinian
Wednesday, August 13, 2025, 2:00 pm
Explore the foundations of Istanbul in its earliest incarnations—as a Greek colony, Roman outpost, and burgeoning imperial city. From the Column of the Goths and Constantine’s Forum to the Valens Aqueduct and the Hippodrome’s legendary Serpent Column, we trace the city’s rise through evocative ruins and underground marvels like the Basilica Cistern. This lecture unveils the layers of history buried beneath modern Istanbul.
Lecture 2: Byzantine Splendor After Justinian: Faith, Fortresses, and Frescoes
Wednesday, August 20, 2025, 2:00 pm
Witness the evolution of Constantinople’s spiritual and architectural identity after Justinian’s golden age. We delve into luminous sites like Hagia Irene, the elegant Church of Saints Sergius and Bacchus, and the majestic Hagia Sophia. The Chora Church enchants with its mosaics and frescoes, while the Galata Tower and the Orthodox Patriarchate reflect the city’s resilience and religious legacy.
Lecture 3: The Rise of the Ottomans: Conquest and Cultural Fusion
Wednesday, August 27, 2025, 2:00 pm
Discover how Istanbul transformed under early Ottoman rule after the 1453 conquest. The mighty Theodosian Walls recall a fallen empire, while the shimmering Golden Horn and sprawling Grand Bazaar mark a new era of trade and empire. We enter the opulent world of Topkapi Palace—its Harem, Treasury, and Hall of Holy Relics—and encounter the mysticism of the Whirling Dervishes.
Lecture 4: Ottoman Grandeur: After Suleyman the Magnificent
Wednesday, September 3, 2025, 2:00 pm
This lecture journeys through the height of Ottoman architectural and civic achievement. We explore the poetic symmetry of the Blue Mosque and the monumental splendor of the Suleymaniye Mosque. The Spice Bazaar fills the air with aroma and color, while the Hurrem Sultan Hammam offers a glimpse into the public and private lives of imperial Istanbul.
Lecture 5: Istanbul in the Modern Era: Memory, Identity, and Transformation
Wednesday, September 10, 2025, 2:00 pm
In this deeply personal final lecture, Sevan Melikyan—an Armenian born in Istanbul—reflects on the city’s transformation from imperial capital to modern republic through the lens of his own family’s story. From the opulent Pera Palace, where Atatürk’s legacy still lingers, to Pandeli Restaurant, which survived the violent anti-Greek pogroms of 1955, we explore the resilience of communities shaped by upheaval. The journey concludes on the peaceful shores of Büyükada, where childhood
This lecture series is in conjunction with a trip to Istanbul scheduled for September-October, 2025.
SEVAN MELIKYAN
Sevan Melikyan is an independent art historian and lecturer with a repertoire of over 60 engaging presentations. Since 2018, he has led numerous international art tours, sharing his deep knowledge and infectious passion for art and culture.
Before founding Wired Gallery in High Falls, New York, Sevan spent twelve years as Marketing Director of the Van Cliburn Foundation. He was also an exhibiting artist, formerly represented by William Campbell Gallery in Fort Worth, Texas. While he no longer paints, his artistic sensibilities continue to shape his curatorial eye and his approach to teaching.
Sevan believes that learning—especially through travel—is one of life’s most enriching and transformative pursuits. His lectures aim not only to inform but to inspire, bridging past and present through the power of art.