GREAT HOUSE OF CILICIA ENHANCES CULTURAL ENGAGEMENT IN ARMENIA

His Eminence Archbishop Shahan Sarkissian, Head Librarian of the Cilicia Library of the Holy See in Antelias, Lebanon, participated in a meeting of religious libraries and manuscript centers’ representatives at the Matenadaran in Yerevan. Archbishop Shahan’s activities are part of the cultural projects pursued by the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia in Armenia. 

As mentioned above, these include: 

• The second conference of Armenian Religious and Manuscript Centers and the Matenadaran on July 8 in Yerevan. Participants included representatives from the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem, the Congregation of Bzommar, the Mekhitarist Congregations of Venice and Vienna, the leadership of the Matenadaran, its manuscript department and restoration specialists, the Director of the Cultural Heritage Center of Armenia, among others. The meeting agenda included deepening cooperation among the libraries, exploring more effective state support, andideas for restoration and joint exhibition of manuscripts, among other topics. In his report, Archbishop Shahan discussed recent developments in the Catholicosate’s manuscript collection and presented a Gospel manuscript in need of restoration. 

• His Eminence also participated in the 2nd International Armenian Studies Congress organized by the Matenadaran on July 9–12. The Congress gathered around forty scholars from leading international institutions. In the first part of his report, Archbishop Shahan presented the achievements of the Catholicosate in Armenian Studies. The Seminary (founded in 1930) operates a four-year academic program in Armenian Studies and Theology. At the initiative of the Catholicos, an intensive Western Armenian course began in Antelias in 2012–2013 and was transformed into a three-year Armenian Studies program in 2015–2016, now functioning within the Khoren I Center. The Khacher Kalustian Pedagogical Institute (founded in 1987) operates with a teacher training program recognized by Lebanon’s Ministry of Education. More than 30 scholarly volumes have been published by the Catholicosate’s press (founded 1932) between 2021–2025. Hask, the official journal of the Catholicosate published since 1932, includes a wide range of scholarly articles. Thirteen volumes of the Hask Armenological Yearbook have been published, and the fourteenth volume is expected to be published in September. 

• Conference on Armenian Studies: A symposium dedicated to the 850th anniversary of the death of Catholicos St. Nerses the Gracious, held on May 26, 2023.   

• Archives and Archival Projects: Collaborative publication initiatives with the National Archives of Armenia, the Matenadaran’s archival department, and the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute. Result: Minutes of the Political Assembly of Adana (2022). Forthcoming: Two volumes of documents related to the evacuation of Cilicia. 

• The Cilicia Library at the Holy See was founded in 1931. The central section is in Antelias; Bikfaya houses the Seminary Library, and a new public library has been established at the Khoren I Center. 

• Rare books: We received 48 rare books as a donation from the Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Church of America, and 15 rare books from individual benefactors. 

• In cooperation with the Matenadaran, a photographic catalog of the Aleppo manuscript collection is in preparation, with publication expected in 2026. 

The second section of Archbishop Shahan’s talk was devoted to newly acquired manuscripts, including a 1703 Mashdots manuscript, as well as a 17th century manuscript codex from Chaharmahal and two manuscript amulets from the 18th century, the last two donated by the Eastern Prelacy. A Gospel manuscript, which may date back to as early as the 11th century, is currently held at the Matenadaran for study and restoration. 

Archbishop Shahan visited the National Library, the Library of the National Academy of Sciences, in addition to his meetings at the Matenadaran, where he held discussions with the management on closer collaboration. He also became acquainted with the progress and status of already initiated programs. 

Upon returning to the Holy See in Antelias, Archbishop Shahan reported on the results of his visit to His Holiness Catholicos Aram I.