UNDER ARCHBISHOP SHAHAN, CILICIA LIBRARY FORGES AHEAD WITH AMBITIOUS PROJECTS AND A BOLD VISION

His Eminence Archbishop Shahan Sarkissian, Director of the Cilicia Library and Manuscript Center at the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia, is visiting New York to hold working meetings with His Eminence Archbishop Anoushavan, Prelate. This week, he sat down for a conversation with Crossroads. Excerpts follow. 

Your Eminence, through your long years of service to the Armenian Church and particularly the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia, you have also served as a Prelate. Please walk us through your career. 

Thank you for this opportunity. First of all, I express my gratitude to His Eminence Archbishop Anoushavan, Prelate, for his brotherly hospitality and arrangements. 

Through the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia, I have served as a clergyman, particularly at the Seminary, as teacher and supervisor, and later as dean (1995–2002); then, successively as Prelate of the Armenian Prelacy of Isfahan and Southern Iran (2002–2004) and as Prelate of the Armenian Prelacy of Beroea (Aleppo) (2004–2019). During my student years in Belgium (1991–1995), I was also engaged in pastoral service for four years. 

Alongside your clerical service, you also have made noteworthy contributions to the field of Armenian Studies. 

Regarding my educational and Armenian Studies activities, I may add that alongside my educational work at the Seminary, I have taught and lectured on subjects such as the Armenian Church, Armenian literature, Classical Armenian, Western Armenian, and theology in Lebanon (at the Hamazkayin Armenological Institute and Seminary), in New Julfa (within its Armenian Studies courses), and in Aleppo (at Hamazkayin’s Institute). I have carried out editorial work for Hask official bulletin and Hask Armenian Studies Yearbook, the New Julfa Information Bulletin, Kantsasar of Aleppo, and other Armenian newspapers. I have encouraged and published books and yearbooks. I have conducted archival research and cataloging work in Antelias, New Julfa, and Aleppo.

Would you kindly give a brief overview of your current role as the director of the Catholicosate’s Cilicia Library? 

Currently in Antelias, with the blessing of His Holiness Aram I, I have undertaken the direction of the Cilicia Library (founded in 1931), which consists of five sections: Manuscripts, Early Printed Books, Press Publications, Armenian Books, and Foreign Language Books. 

Our projects are varied. We have two manuscript collections—those of Antelias and Aleppo—whose catalogues are being revised and enriched with new manuscripts. On this occasion, we appeal to our people to donate or transfer items or books and manuscripts of cultural value to the Cilicia Library and Museum at the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia.

Can you tell us a little about cooperation initiatives pursued with institutions in Armenia?

In the past five years, encouraged by His Holiness, we have revitalized relations in the cultural field, particularly with major cultural institutions of the Republic of Armenia. We signed Memoranda of Understanding and Cooperation with the Matenadaran, the National Library, the National Archives, the Fundamental Scientific Library of the Academy of Sciences, and the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute. Naturally, we are in the process of deepening cooperation with other institutions as well. 

We are engaged in tangible and visible collaborations with the aforementioned institutions. For instance, with the Matenadaran, we are in the final stages of preparing a richly illustrated volume on Aleppo manuscripts. We have published archival documents related to Adana and we will soon release a collection on the evacuation of Cilicia, spanning several volumes. 

Please also describe other projects underway.

Last year, we published Volume 13 of the HASK Armenological Yearbook (marking the 850th anniversary of Catholicos St. Nerses the Gracious), and soon, God willing, we will publish Volume 14, which will feature interesting content on the field of Armenian Studies.  

Let us also remember that this year marked the 30th anniversary of the enthronement of His Holiness, and from the Holy See to the various Prelacies, special events and publications are being prepared. For our part, in collaboration with the Fundamental Scientific Library, we are preparing an extensive biography-bibliography, and we hope to publish and present it to the public this year or the next one, honoring thus the prolific thirty-year ministry and achievements of the Catholicos and his Pontificate.

Allow me, in closing, to offer an important reminder and once again appeal to the sons and daughters of our nation: contributing morally, materially, or practically to the success of any extensive activity related to Armenian culture is both a sweet duty and a great honor.