PRELATE ATTENDS DR. HRAVARD HAKOBYAN’S JUBILEE AND CONDUCTS RESEARCH AT THE MATENADARAN

In the photograph, from left to right: Hravard Hakobyan, Vahe Torosyan, Ara Khzmalyan, Archbishop Anoushavan, and Matenadaran researcher Arusyak Tamrazyan.

On Thursday, July 2, His Eminence Archbishop Anoushavan, Prelate, attended the jubilee celebration marking the 95th birthday of distinguished art historian and specialist in medieval literature Dr. Hravard Hakobyan at the Mesrop Mashtots Matenadaran, the manuscripts library in Yerevan. 

Following the official reception, Archbishop Anoushavan had a separate meeting with Matenadaran Director Ara Khzmalyan, Deputy Director Prof. Vahe Torosyan, and the Director’s Advisor Gurgen Gasparian. The discussion focused primarily on cooperation between the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia and the Matenadaran, as well as ways of enriching the institution’s manuscript collections.

In addition to the official visit, the Prelate devoted time to scholarly work for the completion of his extensive research and critical edition of Archbishop Nerses Lambronatsi’s Commentary on the Psalms, expected to be published in the near future. Davit Ghazaryan, Manuscript Department Director, assisted Archbishop Anoushavan in his research.

The Prelate’s relationship with the Matenadaran spans half a century. In 1976, while preparing the catalogue of the manuscripts of the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia under the direction of the Matenadaran’s longtime Director Levon Khachikyan, he had the opportunity to work with manuscript expert Onnik Yeganyan. Later, in 1992, while preparing his doctoral dissertation at Columbia University on Nerses Lambronatsi’s Commentary on the Wisdom of Solomon, Archbishop Anoushavan worked with Manuscript Department Director Gevorg Ter-Vardanyan, during the tenure of Sen Arevshatyan as Matenadaran Director.

As a true temple of culture, the Mesrop Mashtots Matenadaran in Yerevan is a place where generations are enlightened by the radiance of Armenian genius and, in turn, illuminate Armenian life.