Hye Sharzhoom Armenian Action
Mother of Holy Etchmiadzin – Information Services
Staff Report
The Feast of the Holy Translators, one of the most beloved and celebrated days among the Armenians, was noted with special significance in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin this year. On Saturday, October 14, the Armenian translation of the Album of Armenian Paleography was officially unveiled and presented to the public in the headquarters of the Armenian Church. The event took place in the Pontifical Residence of Holy Etchmiadzin, under the presidency of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians.
The original English language version of the Album was published by the Aarhus University Press in Denmark in 2002. The editors of this definitive work are Professors Michael E. Stone, Dickran Kouymjian and Henning Lehmann. The album comprehensively studies and interprets ancient forms of Armenian writing.
On the occasion of the 1600th Anniversary of the Creation of the Armenian Alphabet, His Holiness Karekin II authorized the “Karekin I Armenological & Theological Center” of Holy Etchmiadzin to pursue the Armenian translation of this seminal work with the goal of having it published by the Mother See. The primary benefactor for the publication of the Armenian translation of the Album is the Dolores Zohrab Liebmann Fund (USA).
The translation and editing work of the Armenian version was accomplished through the endeavors of Aram Topchian and Gohar Muradian, researchers at the “Mesrop Mashtots Matenadaran” Institute of Ancient Manuscripts in Yerevan; and Azat Bozoyan, Director of the “Karekin I Armenological & Theological Center.” The album was published by the Tigran Mets Publishing House.
As the ceremony began, Azat Bozoyan welcomed the attendees and expressed his gratitude to the Catholicos of All Armenians for the creation of this important contribution to Armenian culture and science. He noted the significance of continuing the mission of the Mother See in publishing similar works, which were initiated by Karekin Hovsepiants of blessed memory (later Catholicos of Cilicia) in 1913 in Holy Etchmiadzin.
On behalf of the authors, Professor Dickran Kouymjian, Director of the Armenian Studies Program at California State University, Fresno, spoke on the history of the nearly three-year process of creating the Armenian translation of the Album. He conveyed the appreciation and gratitude of the authors to the Pontiff of All Armenians for his support and sponsorship in publishing the work.
The event concluded with His Holiness Karekin II addressing those present with his message of blessing. The Armenian Pontiff expressed his appreciation to the authors, translators and editors for their devoted and conscientious work. He also specifically thanked M. Haigentz of the Dolores Zohrab Liebmann Fund for their generous financial gift, as well as Vrezh Markosian, Director of the Tigran Mets Publishing House, for the diligent efforts of his entire staff.
His Holiness highly evaluated the role of both the English and Armenian versions of the album in the sphere of Armenian Studies, noting, “This work will have the most important significance for researchers and scientists engaged in the history of the Armenian characters (letters), Armenian art and culture. We are confident that the joint volumes, which complement one another, will greatly serve the study of our manuscripts and ancient writings by Armenians and non-Armenians alike.”
In attendance for the ceremony were members of the Brotherhood of Holy Etchmiadzin, members of the Supreme Spiritual Council, professors and lecturers of the Gevorkian and Vaskenian Theological Seminaries, and scientists, intellectuals, and artists from throughout Armenia. Throughout the evening, musical presentations of Bach, Komitas, and Babadjanian were performed by the string quartet of the Armenian Chamber Orchestra.