Matenadaran: A Citadel of Armenian Heritage

The Matenadaran, formally known as the Mesrop Mashtots Institute of Ancient Manuscripts, is more than just a museum; it's a repository of Armenian identity and a beacon of scholarly research. Located on Mesrop Mashtots Avenue in Yerevan, Armenia, it holds the world's largest collection of Armenian manuscripts. The Matenadaran's collection has its roots in the Etchmiadzin collection, established in 1441 when the Armenian Catholicosate returned from Sis in Cilicia. The current building, designed by Mark Grigoryan, was completed in 1957, with a new building designed by Arthur Meschian added in 2011 to accommodate the growing collection. The basalt structure evokes traditional Armenian medieval architecture. Statues of Mesrop Mashtots, the creator of the Armenian alphabet, and his disciple Koryun guard the entrance. Monuments to other significant Armenian cultural figures adorn the building's facade. Inside, visitors can explore the museum's exhibits, which showcase the history of Armenian writing, miniature painting, and scholarly pursuits. The collection includes manuscripts dating back to the 5th-6th centuries, including the Etchmiadzin Gospel with its ancient illustrations. The oldest complete manuscript is the Lazarus Gospel from 887. The Matenadaran also houses manuscripts in other languages, including Greek, Arabic, Persian, and Latin. Beyond its function as a museum, the Matenadaran is a leading research institute, studying Armenian writing, textology, and medieval book painting. The Matenadaran's collection was added to the UNESCO Memory of the World Register in 1997.