Government Presents Valuable 15th Century Gospel to Matenadaran

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan attended a ceremonial event at the Mesrop Mashtots Institute of Ancient Manuscripts (Matenadaran) for the presentation of a valuable 15th-century Gospel, donated by the government of Armenia. The manuscript was handed over to the Matenadaran by the Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports and Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the Matenadaran, Zhanna Andreasyan.

Prime Minister Pashinyan congratulated everyone on this significant occasion. "The manuscript from the 15th century, as the director of the Matenadaran stated, is returning home. Mr. Khizmalyan thanked me, and I would like to redirect my gratitude to all law-abiding taxpayers of Armenia, from whose paid contributions the government is able to address such issues. I deemed it important to emphasize this, so that the taxpayers of the Republic of Armenia see that their payments are also spent on such purposes. Of course, I do not think that the expenditures of the state budget have achieved or reached excellence, but this is a very important note, because generally our policy concludes that we must replace the logic of philanthropy with the logic of law-abiding taxation. The greatest benefactors are those who diligently pay their taxes, which simultaneously strengthens the state and state institutions, allowing the state to reinforce its spiritual, value-related, and cultural foundations, and this is a crucial note.

We have also set the goal that this should not be an isolated event or step. We have allocated funds in the state budget for the next year for similar acquisitions, because this is indeed a case where the government responded very quickly to the suggestion and promptings of the Matenadaran. It is important that we have this rapid response as a protocol for all cases when we have the opportunity to preserve, protect, and return our spiritual and cultural values. This is one of our important political directions that we need to develop.

I also want to draw attention to the fact that we are providing significant resources for the preservation and restoration of cultural and historical monuments in Armenia, and we are also increasing funding for science to institutionalize the research, preservation, and study of these monuments.

As for the manuscript itself, honestly, I cannot say much about it. I am here more to see it with my own eyes, and in this regard, I believe I share the mission of many of you, while specialists will speak better about the value and history of the manuscript. I am pleased that we have been able to provide them with this direct opportunity,” noted Nikol Pashinyan.

The manuscript presented to the Matenadaran was written at the Church of the Holy Mother of God in Arberd of Vaspurakan, located not far from Narekavank, and is unique in that it is a rare manuscript preserved from the renowned monastery of Arberd, richly adorned with images of evangelists, half-columns, and margin decorations.

Today, the manuscript, written and decorated in this ruined monastery, stands as the sole witness to the culture and advanced scribal traditions of the Armenian people created in that monastery. The manuscript was written by a scribe named Izit in 1405, of which only one Gospel, copied in Narekavank in 1420 and preserved at the Matenadaran, was known to us until now. And today, hundreds of years later, both manuscripts from the same scribe are located at the Matenadaran.

Prime Minister Pashinyan also visited the exhibition titled "Christmas: Miniature Inspirations" opened at the Matenadaran in anticipation of the Christmas holiday, which features exceptional samples of Armenian miniatures, many of which are being displayed for the first time.