"Mekhitar of Sebaste on the Path to Sainthood? For Now, Conferences and Scholarship Continue" by Carlo Coppola
YEREVAN, ARMENIA — The Matenadaran, Armenia's world-renowned repository of ancient manuscripts and one of the country's foremost centers for Armenian studies, hosted the 3rd International Congress of Armenology from July 22 to 24. The three-day international conference brought together scholars, researchers, and specialists in Armenian history, language, literature, culture, and manuscript studies from universities and research institutions across 16 countries. The congress was dedicated to the 350th anniversary of the birth of Mekhitar of Sebaste, the visionary Armenian Catholic monk and scholar who founded the Mekhitarist Congregation, an institution that would play a decisive role in the preservation, study, and dissemination of Armenian culture and intellectual heritage in Europe. The initiative was supported by the Armenian Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport, underscoring the strategic importance that the Republic of Armenia continues to attach to Armenology and the preservation of Armenian cultural heritage.
The opening ceremony was attended by Zhanna Andreasyan, Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport, Deputy Minister Artur Martirosyan, Sargis Hayotsyan, Chairman of the Higher Education and Science Committee, Ara Khzmalyan, Director of the Matenadaran, and Alessandro Ferranti, Ambassador of Italy to Armenia. The official proceedings opened with a performance of Armenia, a composition by Armenian composer Vache Sharafyan, performed by the Hover State Chamber Choir. The piece will henceforth accompany the Matenadaran's official ceremonies, adding a new musical dimension to an institution whose mission is deeply rooted in the preservation of Armenian identity and collective memory.
Born Petros Manuk in Sebaste, present-day Sivas, on February 7, 1676, Mekhitar took the name Mekhitar, meaning "Consoler", upon entering monastic life. Ordained a priest at the age of twenty, he founded the religious order that bears his name in Constantinople in 1701. Facing persecution and political instability under the Ottoman Empire, Mekhitar and his followers first moved to Modon (Methoni) in the Peloponnese before eventually settling in Venice. In 1717, the congregation established itself on the island of San Lazzaro degli Armeni, which would become one of the most important centers of Armenian intellectual and cultural life outside the historic Armenian homeland. From San Lazzaro, the Mekhitarists developed a remarkable network of scholarship, publishing, education, and cultural exchange. Their work contributed significantly to the preservation of the Armenian language, the publication of Armenian literary and religious texts, and the transmission of Armenian history and culture to the wider European world. The legacy of Mekhitar therefore extends far beyond the history of a religious congregation. It represents a crucial chapter in the development of modern Armenian cultural identity, as well as in the centuries-old intellectual relationship between Armenia and Italy.
Addressing the opening ceremony, Minister Zhanna Andreasyan emphasized that Armenia's new legislation on Higher Education and Science identifies Armenology as one of the country's national priorities. The statement reflects a broader effort to strengthen Armenian studies as an interdisciplinary field connecting history, philology, archaeology, manuscript studies, theology, art history, and cultural heritage. Matenadaran Director Ara Khzmalyan described the 350th anniversary of Mekhitar's birth not merely as a moment of celebration, but also as an opportunity for collective self-reflection. He called for a coordinated and long-term strategy involving the Armenian state, the Armenian Apostolic and Catholic Churches, universities, research institutions, and the wider scholarly community to ensure the preservation and study of Armenia's extraordinary manuscript heritage.
The International Congress was accompanied by a broader cultural program at the Matenadaran. Alongside the academic sessions, the institution inaugurated an exhibition dedicated to the Mekhitarist anniversary, as well as The Eternity of a Year, an exhibition showcasing some of its most recent manuscript acquisitions. A specialized Armenian Studies Book Fair further expanded the program, creating a space for scholars, publishers, students, and readers to explore recent research and publications devoted to Armenian history, culture, language, and heritage. The anniversary of Mekhitar of Sebaste is also included in the official 2026 calendar of commemorations organized by Armenia's Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport.
The 350th anniversary of Mekhitar's birth inevitably raises a broader question about the long-term recognition of his spiritual and cultural legacy, including the possibility of his eventual elevation to sainthood. For now, however, the anniversary is being marked through conferences, exhibitions, scholarly research, and renewed attention to the extraordinary contribution of the Mekhitarist tradition. Three centuries after Mekhitar's arrival in Venice, his intellectual legacy continues to resonate between Armenia and Europe. From the manuscripts preserved in Yerevan to the books printed on San Lazzaro, the history of Armenian scholarship is also the history of a cultural bridge—one built through language, education, faith, and the determination to preserve memory. The 3rd International Congress of Armenology in Yerevan offered a powerful reminder that Armenian studies are not only about the past. They are also a living field of research and international cooperation, essential to understanding Armenia's place in the cultural history of Europe and the wider world.
By Carlo Coppola
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