HRACHYA TAMRAZIAN ELECTED NEW DIRECTOR OF MATENADARAN

ARMENPRESS
Jul 17 2007

YEREVAN, JULY 17, ARMENPRESS: Hrachya Tamrazian, a researcher of
Matenadaran Institute of Old Manuscripts and a Doctor of Philology,
has been elected today new director of the biggest repository of old
Armenian manuscripts.

His only rival was a colleague, a Doctor of Philology Erna-Manya
Shirinian. Tamrazian was elected by members of the Matenadaran
Council. He received 27 ballots of 34 members participating in the
election, while Shirinian received only 6 ballots.

Speaking to reporters after the election, Hrachya Tamrazian said one
of his major tasks will be to attract younger specialists because
the aging ones resign and there is little choice to replace them.

Hrachya Tamrazian endorsed also a surprise decision of the Institute
in May to denounce an agreement with the Hill Museum and Manuscript
Library (HMML) of Saint John College of Minnesota University, whereby
the US-based HMML was to undertake to digitize about 14,000 Armenian
language manuscripts and books and another 3,000 in other languages
kept in Matenadaran.

The modern technology, used by the HMML, was said to create high
quality copies of the manuscripts, many of which are unique.

Tamrazian said the digitization should be carried out in Armenia and
by local experts.

The collection in Yerevan, totaling almost 17,000 manuscripts, is by
far the most extensive and richest repository for Armenian manuscripts
in the world.

These manuscripts are known for their outstanding illuminations,
considered to be among the most beautiful ever created.