SOLEMN CEREMONY OF LAYING FOUNDATION OF MATENADARAN NEW ANNEX TAKES PLACE IN YEREVAN
Noyan Tapan
May 14, 2009
YEREVAN, MAY 14, NOYAN TAPAN. A solemn ceremony of laying the
foundation of a new scientific annex of Mesrop Mashtots Institute
of Ancient Manuscripts, Matenadaran took place on May 14 in
Yerevan. Benefactor Sergey Hambartsumian, the Chairman of Board of
Directors of the Monarch Moscow concern, laid a manuscript to the
foundation being evidence of foundation laying. RA President Serzh
Sargsyan took part in the solemn event coinciding with the 50th
anniversary of Matenadaran’s turning into a scientific-research center.
Matenadaran Director Hrachya Tamazian said that inventors of Armenian
alphabet Mesrop Mashtots and Catholicos Sahak Partev are considered
the founders of Matenadaran (collection of ancient manuscripts):
there is evidence that Matenadaran already existed in the 5th century,
under Etchmiadzin Catholicosate.
Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II made a speech and blessing. The
Patriarch mentioned that Matenadaran has become Armenia’s symbol long
ago, and manuscripts kept there have not only scientific-cultural
value, but are also relics. Matenadaran with its mission and
significance is part of all-Armenian culture, it is recognized
in international scientific and cultural circles. Catholicos of
All Armenians thanked country’s leadership for constant attention
to Matenadaran, as well thanked benefactor Sergey Hambartsumian,
building’s chief architect Artur Meschian and builders.
Moscow investment construction company does the construction work
of the new building at the expense of funds of 10m dollars allocated
by Sergey Hambartsumian in advance. The construction is done in the
territory of 12.1 thousand sq.m. and according to Matenadaran Director,
is done very actively.
New building’s idea is not new: the first project was worked out as far
back as in 1987-88 at the Armproject Institute, at the architectural
studio of Artur Meschian. The construction was launched as early as
in 1988, but was stopped due to the earthquake of the same year. A
new project task was created in 2007 that became the continuation
of the former project. The project envisages to allot rooms for a
book storehouse, archives, internal and two other reading rooms, a
reconstruction and modelling department, a room for research officers,
a computer department, a multi-functional hall with 240 seats for
spectators, laboratories, an Armenological center, a publishing house
and a printing house, as well as a photo laboratory.