Mapping Matenadaran: AMAP installs information panels at hall of manuscripts

Arts and Culture | 30.04.10 | 12:25

22811/armenian_monuments_awareness_protect_matenad aran
By Gayane Lazarian
ArmeniaNow reporter

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Multi-language information signboards have been installed at an
ancient manuscripts depositary in Yerevan as part of a broader effort
by a nongovernmental organization that has been, for more than two
years, working to promote better awareness about cultural, historical
and natural landmarks across Armenia.
Enlarge Photo
Director of Matenadaran Hrachya Tamrazyan thanked AMAP for the project.

Enlarge Photo
The project’s main sponsor VivaCell-MTS’s General Manager Ralph
Yirikyan spoke during the presentation at Matenadaran.

Enlarge Photo
US Ambassador to Armenia Marie Yovanovitch, one of AMAP’s supporters,
taking a tour to Matenadaran’s restoration laboratory of ancient
manuscripts.

Enlarge Photo

Enlarge Photo
Matenadaran’s lobby.

Enlarge Photo
Entering Matenadaran

The Mesrop Mashtots Manuscripts Scientific-Research Institute, better
known as Matenadaran Museum, is the latest beneficiary of the ongoing
effort by the Armenian Monuments Awareness Project (AMAP) that
installs information signboards in five languages (with additional
languages available on laminated handouts) at historical sites of
Armenia to make them better known and more attractive to both locals
and visitors, thus contributing to the development of tourism in the
country.

`We, at Matenadaran, welcome the entry of this organization, which has
implemented large-scale projects throughout Armenia that concern the
advocacy of and awareness about Armenian culture. We attach importance
to our cooperation with this organization,’ said Matenadaran Director
Hrachya Tamrazyan at a presentation Thursday afternoon.

Tamrazyan said the colorful panels should also help promote awareness
about Matenadaran outside its premises.

`This show should start with the road that leads to Matenadaran,
Mashtots Avenue. And billboards presenting our culture should be added
to the numerous [commercial] ones that already exist [along the
boulevard]. I think these are projects that we will implement jointly
with our friends,’ he said.

AMAP operates with sponsorship of VivaCell-MTS, the Honorary Consul of
Italy in Gyumri, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway and the
USAID through its Competitive Armenian Private Sector program (CAPS).

Ralph Yirikian, general manager of Armenia’s leading mobile phone
operator VivaCell-MTS, described Matenadaran as a treasure that needs
to be cherished.

`We all know well what valuable things we have here and to what great
lengths our ancestors would go to hand them down to us, braving
difficulties and long roads. I think we have the responsibility today
to preserve, add to these values and hand them down to the generations
to come,’ said Yirikian.

United States Ambassador to Armenia Marie Yovanovitch, who was also
present at the event, said, evaluating USAID/CAPS contribution to the
project: `Matenadaran is not only the heritage of Armenia culture, but
also that of the world culture. AMAP has managed to make this place
more accessible for people.’

Matenadaran in Yerevan has the richest collection of manuscripts,
which number about 17,500. The collection covers nearly all spheres of
Armenian ancient and medieval science and culture and also includes
foreign manuscripts. Fifth-century saint Mesrop Mashtots, the creator
of the Armenian Alphabet, was the founder of the collection of
Armenian books and manuscripts of the Holy Etchmiadzin Catholicosate,
the center of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

In 1920, the Holy Etchmiadzin Matenadaran became state property and in
1939 it was relocated to Yerevan.

International Council on Monuments and Sites ICOMOS/Armenia Chairman
Gagik Gyurjyan also welcomed the implementation of the project at
Matenadaran. He said: `The project started with ancient sites,
involved medieval complexes, urban locations and now it has reached
one of the major monuments, Matenadaran.’

According to him, the installation of signboards is of no less
importance than restoration work.

`These panels raise our awareness about our heritage. And knowing
means realizing the need to preserve and pass [these values] to the
generations to come. I hope our sponsors will continue their work and
like all civilized countries we will have such information installed
near all monuments,’ said Gyurjyan. `Armenia should become a tourist
country, we should have more active participation in this project and
make our country more recognizable.’

Information signboards at Matenadaran were AMAP’s first presentation
this year. During the two years of the project implementation AMAP has
installed more than 320 information signboards in the premises of 49
monuments in 60 areas of Armenia. A total of 142 information
signboards are expected to be placed in the premises of 26 monuments
this year. Also, 20 information signboards with the Braille alphabet
will be installed for visually impaired visitors. The project will
also be installing audio tours at select sites.