THE PRIVATE MANUSCRIPT AND PRINT COLLECTION OF THE GRIGORYANS

Abstract

The article presents the private manuscript and print collection belongs to the Grigoryan family which migrated from Mush district of Western Armenia and settled in Vardadzor village. This collection, consisting of about five units, includes: 2 manuscripts Amulets in scroll, (16-17th cc.), 1 old printed Gospel (1685-1686, Venice), 1 printed Hymnarium (1852, Constantinople), 1 printed Horologion (1872, Constantinople), which have been described in detail in the mentioned work. The units in the Grigoryans' private collection found their final destination after a long journey in the village of Vardadzor, Gegharkunik state, RA. After the end of the Russian-Turkish war (1828-1829), mass migration from Western Armenia to Eastern Armenia began (1829-30s). At that time, Nevsky Grigoryan's ancestors also migrated and settled in the village of Vardadzor, bringing the collection with them. Grigoryan family which migrated from Mush district of Western Armenia and settled in Vardadzor village. This collection, consisting of about five units, includes: 2 manuscripts Amulets in scroll, (16-17th cc.), 1 old printed Gospel (1685-1686, Venice), 1 printed Hymnarium (1852, Constantinople), 1 printed Horologion (1872, Constantinople), which have been described in detail in the mentioned work. The units in the Grigoryans' private collection found their final destination after a long journey in the village of Vardadzor, Gegharkunik state, RA. After the end of the Russian-Turkish war (1828-1829), mass migration from Western Armenia to Eastern Armenia began (1829-30s). At that time, Nevsky Grigoryan's ancestors also migrated and settled in the village of Vardadzor, bringing the collection with them. The number of units initially included in the collection used to be larger, that, unfortunately, was burnt as a result of the fire in 1995, only this much was possible to save.  In order to save the collection from further loss and keep it in better conditions, with the efforts of Nevsky Grigoryan's elder brother Paruyr Grigoryan and his son Valery Grigoryan (in 1998) they built in the adjacent part of the house church of S. Grigor Narekatsi, which is better known by the residents as "Grigor Narek". The time and location of the church construction is not accidental. Conditioned by the fundamental circumstance that Paruyr Grigorya had a dream in which the saint complained about keeping him in the attic (before the construction of the church, the collection was located on the first floor of the house, where the believers came to take vows), then pointed to the place where the current church was built. The units in the above-mentioned private collection of Nevsky Grigoryan deserved to be studied and published, since they reveal examples of handwritten Amulets, and thanks to them, the discovered similar printed units replenish and enrich the Armenian book art with several more. The units in the above-mentioned private collection of Nevsky Grigoryan deserved to be studied and published, since they reveal examples of handwritten Amulets, and thanks to them, the discovered similar printed units replenish and enrich the Armenian book art with several more.