US Ambassador’s Fund Supports Preservation of Artsakh’s Written Cultural Heritage

YEREVAN – The Mesrop Mashtots Institute of Ancient Manuscripts has launched a project to restore and promote the written heritage of Nagorno-Karabakh, housed in the Matenadaran. This initiative is supported by the United States through the US Ambassador’s Fund for the Preservation of Cultural Values, which has allocated $74,000 for its implementation.

The project focuses on manuscripts and unique archival documents from the 13th to 18th centuries, created and illustrated in historic Armenian monasteries such as Gandzasar, Dadivank, Gndevank, Khadavank, and Gtchavank. These works aim to shed light on Armenia’s rich cultural heritage and address historical gaps.

Ara Khzmalyan, Director of the Matenadaran, expressed his gratitude to the US Ambassador for supporting this significant endeavor.

“A vast collection of spiritual experience, a unique layer of Christian tradition, is facing existential threats. This reality heightens our responsibility to protect the heritage that has endured through various historical events. Through this project, manuscripts and ancient archival documents from historical Artsakh-Utik will be restored,” said Khzmalyan.

He emphasized that while this heritage is of Armenian origin, it also holds global cultural significance, contributing to the broader Christian tradition.

“The Matenadaran’s collection represents a wider context of written culture, extending beyond the manuscript heritage of Nagorno-Karabakh,” he added.

Armenian Minister of Education, Science, Culture, and Sports, Zhanna Andreasyan, highlighted the unique value of Nagorno-Karabakh’s manuscript heritage within Armenia’s cultural history. She noted that the distinct handwriting styles and rich traditions of these works have yet to receive adequate global recognition.

“This program is a critical step in preserving the manuscripts of Nagorno-Karabakh. It is essential that the cultural heritage and values of Nagorno-Karabakh are unequivocally protected,” said Kristina Kvien, US Ambassador at the event marking the project’s launch.