On September 18, a one-week training program was launched in the Restoration Department of the “Matenadaran” Mesrop Mashtots Institute of Ancient Manuscripts with the partnership of a group of specialists from Northern Iraq (Erbil) led by Archbishop Najeeb Mikhaeel, Leader of the Chaldean Church and Director of the Digital Centre of Eastern Manuscripts.
The project has been implemented within the framework of UNESCO’s Reviving the Spirit of Mosul initiative. The first phase of collaboration was sponsored by the Government of the Republic of Armenia.
The training will be advantageous for Iraqi professionals who do a grateful job for preservation, restoration and digitization of thousands of foreign manuscripts that have survived the atrocities of the Islamic State.
Armenian specialists are currently restoring ancient Syriac manuscripts, which are part of Matenadaran’s collection. The Iraqi guests, in turn, are ready to support the implementation of this significant program. The one-week program is expected to be mutually beneficial for Iraqi and Armenian professionals.