For this reason, a delegation from Matenadaran, headed by its Director, Ara Khzmalyan, has arrived on the Saint Lazarus island.
The launch of the mission is being carried out with the active support and direct participation of Hovhannes Araqelyan, authorised representative of the Director of Matenadaran, and Gagik Sarukhanyan, Honorary Consul of the Republic of Armenia in Venice.
The delegation also includes Vahe Torosyan, Deputy Director of Scientific Affairs at Matenadaran, and Gurgen Gasparyan, Advisor to the Director.
The mission’s specialised work is being conducted by senior restorers of Matenadaran, Artavazd Ayvazyan, and Artur Petrosyan, who will carry out the first phase of the monitoring process from July 9 to 19. This phase encompasses an assessment of the restoration condition of the manuscripts, an examination of the storage environment, the identification of risks, the determination of priority interventions, and the collection of the specialised data necessary for the development of a future collaboration program.
This mission constitutes a continuation of the strategic partnership established between Matenadaran and the Mkhitarist Congregation of Venice. Last year, at the initiative and with the support of Matenadaran, a manuscript digitisation system was installed at Saint Lazarus.
This Venetian mission likewise reflects the long-term strategy of Matenadaran, which aims to support Armenian spiritual and manuscript centres in the preservation, restoration, digitisation, and professional capacity-building of written heritage. Through this strategy, Matenadaran seeks to place its scientific, restorative, and technological potential at the service not only of its own collections, but also of the manuscript heritage preserved in various Armenian centres throughout the world.