Your trusted source

Major exhibition on Armenian history will open on September 22 at the world-famous Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. The exhibition named “Armenia” organized on the occasion of the 27th anniversary of Armenia’s independence, will run through January 13, 2019. At a meeting with reporters Armenia’s Culture Minister Lilit Makunts noted the exhibition is dedicated to the Armenian history and culture of the 4th to 17th centuries and will portray the significance of Armenian art to the world during the Middle Ages.

As the minister informed, the event will feature some 140 objects most of which will be brought from Armenia, including 34 exhibits from the History Museum of Armenia (HMA), 20 exhibits from the Echmiadzin Cathedral Museum, and 28 exhibits from the Mesrop Mashtots Institute of Ancient Manuscripts (Matenadaran).  

Director at the Museums and Archives of the Mother See of Holy Echmiadzin Asoghik priest Karapetyan pointed to not only the cultural significance of the event but also the political relevance, drawing parallels with the 2007 Louvre exhibition. 

“It is notable that during the negotiations the representatives of the Metropolitan Museum insisted on organizing an exhibition about the Christian Armenia,” Asoghik priest said, sharing the expectations to properly represent Armenia and attract tourists. 

Among the items to be displayed at the Museum are the Holy Lance (Geghard) and the original silver reliquary that will be exhibited at the special request of the Museum representatives.

Director at the History Museum of Armenia Grigor Grigoryan, in turn, spoke of the objects from HMA, cross stones (khachkars), precious liturgical furnishings, church models, among them.

“I am confident each object will help the visitors to discover something new,” Grigoryan said. He reminded that the exhibition is curated by Dr. Evans, the distinguished Mary and Michael Jaharis Curator for Byzantine Art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and acclaimed scholar of Armenian art.

Director at Matenadaran Vahan Ter-Ghevondyan informed that 28 manuscripts will be displayed at the exhibition, including Gosbel books manuscript samples of the middle ages

Ter-Ghevondyan pointed to the publication of the Catalogue. The lavishly illustrated catalogue is suitable for the general public and specialists alike. Published by The Metropolitan Museum of Art and distributed by Yale University Press has been agreed with the Armenian side. Additionally, education programs have been organized to complement the exhibition.

Grigoryan added that the hosts have taken care of all expenses for the organization of the event. The Metropolitan Museum has also addressed the organization matters along with philanthropists and charity foundations that have joint the initiative to bring the Armenian culture and history to the world-known museum. The US-based Hakob Gevorgyan Foundation is another sponsor of the event.

Asoghik priest also recalled Vigen Sargsyan, Armenia’s former defense minister, saying Sargsyan had been the one who first came up with the idea four years ago and started the implementation of initiative.