YEREVAN (ArmRadio)—Armenian officials and clergy marked the 50th anniversary of the Matenadaran Repository of Ancient Manuscripts on Thursday with a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the start of construction on a new research center for the repository.
Attending the ceremony were Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian, Catholicos Karekin II, Matenadaran Director Hrachya Tamrazyan, Yerevan Mayor Gagik Beglaryan, as well as the project’s chief architect Arthur Meschyan and benefactor Sergey Hambartsumyan.
Hambardzumian had pledged $10 million for Matenadaran’s reconstruction and expansion last July.
The new building will be four times larger than the original complex, which was constructed in 1959, according to Tamrazyan, who said the new building is “proof of our people’s creativity and wisdom.”
“The new building will be furnished with all the modern conditions and will facilitate the preservation and studying of ancient manuscripts,” the Catholicos said. “The value and importance of the Matenadaran makes it a symbol of Armenia.”
