Armenian Jerusalem
This project has been supported by the Gulbenkian philanthropic Foundation, the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem, and members
of the worldwide Armenian community. Reproductions of the genealogical documents [domar’s] are courtesy Photo Garo, Jerusalem.
© Copyright 2007 Arthur Hagopia
The church has always dominated the
Armenian Jerusalem landscape.
Throughout its troubled history, it has
always been the priestly brotherhood
that has provided the Armenians with
the impetus and inspiration to forge
ahead.
The Sts. Tarkmanchats Armenian (Holy
Translators') School in Jerusalem was
built on the heights of Mount Zion in
the year 1929 in the days of His
Beatitude, the late Patriarch Yeghishe
Tourian, homage to his memory and to
all those who had the vision of
creating this school.
The Calouste Gulbenkian Library of the
Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem
strives to collect, preserve, and make
rapidly and easily accessible a vast array
of ideas and information for the
education, enrichment, and
empowerment of its religious and lay
community, as well as for the
enlightenment of scholars and
researchers.
The Edward and Helen Mardigian
Museum of Armenian Art and Culture is
located inside the Armenian Convent
walls in the Old City of Jerusalem. The
Museum offers a comprehensive
overview of 3,000 years of Armenian art,
culture and history. The building is
actually situated in the former
“Chamtagh” which once served as the
Patriarchate’s Theological Seminary
(1843).
The Jinishian foundation has set up a
medical centre within the Convent of St
James, providing free medical care and
subsidized medication for all
Armenians. The centre is staffed by a
doctor and a nurse, and has been
instrumental in helping the community
combat common illnesses.
Just across the entrance, on the other
side of the road, sprawls the L-shaped
structure that houses the Theological
Seminary. This is undoubtedly the raison
d'etre of the Armenian Patriarchate of
Jerusalem - had it not been for this
institution, the Armenian church would
have been in crisis and the Armenian
presence in the Holy Land a mirage.
The Armenians of Jerusalem enjoy the
distinction of having established the
city's first printing press. Copy was set
by hand, a cumbersome and time-
consuming task, which remained a
practice until quite recently when hot
metal (Linotype) was introduced.
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