Opinion
A Visit to San Lazzaro: An Armenian Island in the Heart of Europe (Part II)
By Levon A. Saryan
The Mekhitarist Congregation is a unique institution in our Armenian reality and has played an enormous and thoroughly positive role. The twin monasteries (Venice in Italy and Vienna in Austria) have long been the leading outposts of Armenian culture in Europe. Although (as Roman Catholics) they have been dismissed by some Armenians,1 the Mekhitarist contribution to Armenian letters and scholarship, linguistics, literature, poetry, history, and antiquarian studies over the
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Congratulations Mr. Saryan, for a very informative article. As a “Catoghike Hye” myself, I salute your open-mind and spirit.
Congratulations indeed. I have been to San Lazzaro and the Mekhitarist priests deserve all our collective respect and appreciation. Indirectly they have even helped my siblings’ and my primary education.
God bless them.
Thanks for the article. I am a former seminarian and a permanent son of Mekhitarian’s. Besides it’s cultural value Mekhitarians are essential for their Christian faith and its teaching. Among many important and famous Mekhitarian fathers is Father Sahak Chemchemian, the mastermind behind “Bazmavep “and my spiritual guide. God bless.
Yes, great article: uplifting, positive message.
Mekhitarists are an Armenian national treasure.
Antoine I am heading to yerevan this friday for 4 days. Staying at Congress Hotel. let me know if you are in Armenina. I leave on the 28th!!!
annie
1. During the 19th century, Catholics and Protestants were considered a threat to the Armenian Church and looked down upon by some narrow-minded persons. Thankfully, that era is now behind us.
Excellent article by Dr. Levon Saryan.
In the endnotes (1) there seem to be an oversight where the source is not noted. According to whom the [Armenian] Catholics and [Armenian] Protestants were looked down upon? Is this Dr. Saryan’s opinion?
In addition, I know the [Armenian] Protestants don’t like to be referred to as “Protestants”. They prefer to be called as Evangelicals. However I do agree with Dr. Saryan that they are indeed Protestants as their church was founded by an Armenian Orthodox (Apostolic) priest who left the church “protesting” and establishing his Evangelical church.
It is a great article. Indeed the Mekhitarist Brothers in San Lazzaro are Armenian treasures along with the well known Armenian poet and historian Hayr Ghevont Alishan.