The Return of Treasures: Antique Books

On the direct initiative of His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, the Karekin I Educational Center was established, based on the personal book collections of Catholicos Vazgen I, Karekin I, and Karekin II. The antiquarian collection was formed in parallel with the collection that already existed in the Mother See. Currently, there are two collections of antiquarian books in Holy Etchmiadzin. In total, before the enthronement of His Holiness the Patriarch, the Mother See had approximately 2,000 units of antiquarian literature. Over the past 25 years, the two collections have been replenished with approximately 960 units.

In 2021, the Matenadaran was established in the Mother See. A magnificent new building was built under the direction of His Holiness Karekin II. The two-story building houses the book depositories and auxiliary rooms, the administrative part, the reading room, including the reading room for antiquarian books. The collection of antiquities kept in the Matenadaran of the Mother See has 703 specimens, 620 of which arrived in Etchmiadzin during the reign of Catholicos Karekin II.