Gandzasar Matenadaran

The Artsakh branch of Matenadaran was built on the basis of the building constructed for the seminary operating at the Gandzasar monastery, designed by architect Valery Hayrapetyan.

The opening ceremony of "Mesrop Mashtots Institute of Ancient Manuscripts – Gandzasar " scientific and cultural centre took place on November 21, 2015.

The “Gandzasar” scientific-cultural centre, as a branch of Mashtots Matenadaran in Artsakh, has two basic sections: a department of scientific researches and a museum complex, which displays more than hundred manuscripts written in the provinces of Artsakh and Syunik of historical Armenia, originals and copies of unique documents related to the history of Artsakh, as well as ancient books and manuscripts redeemed or brought from another safekeeping in Artsakh’s churches and monasteries. For the first time in history Artsakh manuscripts from all over the world have been put together under the same roof, thus creating a unique opportunity for researches in various disciplines.

During the 44-day war in Artsakh, manuscripts, ancient books and archival documents of the “Gandzasar” scientific-cultural centre were evacuated, moved to Yerevan and stored in the Mesrop Mashtots Institute of Ancient Manuscripts.

 Source: https://matenadaran.am/en/2015/11/21/the-symbol-of-unity-of-armenia/ .