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 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 in
the region and throughout the world.Tn the world is
received on a subscription basis.
A
separate
room
houses
rare
and
early
imprints,
published
a
hundred
or
more
years
ago.
Armenians
established
the
first
printing
press
in
Jerusalem
in
1833.
One
of
the
Library's
prized
possessions
is
a
copy
of
the
inaugural
issue
of
the
Patriarchate's
monthly
of
religion,
literature
and
philology, the official publication of the Armenian Patriarchate.
Most
book
acquisitions
are
gifts,
a
listing
of
which
is
regularly
published
in
the
Sion
gazette.
A
wide
range
of
subjects
is
represented,
with
emphasis
on
Christianity
in
all
its
aspects.
The
collections
are
classified
according
to
the
Dewey
Decimal
System.
Bibliographic
records are maintained in a card catalog.
The
Patriarchate
also
curates
an
extraordinary
collection
of
4000
illuminated
manuscripts, housed in the Church of St. Toros, close to the Cathedral of St. James.
Plans for the Future
Plans
are
underway
to
renovate
the
historic
Gulbenkian
Library,
transforming
it
into
a
state-of-the-art,
climate-controlled
facility
which
accommodates
furnishings
congruous
with
the
character
of
the
building
and
is
equipped
with
electrical
and
communications
systems
capable
of
incorporating
automation,
electronic
networking,
and
future
technological
developments.
The
Library
will
be
harmonious
with
the
historic
setting
and
environment
of
the
Armenian
Patriarchate,
which
also
comprises
the
Convent
and
Cathedral
of
St.
James;
the
Theological
Seminary
of
the
Brotherhood
of
St.
James;
the
Holy
Translators
(Surb
Tarkmanchats)
School
(kindergarten
through
high
school);
the
Edward
and
Helen
Mardigian
Museum of Armenian Art and Culture; and the St. James Printing Press.
Support
In
early
1997,
a
support
organization,
The
Friends
of
the
Calouste
Gulbenkian
Library,
was
formed
and
has
been
incorporated
in
California
as
a
tax-exempt
[501(c)3],
a
non-profit
charitable public benefit corporation with the following purposes:
•
To
advance
and
promote
in
the
Armenian
and
American
communities
the
cultural
and
historical
significance
of
the
Calouste
Gulbenkian
Library;
to
enhance
its
collection
development
activities;
to
expand
its
programs
and
services
which
provide
greater
public
access
to
information
in
the
Armenian
language
and
about
Armenians
from
earliest
times
to
the
present
to
Armenological
scholars
and
members
of
all
Armenian
communities in the United States and throughout the world;
•
To
organize
and
engage
in
activities
which
educate,
enrich,
and
foster
understanding
and
appreciation
of
the
great
cultural
treasure
in
said
Library
among
members
of
the
organization
and
persons
of
Armenian
ancestry
in
the
United
States
of
America
and
abroad;
•
To
solicit
donations,
grants
or
subsidies
from
interested
members
of
the
public
and
to
apply
to
public
agencies
or
private
or
public
foundations
for
assistance
under
prescribed
guidelines,
rules
and
regulations
promulgated
by
such
agencies
or
foundations
in
order
to
fund
selected
capital
improvements
to
the
Library.
[Ed:
Courtesy the Armenian Patriarchate of St James]
over 100,000 volumes