YEREVAV. - The rich collection of the Armenian Museum of Ancient Manuscripts Matenadaran has acquired a rare issue of the first Bible printed in Armenian. An exclusive Bible by Voskan Yerevantsi has been printed in 1666 in Amsterdam. This book has continuously been in private collections until 2013, when thanks to donation of the Director General of VivaCell-MTS Armenian telecommunication company Ralph Yirikian, it was transferred to the possession of Armenian Museum of Ancient Manuscripts.

The press-service of VivaCell-MTS informed Armenian News-NEWS.am that the book has an exceptional historical and cultural value. Voskan Yerevantsi printed this book as a present for Armenian Catholicos Hakob Jughayetsy (Jacob of Jugha). In 1668 this issue has been bound in silver, which itself is an example of Armenian art.

“I will probably not exaggerate by saying that for us the Matenadaran has the same mystery as the Mount Ararat. This is a sacred place, which characterizes our essence. The love and the devotion of Armenians to the literature is infinite. Even under the threat of physical extermination, our nation sacrificed everything to preserve books and literature,” Ralph Yirikian said.