YEREVAN. – Official opening of Matenadaran’s (Armenian ancient manuscript museum) new building is underway in Armenian capital Yerevan. Armenia’s and Karabakh’s Presidents Serzh Sargsyan and Bako Sahakyan, Armenian Minister of Culture Hasmik Poghosyan, Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin I, Catholicos of the Greater House of Cilicia Aram I, and the new building’s architect Arthur Meschyan are on hand at the event.  

The Armenian President and the rest of the guests are currently touring the Matenadaran’s new building.

The new building’s construction had begun in 1988, but it was not completed because of the earthquake. Construction resumed in 2008, and the new building occupies a total area of 11,358m2, which is 3 times larger than Matenadaran’s current building.     

 

The new building is intended for conducting scientific research, and preserving and digitalizing manuscript archives and library stock, and it is equipped with all latest  systems. The equipment was acquired from several European countries, and the reconstruction project costs $35,344,000 US.

18 thousand manuscripts are currently kept at the Matenadaran.