A 15th-century Gospel manuscript was stolen from a shrine in the village of Taperakan in Armenia’s Ararat Province, prompting the launch of a criminal case under Article 254, Part 3, Point 4 of the Criminal Code, which covers theft committed in especially large amounts. The Prosecutor General’s Office confirmed that the case was initiated on December 7, 2025, and that the preliminary investigation is ongoing.
The Matenadaran released a statement expressing deep concern over the incident and the broader issue of safeguarding Armenia’s cultural and spiritual heritage.
The full Matenadaran statement is as follows:
“We learned with deep concern that unknown individuals have stolen the 15th-century Gospel kept in the Taperakan community of Ararat Province. This fact makes it imperative to address the issue of manuscripts kept in private residences and community ecclesiastical institutions without proper security systems and preservation conditions.
The Directorate of the Matenadaran has declared at every possible opportunity its readiness to accept these volumes, if not as donations, then at least for temporary safekeeping. By this statement, we reaffirm our commitment and stand ready to make the Matenadaran’s material and professional capacities available for the proper preservation of manuscripts belonging to private individuals or communities.
We guarantee that all volumes will be entered into the Matenadaran’s repository under a pre-signed temporary safekeeping agreement, which will confirm the rights of the owner and the obligations of the Matenadaran. It is regrettable that, alongside the Matenadaran’s ‘Return of the Volumes’ campaign, through which our spiritual treasures are being brought back to Armenia from various auctions and private collections around the world, samples of our spiritual history are being robbed and disappearing in our own country. Cooperation with the Matenadaran in this field is an indicator of civic maturity and responsibility.”
The Matenadaran emphasized its ongoing readiness to safeguard manuscripts owned by private individuals or local communities and highlighted the continued risks facing Armenia’s cultural assets, even as valuable items return to the country through international repatriation efforts.
