The Mesrop Mashtots Institute of Ancient Manuscripts, known as Matenadaran, is set to launch a groundbreaking online platform in early 2026 that will provide digital access to nearly all known Armenian manuscripts worldwide.
The platform, currently under development, aims to unite Armenia’s vast manuscript heritage in a single, accessible location, offering high-resolution images and detailed descriptions to scholars, researchers, and the public. The project is funded by the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation and is expected to boost the global visibility of Armenian culture and strengthen the field of Armenology.
“This will be a comprehensive program with vast possibilities,” said Gurgen Gasparyan, Advisor to the Director of Matenadaran on New Technologies. “Any Armenologist, researcher, or scientist will be able to find the information they are looking for within seconds.”
Gasparyan noted that while Matenadaran preserves between 12,000 and 13,000 manuscripts, an estimated 35,000 to 40,000 Armenian manuscripts are scattered across the globe. Physically consolidating them in Armenia remains unfeasible, as foreign institutions are often reluctant to release such historical collections. The digital platform, he said, is the next best solution.
For over 18 years, Matenadaran has been engaged in a large-scale digitization effort to preserve and make Armenian scripts, literature, and cultural heritage publicly accessible. Since the initiative began in 2007, the institute has produced over 8,000 high-quality digital images of the manuscripts held in Yerevan, which are available to researchers upon request.
Gasparyan emphasized that Matenadaran is a regional leader in manuscript digitization, with its methodologies serving as a model for other centers in the region. “The principles developed at Matenadaran have become a model for other digitization centers in the region,” he told Armenpress, adding, “This project will allow any researcher or scholar to find relevant manuscript data in seconds. This accelerates academic work and enhances the development of Armenian studies.”
The institute’s digitization department is equipped with advanced scanning technology—obtained through both state support and private donations—enabling the production of detailed manuscript images. It also collaborates with Armenian studies centers abroad—including in Jerusalem, Venice, Vienna, Paris, St. Petersburg, and Moscow—to provide expertise and promote preservation across the diaspora.
A new software platform is currently under development to support this ambitious initiative. It will integrate manuscript images with detailed descriptions, allowing users to search and access data seamlessly. The goal is to drastically simplify the process of locating and referencing manuscripts—tasks that previously could take years.
Matenadaran also publishes manuscript descriptions in its ongoing series, the “Main Catalogue of Armenian Manuscripts,” which currently includes 11 volumes covering around 3,700 manuscripts. These descriptions include key details on appearance, illumination, materials, and more—critical data for researchers seeking historical sources.
This catalog will serve as the foundation for the new digital platform, which will eventually include data on manuscripts held in foreign collections. The system will also incorporate layers powered by artificial intelligence, expanding its search capabilities and accessibility.
Matenadaran has supported the research of Armenian scholars for nearly two decades through its digitization initiatives and the creation of electronic resources. With this new platform, it hopes to bring the world’s Armenian manuscript heritage closer to scholars and the public alike.
Gasparyan also praised the extensive work of the Matenadaran team and stressed the importance of Armenian studies conferences in fostering collaboration, knowledge sharing, and global cultural representation.
