Courses

Research

PressReleases
2003
2002
2001
2000

30 Years of Armenian
Studies

2001 Expedition
to Armenia

Department
Reports
2003-4
2001
2000
1999
1998

Links

Background and History of the Program

An active program in Armenian Studies has existed at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem for over thirty years. Since the University's first beginnings, it has recognized the significant role of the Armenians in the history of the Holy Land and in Israel's complex contemporary society.

The Program in Armenian Studies is now in a period of unprecedented, dynamic growth. Ties with the Armenian community are being enriched: an agreement between the Armenian Patriarchate and the University now makes it possible for clergy to continue their education at the Hebrew University. The number of students increases each year.

A new interest in Armenian Studies is exhibited by Israeli students as well. Our courses attract students from the departments of Comparative Religion, Middle East Studies, and History among others. The broad range of our courses reflects the wealth and variety of Armenian history, language and culture.

The Hebrew University is striving to respond to the growing demand with the help and support of friends of Armenian Studies from all over the world.

Academic Degrees

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem offers degree courses in Armenian Studies at the Bachelor's, Master's and the Doctoral levels.

Undergraduate and graduate students also come from abroad for one year periods of study as part of their degree programs at other institutions. Post-doctoral students often spend a research year in the Department.

New MA Program in Armenian and Religious Studies

Until now, students wishing to do a Master's degree in Armenian Studies had to enroll either as tutorial students or under the aegis of the Religious Studies Department, with a specialty in Armenian Studies.

The establishment of the MA degree program is an important step for the future of the Armenian Studies Program!

Staff

The faculty members directly involved in Armenian and Georgian Studies instruction this year are:

* Michael E. Stone, Ph.D. (Harvard), D.Litt. (Melbourne), Armenian Studies (Professor)

* Roberta Ervine, Ph.D. (Columbia) - Armenian Studies (Visiting Lecturer)

* Konstantine Lerner, Dr.Sc. (Tbilisi) - Georgian Studies (Associate Professor)

* Nira Stone, Ph.D. (Hebrew University) - Armenian Art (Adjunct Lecturer)

* Sergio LaPorta (Harvard University) - Armenian Intellectual History (Visiting Graduate Student)

In addition to our regular courses, James Russell, Mashtots Professor of Armenian Studies at Harvard University, will give a series of special lectures in our Advanced Armenology Seminar during the months of March and April, 2000.

1999-2000

1. Modern West Armenian for Beginners - Dr. R. Ervine

2. The Art of Armenia and the Christian Orient - Dr. N. Stone

3. The Armenians in the Ottoman Empire: the Early Period - Dr. R. Ervine

4. Armenian Hagiography (Lives of Saints) - Dr. R. Ervine

5. The "History of Sebeos" and "Against the Heresies" of Eznik - Prof. M.E. Stone

6. Texts in Medieval Armenian - Prof. M.E. Stone

7. University Monasteries of Armenia in the Middle Ages - Mr. S. LaPorta & Prof. M.E. Stone

8. Advanced Seminar in Armenian Studies - Prof. M.E. Stone

9. Elementary Georgian - Prof. K. Lerner

10. Lives of Georgian Saints from the 5th-10th Century - Prof. K. Lerner

11. History of the Jewish Community of Georgia - Prof. K. Lerner

1998-1999

1. Elementary Classical Armenian - Professor M.E. Stone

2. Classical Armenian Texts from Manuscripts - Professor M.E. Stone

3. Advanced Spoken Modern Armenian - Dr. R. Ervine

4. Guided Reading in Modern West Armenian - Dr. R. Ervine

5. The Armenians under Arab Domination (7th-11th centuries) - Dr. R. Ervine

6. The Mystical Exegesis of the "Song of Songs" in the Armenian Tradition (Texts in Translation) - Dr. R. Ervine

7. Armenian Art - Dr. Nira Stone

8. Elementary Georgian - Dr. K. Lerner

9. Advanced Georgian - Dr. K. Lerner

Upcoming in 2000

* Lecture by H.E. Robert Kocharian, President of the Republic of Armenia. Following a meeting wth the President of the University, Mr. Robert Kocharian will lecture at the Hebrew University on January 18, 2000.

* Symposium on Armenian Pilgrimage to Jerusalem and the Holy Land. The Symposium will be held in April, 2000 with the participation o H.B. Abp. Mesrop Mutafian, Armenian Patriarch of Istanbul and an alumnus of the Armenian Studies Program. A festive dinner will be held in Patriach Mesrob's honour, to mark the end of the 30 Years celebrations.

During the symposium eight international scholars will address the topic of Armenian pilgrimage to the Holy Land.

Originally slated for November, 1999 the Symposium was postponed due to the period of mourning following the death of the late Catholicos Karekin I.

The symposium is the closing event in the year-long celebration of Thirty Years of Armenian Studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

* Study group in Armenia planned for September, 2000. Led by graduate student Yoav Loeff, a group of university students and associates will spend several weeks in Armenia. The trip is designed to expose students directly to the historical and intellectual riches of Armenia.

In 1998-1999

* Celebration of 30 Years of Armenian Studies

* Congratulatory Reception in Washington, DC: May 4, 1999. Organized by the Armenian and American Friends of the Hebrew University in the Capitol Region. headed by Mr. Aris Martirossian and Mrs. Ani Totah.

The Reception was hosted at the Armenian Embassy by H.E. Mr. Ruben Shugarian, Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia. He was joined by H.E. Mr. Zalman Shoval, Ambassador of the State of Israel. Congressman Frank Pallone of New Jersey and distinguished guests from the Jewish and Armenian communities attended.

Congressman Frank Pallone read a statement on the 30th Anniversary into the Congressional Record.

* International Symposium on the Armenians in the Holy Land: In Jerusalem on May 24-26. Scholars and students from all over the world attended, as well as alumni and affiliates of the Armenian Studies Program. The Symposium included:

A special joint session with the Jewish National and University Library on "Armenian Libraries in Jerusalem".

A visit to the Cathedral of the Sts. James, followed by a meeting with the Armenian Community.

A reception for participants hosted by H.B. Archbishop Torkom Manoogian, Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem.

* 30th Anniversary Banquet on May 25 with sixty distinguished guests and friends. Speakers were: H.B. Archbishop Torkom Manoogian, Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem; Professor Menahem Magidor, President of the Hebrew University and Academician Georg Brutian, Vice-President of the Academy of Sciences of Armenia.

World Armenological organizations and Armenian national and ecclesiastical leaders conveyed greetings and congratulations.

* One day Hebrew language mini-conference on Armenians in Jerusalem and the Holy Land. Jointly sponsored by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the Ben Zvi Institute, held at the Ben Zvi Institute, Jerusalem: June 6, 1999. Some one hundred academics and members of the public attended.

Speakers were Prof. Michael Stone (Hebrew University); Prof. Zeev Rubin (Tel Aviv University); Mr. David Amit (Israel Antiquities Authority); and Dr. Nira Stone (Hebrew University).

* A 30 Years of Armenian Studies Celebratory Publication will be produced at the end of the Anniversary year in tribute to our achievements in Armenian Studies.

* A detailed Report of the Thirtieth Anniversary Events was sent to many friends and supporters, and is still available for anyone wishing to receive it. Simply write to us by e-mail at 30Years@h2.hum.huji.ac.il or by fax at 972-2-588-3658.

* Armenian Students Organization

In 1998-9 the Armenian Studies Program gave its support to the establishment of the Armenian Students Organization, chaired by Bedross Der Matossian. The Armenian Studies Program presented ASO members with special T-Shirts bearing the insignia of the ASO.

In addition to social activities, the ASO sponsored two public lectures in 1998-1999, staffed a table on Students' Open Day, set up an information booth to raise awareness of the Armenian Genocide in April, and provided logistical support to the Thirtieth Aniversary Conference in May. They intend to host another lecture in May, 2000.

The ASO is attempting to make links with other Armenian Student Organizations worldwide. They are using space on our website until they put together their own.

* Intensive Summer Course in Grabar (Ancient Armenian)

This is a new initiative, designed to be of service to Armenians world-wide.

If a minimum of twelve students enroll, the one month pilot course will be offered this summer through the Hebrew University's Rothberg School of Overseas Students. It will teach people who know modern Armenian, the fundamental grammar necessary to read texts in the ancient Armenian language (grabar).

Interest has been expressed by candidates from North America, Britain and Europe. We also expect participation by young members of the local Armenian community.

* Official Relations with Yerevan State University

At present negotiations, initiated jointly by Prof. M.E. Stone and Pro-Rector Raphael Mathevossian of YSU, are underway for the creation of an official agreement of co-operation between the two institutions.

* Our Own Publication Series

As of November, 1999, the Armenian Studies Program has its own publication series. We have taken over the former University of Pennsylvania Armenian Texts and Studies Series, which was edited by Professor M.E. Stone. He will continue as Editor of the re-named Hebrew University Armenian Studies series.

Volumes will be published by the distinguished Belgian house of Peeters Publishers in Leuven. The Editorial Board includes Professors Nina Garsoïan, Robert Kraft, Robert Thomson and M.E. Stone. Four books are currently being considered and further submissions are solicited.

* Book on the Armenians in the Holy Land

One of the volumes slated to appear in the new Hebrew University Armenian Studies series is the Proceedings of all the 30 Years conferences and symposia concerning the Armenians in the Holy Land. Editors will be R. Ervine, M.E. Stone and N. Stone.

* Publication of Seminar Papers

Three articles emerging from research done in the Seminar on Armenian Inscriptions given two years ago have appeared in print. They were written by Prof. M.E. Stone, with visiting scholar Dr. Th.M. van Lint (Leiden) and Julia Nazarjan, a graduate student in the Armenian Studies Program.

Four papers prepared by the students participating in Prof. M.E. Stone's Seminar on Armenian Manuscripts in the academic year 1998-1999 will be published in a scholarly journal. They are in the final stages of preparation for publication as these lines are written and form a group of mature scholarly articles presenting previously unpublished texts from Armenian manuscripts.

This unique integration of teaching with research and publication opens exciting vistas for future development, giving students hands-on experience and, at the same time, making a lasting contribution to the study of Armenian culture.

New Faculty Appointments and Honours

* Dr. Konstantine Lerner was granted tenure and the rank of Associate Professor.

* Dr. Nira Stone has become a member of the Armenian Studies Program. Previously she taught in the Department of Art History.

* Prof. M.E. Stone was made a member of the Scientific Committee of Patmabana-sirakan Hantes the premier Armenological journal published in Armenia by the National Academy of Sciences. The only other foreign members are Prof. J.-P. Mahé (Paris) and Prof. G. Bolognesi (Milan).

The Public Lecture Series in Armenian Studies

In 2000

* On February 29, 2000 H.B. Torkom Manoogian, Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem will lecture on "Komitas Vartabed's Genius through His Songs".

* On March 26, 20000 Professor James Russell, Mashtots Professor of Armenian Studies at Harvard University will lecture on "David of Sasun and the Armenian Epic Tradition" (in Armenian).

* In May, 2000 His Excellency Mr. Rezo , Ambassador of Georgia, will lecture on a topic relating to Georgian history.

In 1998-1999

* H.E. Mr. Vartan Oskanian, Foreign Minister of the Republic of Armenia on "Armenia's Position in the Caucasus"

* Dr. Brenda Shaffer on "Azerbaijan and Oil in the Caucasus"

* Dr. Adrian Parseghian on "Oral History and Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide."

Other lectures

* Dr. Roberta Ervine delivered a lecture on "The Armenian Church's Theology of Redemption" to the Colloquium on Interfaith Issues: Ideas of Redemption in Judaism, Christianity and Islam."

* Prof. M.E. Stone and Dr. N. Stone both lectured on Armenian themes at the Annual Meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature, held in Boston, MA in November. This meeting was attended by 9,000 participants. Prof. Stone also lectured at Harvard University on "The Album of Armenian Paleography".

Graduate Students and Research Visitors

Doctoral Theses in Preparation

Two students are writing doctoral theses in Armenian Studies: Noune Poghossian, on the Liturgical Music of the Armenian Church of Jerusalem and Marlen Eordigian, on the Relationship between the State of Israel and the Armenian Patriarchate 1948-1967.

Master's degree students

Rosanna Poghossian, Julia Nazarjan, and Yoav Loeff are pursuing master's degrees in Armenian Studies. In addition, Fr. Emmanuel Atajanian has started work on a MA in Religious Studies through the Rothberg School with a concentration in Armenian Studies.

Visiting Graduate Student

Sergio LaPorta is recipient of a prestigious Hebrew University Lady Davis Fellowship. He is spending the year in the Armenian Studies Program, while writing a doctoral thesis for Harvard University on The Book of Questions of Grigor Tat'ewac'i.

Research on Jerusalem's Armenian dialects

In Spring 1999 Dr. Bert Vaux of the Department of Linguistics, Harvard University, an expert on Armenian dialects, did an initial probe into the dialects of the Armenians of the Holy Land. We hope that this will lead to a recording of these dialects of Armenian, one of which is threatened with extinction.

Agreement has been reached in principle for this to be a joint project of the Israel Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia.

Library enrichment

Further development of library resources has gone on, though much remains to be done in this vital area and we labor under budgetary restrictions.

* Important books have been received under the exchange agreement with the Library of Congress.

* A number of gifts of books were received from individuals and scholars. A complete run of the Haigazian Armenological Review was presented to the Library.

* Visiting student Houri Hagopian is assisting in the cataloguing of works in Armenian, in order to get them onto the shelves more efficiently.

The matter of library facilities is particularly pressing this year, since the Gulbenkian Library of the Armenian Patriarchate is closed for renovation and will remain closed for some time.

Our Internet Site has been completely restructured.It is a rich source of historical and cultural information as well as of information on our programs. Special pages are devoted to the ancient Armenian mosaics discovered in Jerusalem, Armenian Art (under development) and other similar topics. Full information about the Armenian Program and its activities is posted there, including details of the 30 Years programs, and all press releases and other information. A page prepared by the students presents the Armenian Students' organization and it'swork.

The Webmistress is Dr. A. Pinnick. It is available at: http://unixware.mscc.huji.ac.il/~armenia.

Publicity Efforts

We now have a mailing list of Armenian Studies friends comprising several hundreds of academic institutions, representatives of the media, and individuals. These receive regular mailings concerning our activities.

Regular press-releases publicize the Armenian Studies Program's newest achievements.

To receive our mailings, just send your name and address to Armenian Studies, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Mount Scopus, Jerusalem 91905, Israel; Fax +972-2-588-3658; email: 30Years@h2.hum.huji.ac.il

Major funded research project on The Stories of Adam and Eve in Armenian Culture. Headed by Prof. M.E. Stone this project exhaustively traces the development of the Adam and Eve traditions throughout the history of Armenian literature.

Armenians in the Holy Land is an ongoing interest and covers several areas of inquiry

* Armenian Inscriptions in the Holy Land. Professor Stone continues his publications on this field.

* Dr. R. Ervine, Armenian Pilgrimage to Jerusalem in the 18th Century.

* Dr. R. Ervine has also been working on various aspects of the history of the Armenian Patriarchate in Jerusalem, including preparation for publication of the Diary of Patriarch Minas Amtec'i.

Problems of Semitic Tradition in Ancient Georgian Culture. Dr. Lerner's monographic study on the early Georgian Judaeo-Christian community is currently in press. He continues with further project on this theme.

Biblical Traditions in Armenian Culture.

Research in this area concerns both texts and iconography

* M.E. Stone, Further Armenian Apocryphal Texts from Manuscripts; Concordances of the Armenian Apocryphal Adam Literature.

* N. Stone, The Figure of Satan in Armenian Art.

* N. Stone, Apocryphal Stories reflected in Armenian Manuscript Illuminations.

* N. Stone, The Iconography of Paradise in Byzantine and Armenian Art.

Medieval Armenian Literature and Thought also covers several areas of interest

* M.E. Stone and N. Stone, The Unpublished Armenian Manuscripts of the Chester Beatty Library.

* R. Ervine, Vanakan Vardapet's Questions Relating to the Pentateuch

* K. Lerner, The Social Status of the Jewish Community in Georgia

* K. Lerner, An Hypothesis of the Typology of Language Movements

Books

* M.E. Stone and R. Ervine, The Armenian Fragments of Epiphanius' "de mensuris et ponderibus" is now in the hands of the editor, Prof. Bernard Coulie of Louvain-la-neuve.

* K. Lerner, The Conversion of Kartli; Translation, Comments, Introductions and Indexes, is in press in the Hebrew version at Magnes Press. The English version will go do press shortly.

* N. Stone, The Kaffa Lives of the Desert Fathers: A Study in Armenian Manuscript Illumination, CSCO, 566: Leuven: Peeters, 1997.

* M.E. Stone with G.A. Anderson, A Synopsis of the Books of Adam and Eve: New and Revised Edition, Scholars: Atlanta, 1999.

* M.E. Stone (Editor-in-Chief) with D. Kouymjian and H. Lehmann, Album of Armenian Paleography, Aarhus University Press (in Press)

* M.E. Stone and M.E. Shirinian, Pseudo-Zeno: Untitled Treatise, Introduction, Critical Edition, Translation, Commentary and Concordances, Brill: Leiden (due to appear any moment).

* M.E. Stone and G.A. Anderson, Studies in the Literature of Adam and Eve is currently being printed by Brill, Leiden.

* M.E. Stone and T.A. Bergren (eds.), Biblical Figures Outside the Bible. TPI: Harrisburg, 1999. This book was awarded a prize as the best popular book on a biblical theme.

Articles

* R. Ervine, "Vanakan Vardapet's Questions on Genesis: A Sounding," Sion

* K. Lerner, Hypothesis of the Typology of Language Movements (article in Russian), Voprosy.

* N. Stone,"The Transfiguration in Armenian Art," Shoghagat (Armenian Patriarchate of Istanbul) (in press).

* N. Stone, "Apocryphal Elements in Armenian Manuscript Illuminations," Apocryphes arméniens: transmission - traduction - création - iconographie. eds. C. Calzolari Bouvier, J.-D. Kaestli and B. Outtier. Prahins CH, Zèbre.

* M.E. Stone, "Adam, Eve and the Incarnation," St. Nersess Theological Review 2 (1997), 167-179.

* M.E. Stone with Th. van Lint and J. Nazarian, "Further Armenian Inscriptions from Nazareth," Revue des Etudes Arméniennes 26 (1996-7), 321-337.

* M.E. Stone with Th.M. van Lint, "Two Unnoticed Armenian Inscriptions from Noravank'," Revue des Etudes Arméniennes 26 (1996-7), 44-450.

* M.E. Stone, "The Oldest Armenian Pilgrim Inscription from Jerusalem," Sion: Bogharian Memorial Volume 71 (1997) 340-350

* M.E. Stone, "The Mixed Erkat'agir-Bolorgir Script in Armenian Manuscripts," Le Muséon 111 (1998), 293-317.

* M.E. Stone, 'The Document called "Question",' La diffusione dell'eredità classica nell'età tardoantica e medievale: Il "Romanzo di Alessandro" e altri scritti, ed. Rosa Bianca Finazzi, and Alfredo Valvo. Rome 1999 pp. 295-300.

* M.E. Stone with Th.M. van Lint, "More Armenian Inscriptions from Sinai," Eretz Israel: Cross Volume 29, 1999, 195*-203*

* M.E. Stone, "Two Armenian Manuscripts and the Hisoria Sacra," Apocryphes arméniens: transmission - traduction - création - iconographie. eds. C. Calzolari Bouvier, J.- D. Kaestli and B. Outtier. Prahins CH, Zèbre.

* M.E. Stone, "Why On Earth Study the Armenian Apocrypha?" Kraft FS

* M.E. Stone, "Some Further Armenian Angelological Texts," Gagik Sarkissian Festschrift (in press).

* M.E. Stone, "The Mount of the Transfiguration and Armenian Pilgrimage to the Galilee." Shoghakat' (in press).

* M.E. Stone, "The Armenian Inscriptions," Report on Excavations of the Third Wall, ed. D. Amit, and S. Wolf. Jerusalem: Israel Antiquities Authority.

* M.E. Stone, "The Reception of Jewish and Biblical Traditions among the Armenians," From Ararat to Jerusalem: Montpellier Conference Volume

* M.E. Stone, "The Bones of Adam and Eve," Nickelsberg FS

* M.E. Stone, "Another Manuscript of the Armenian Version of the Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs," Revue des Etudes Arméniennes.

Information on the Armenian program as well as on University admission is available on the Web: http://unixware.mscc.huji.ac.il/~armenia

Information can also be obtained from Professor Michael E. Stone, Department of India, Iran and Armenia, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel (stone@vms.huji.ac.il -- Fax: +972-2-588 3584).

University admission information is available from The Admissions Office, Rothberg School for Overseas Students, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Mt. Scopus, Jerusalem, Israel or on the University Web site: http://www.huji.ac.il

or from The American Friends of the Hebrew University, 11 East 69th Street, New York, NY 10021, USA.