The word “Matenadaran”, translated from Armenian, means “a place where manuscripts are kept.” Today, it is not only a world-renowned research institute but also one of the largest and most significant repositories of ancient manuscripts on the planet. Scholars here dedicate themselves to the study of age-old texts spanning many eras, while a museum on the premises welcomes curious visitors and travelers from around the globe.
Matenadaran’s history stretches back over many centuries. It was originally founded in the 5th century in Etchmiadzin, adjacent to the residence of the Supreme Patriarch of Armenia. Over time, the library steadily expanded as hundreds of manuscripts were collected, eventually becoming the world’s largest manuscript depository. Until 1828, the collection grew without systemization, awaiting a calmer era for cataloguing and scholarship. That moment arrived after Eastern Armenia became part of the Russian Empire—ushering in a period of relative peace, during which the collection was organized, catalogued, and systematically studied.
With the establishment of Soviet rule in Armenia, Matenadaran entered a new chapter. It was officially recognized as a scientific research institute. Work on the restoration and study of manuscripts continued in earnest, and a public museum was inaugurated to share these treasures with a wider audience.
The present-day building that houses Matenadaran was completed in 1957, designed in the traditional style of Armenian architecture. Dominating the square in front of the entrance stands a monument to Mesrop Mashtots, the revered scholar, philosopher, and creator of the Armenian alphabet.
The building’s façade also honors other illustrious figures of Armenian science and culture. There are statues of the historian Movses Khorenatsi (5th century), the mathematician Anania Shirakatsi (7th century), the jurist and fabulist Mkhitar Gosh (12th century), among others. Inside, the halls are adorned with murals portraying scenes of artisanal labor, religious traditions, and moments of cultural life.
Today, Matenadaran holds over 120,000 manuscripts and archival documents. While the majority are in Armenian, the collection also includes texts in Latin, Hebrew, Russian, Greek, Georgian, Persian, Japanese, and other languages. One of the most prized items is Armenia’s earliest known manuscript written on paper, dated 971, which contains the works of the physicist and astronomer Anania Shirakatsi. Equally revered are the “Book of Lamentations” by Grigor Narekatsi, dated 1173, and the “Lazarian Gospel”, dating back to 887.
Matenadaran is also home to both the largest and the smallest manuscripts in the world. The largest is the “Collection of Selected Homilies and Sermons” from 1202, with each page crafted from the hide of a single calf. The smallest, weighing only 19 grams, is a 15th-century explanatory calendar.
The museum features several exhibition halls. The main hall explores the medieval Armenian contributions to science and culture. In the Artsakh Manuscripts Hall, visitors can discover valuable pieces from the Artsakh school, including works from Cilicia, Crimea, and Constantinople. The Eastern Manuscripts Hall showcases Persian, Arabic, Ottoman, Afghan, and Uzbek documents, many of which center on religious and medical themes. As early as the 4th century, Armenia saw the establishment of hospitals and leprosariums, and by the 13th century, anatomical dissections were widespread. Armenian physicians and scholars meticulously documented these developments—manuscripts that remain preserved here.
A separate hall is devoted to medieval medical texts, and another to ancient cartography. In the Hall of Ancient Manuscripts, one can see a fossilized 5th-century manuscript. Buried in the 7th century for safekeeping, it was later unearthed—its pages cemented together by centuries of underground moisture.
A particularly engaging part of the museum is the virtual hall, where visitors can view documentaries about the Armenian alphabet, ongoing research at Matenadaran, and international television features on the institution.
Among the museum’s most remarkable treasures are two rare manuscripts, somewhat hidden from the casual visitor’s eye. Tucked away in a small gallery on the second floor, each manuscript lies in its own niche, accessible only through narrow, unassuming corridors. Despite signage pointing the way, during my visit, most guests simply walked past—unaware of the priceless relics just steps away.
These are no ordinary books. They are handwritten Gospels encased in silver, long believed to possess miraculous properties. In centuries past, they drew countless pilgrims who journeyed great distances in search of healing and redemption.
One of these sacred texts is the Shurishkan Gospel, which holds a special place in Armenian tradition. Each year, one week after Easter, it is ceremoniously carried out of the museum and taken to St. Gevorg Church, where a service is held in the presence of pilgrims.
The museum placard reads:
“The Shurishkan Gospel is one of Armenia’s miraculous Gospels, to which redemptive and protective powers have been attributed for centuries. People have made long pilgrimages to venerate it.”
The second manuscript, known as the Charsandjak Gospel, was created in Jerusalem in 1471. Sadly, the names of the scribe, artist, and patron remain unknown—adding to the mystery and reverence surrounding this exquisite piece of spiritual heritage.
On the ground floor of the Matenadaran, visitors are offered a rare and remarkable opportunity—to purchase the “Royal Elixir,” a medicinal potion prepared according to the time-honored secrets of medieval Armenian medicine. This elixir is based on recipes preserved in ancient Armenian manuscripts and revived by Dr. Armen Saakyan, a phytotherapist, senior research fellow at Matenadaran, and ordained deacon.
Crafted in strict adherence to the original formulas—once safeguarded in monastic secrecy—the elixir was originally developed for royalty. It was intended to strengthen the physical and mental well-being of kings and nobles, while also serving as a rejuvenating tonic to prolong youth and vitality.
In the past, the elixir was both created and preserved within monasteries, where its preparation was considered a sacred rite, accompanied by prayer and sacred chants. Today, the process begins within the hallowed walls of the Matenadaran. Once the elixir is blended, it is aged in oak barrels and, following ancient custom, transferred to the remote cave monastery of “The Hermit” in the Vayots Dzor province. There, under the solemn ambiance of mountain stone and candlelight, the barrels are blessed through church rites and special prayers, imbuing the elixir with spiritual depth.
The composition of the Royal Elixir is as extraordinary as its legacy. It includes a distillate from the fruit of Armenian hawthorn, combined with an intricate infusion of 54 wild mountain herbs and aromatic plants. Among these are ziziphora, globe-thistle, melissa, everlasting flower, hermit’s herb, spikenard of Jatamansi, Armenian mastic, saffron, oregano, German iris, calamus, myrtle, cubeb pepper, and many more. Adding to its potency and richness is a rare extract of Ararat cochineal and pure mountain honey. The meticulous crafting of this elixir is a slow and sacred process, taking as long as three full years to complete.
The Royal Elixir is more than a health tonic—it is a remedy steeped in tradition. It boosts immunity, balances metabolism, revitalizes the body, and improves the function of the cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, and nervous systems. It enhances one’s vitality and fortifies the body’s natural defenses against stress, fatigue, and restlessness. As medieval Armenian physicians once described it, the elixir “invigorates and gladdens the heart.”
The gathering and processing of these rare high-altitude herbs—sourced from elevations above 2,700 meters—are performed entirely by hand. This process follows a sacred calendar: harvesting takes place only on specific days of the lunar month, a practice believed to amplify the healing power of the ingredients, while also lending the elixir its singular aroma and exquisite taste.
Address: 53 Mesrop Mashtots Avenue, Yerevan, Armenia
Phone: +374 (10) 56-25-78
Opening Hours: Daily from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Closed on: Mondays, Sundays, and national holidays
Admission: 1,500 AMD
Guided Tours:
– Up to 10 people: 5,000 AMD
– Over 10 people: 7,000 AMD
Languages available: Russian, English, French, Spanish, Italian, German, Portuguese, Arabic, and Persian
Photography: 2,500 AMD (flash photography prohibited)
All prices as of February 2023.
