On the evening of July 19, at the initiative of the Perio Krtasirats Educational Union of Tehran, the Shaghoulian Hall (adjunct to the Holy Translators Church in Tehran) hosted the presentation of Stepanos Yerets’s history book called “Hangitagirq” (Encyclopedic Book).

Hayern Aysor, citing Tehran’s Alik Daily, reports that this monumental book is based on the manuscript book by Stepanos Yerets that is maintained in the manuscript section of the depository of the Holy Savior Monastery in New Julfa.

This is a long-anticipated book that was written in 1787-89 through the efforts of Stepanos Yerets in the once Armenian-populated Hazarjrib village of Perio colony in the Isfahan region of Iran.

The book was released through the efforts of the Perio Krtasirats Educational Union of Tehran, and unquestionably, the publication would not be made possible without benefactors who didn’t spare any resources since they were well aware of the historical significance of the book.

The Union’s board vice-chairman Melina Mangasarian delivered her opening remarks at the event.

Afterwards, the book’s publisher Gaspar Amirkhanian briefly presented the story behind the book and stressed that the book was published with the recommendation of the Institute of Ancient Manuscripts (Matenadaran) of the Republic of Armenia and was released by Alik Institution. After his speech, Amirkhanian gave the floor to the translator, literary critic Garoun Sarkisian, who presented the book in general. Afterwards, the video messages of the book’s translators (scientific workers of the Institute of Ancient Manuscripts of Yerevan T. Minasyan, L. Tumanyan and H. Kirakosyan) were shown.

Afterwards, the translators called Hranush Sargsyan, who read excerpts from Stepanos Yerets’s book.

Editor-in-chief of Alik Armenian Daily Derenik Melikian was called to the stage to talk about the initiative. In his speech, he stated that Armenians have been valuing manuscripts for centuries and recalled that the manuscripts stolen from Armenians and put on sale in the markets of Atrapatakan 100 years ago were purchased by Armenian intellectuals and transported to Etchmiadzin. “This is how we Armenians valued our historic values, and the publication of such a book is part of the thousands of manuscript books being kept in Etchmiadzin and the Institute of Ancient Manuscripts after Mesrop Mashtots (Matenadaran),” Melikian stated.

The Council of the Armenian Diocese of New Julfa (Isfahan) was represented by member of the Council Sonik Baghoomian, who was granted a memento/certificate of appreciation as a token of appreciation and expressed her words of gratitude.

At the end, Primate of the Armenian Diocese of Tehran, Fr. Archbishop Sepuh Sarkisian was called to the stage to grant mementos to the benefactors and talk about the occasion.

His Holiness blessed the copy of the book and granted the mementos. In his speech, he appreciated the book as an exceptional work and indicate the importance of protecting the manuscript book and the legacy left by the religious figure and considered it a part of heritage.

A reception was hosted for the attendees in the churchyard after the event.

Let us mention that among the other attendees were Iranian-Armenian Deputies of the Mejlis of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Dr. Karen Khanlarian and Zhorzhik Abrahamian; Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Armenia to the Islamic Republic of Iran Artashes Tumanyan; political council member of the National Central Committee of the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia Vartan Vartanian; academician Mkrtich Tumanian; Vicar, Fr. Bishop Makar Ashgarian; Chairman of the Council of Delegates of the Armenian Diocese of Tehran Joseph Mehrabian; member of the Council of the Armenian Diocese of Tehran Serozh Matteosian and manager of Alik Armenian Daily Ara Shahnazarian.

Members of sport and cultural unions and intellectuals were also attending the event.