The History of Armenian Printing

Armenia is a country with a rich and ancient culture, and one of its most remarkable achievements is the development of printing. Printing is the process of reproducing text and images using a device that applies ink or another substance to a surface, such as paper or cloth. Printing allows for the preservation and dissemination of knowledge, literature, and art, and has played a vital role in the history of civilization.

The history of Armenian printing dates back to the early 16th century, when the first Armenian book was printed in Venice, Italy. The book was called “Urbatagirq” (The Book of Fridays), and it was a collection of prayers and hymns for the Armenian Apostolic Church. The book was printed by Hakob Meghapart, an Armenian who had learned the art of printing from the Venetians. Meghapart is considered the father of Armenian printing, and his book is the oldest surviving printed book in any Oriental language.

The first Armenian Bible was printed in 1666 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The Bible was called “Astvadzashounch” (The Breath of God), and it was a monumental work that took 17 years to complete. The Bible was printed by Voskan Yerevantsi, an Armenian archbishop who had traveled to Europe to seek financial and political support for the Armenian people, who were suffering under the Ottoman Empire. Yerevantsi collected and edited various manuscripts of the Armenian scriptures, and supervised the printing of the Bible, which consisted of six volumes and over 3,000 pages.

The first Armenian press was established in 1567 by an Armenian named Abgar Tokhatetsi, who was also educated in Venice. The press was located in the St. Nicholas Church near Yenikapi, Istanbul, which was then the capital of the Ottoman Empire. The press operated under the protection of the Armenian Patriarchate, and produced many religious and secular books in Armenian, as well as in Turkish, Greek, and Arabic. The press was the first of its kind in the Ottoman Empire, and preceded the first Greek press, which started in 1627, by 60 years.

The history of Armenian printing is a testament to the ingenuity, perseverance, and creativity of the Armenian people, who have contributed to the advancement of culture and civilization throughout the centuries. Armenian printing is also a symbol of the Armenian identity, which has survived despite the challenges of oppression, persecution, and genocide. Today, Armenian printing continues to flourish, both in Armenia and in the diaspora, and serves as a bridge between the past and the future of the Armenian nation.

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