YEREVAN, DECEMBER 9, ARMENPRESS:

The restoration and preservation of ancient Armenian manuscripts – the invaluable wealth of the Armenian people – are extremely important. Armenpress news agency spoke with the Head of Restoration Department of Matenadaran Gayane Eliazyan about the importance and difficulties connected with the restoration process of the ancient manuscripts of the Mesrop Mashtots Institute of Ancient Manuscripts.

- Mrs Eliazyan, how do you select the manuscripts, documents that should be restored?

- It will be wrong to speak about concrete time in restoration processes as manuscripts dating back to 5^th century are being kept in Matenadaran. Each manuscript is special and the selection is being made with the united efforts of the staff. First the material is being selected, brought to the department for restoration and preservation. We highly rate the scientific restoration. In medieval times ignorant people were restoring the works who were mainly concerned with the preservation of the appearance and the issue was limited to it. Now the issue is deeper and more serious. Preservation has become a serious and deep science and it is necessary to know it, if not, the material will be greatly harmed. Here it is necessary to follow the adopted rules.

- Are there relevant specialists in Armenia?

- We have a big privilege in this sphere – 52 years of experience, though there is always a need of good specialists.  The work we are implementing is highly competitive though we do not have relevant restoration school or university.

- What will you say about technical upgrading of Matenadaran?

- Previously the situation was rather sad, but fortunately, the situation changed when the Government of Japan provided quite serious devices to Matenadaran. Now though, there is a need of new ones. As of the moment, we are going to sign agreements with a number of well-known companies.

- Were there case when manuscripts have been sent abroad for restoration?

- There were no such cases. We are always trying to do it with our own forces as there are a number of institutions which very often do not want to take responsibility. And besides, there was not a case when we harmed it.

- How many manuscripts kept in Matenadaran need to be restored?

- Matenadaran is not only a museum, it is a scientific-research institute. All the manuscripts here are being studied, sent to reading halls, digitalized. So, we always have materials that need to be restored or treated. Restoration is incessant process.

- How much time is it necessary to restore a manuscript?

- It is difficult to say. We have just finished restoration of well-known Gospel of Melitene of 1057. Four specialists worked on it for 3 years. It depends on material, degree of damage.