“Artziv Vaspurakani” (also known as Press of Varag Monastery) Printing Office

Turkey / Van / Van / Varag

Historical Introduction
1857 y․

“Artziv Vaspurakani” Press (also known as Press of Varag Monastery) - 1857 to 1864, 1872 to 1874, 1876, 1883, 1908, 1913. In 1857, in the first year of his assuming the post of Father Superior of Varag Monastery, Archimandrite Mkrtich Khrimian founded the first printing-house in Western Armenia there with “...a wooden press of 70,000 kuruses...” which he had brought from Constantinople. His goal was to start the publication of the “Artzvi Vaspurakan” [“Eagle of Vaspurakan”] magazine and encourage the Armenian nation with patriotic, historical, religious and poetic articles.”

Ծերուկ (Արտակ Դարբինյան), Վանի նահանգը ներկայումս, «Մուրճ», 1904, N 12, էջ 51): For information about the press, also see Բաբայան Ա., Հայ տպագրության 450 տարին, «ՊԲՀ», 1963, N 1, էջ 39. Archimandrite Mkrtich brought wooden and metallic presses from Constantinople (see Չիթունի Տ., Վարագայ յոբելեան. յիշատակարան եւ կոչ Վարագայ կրթական հաստատութեան յիսնամեայ յոբելեանի (1857-1907), Կ.Պոլիս, 1910, էջ 13). Abrahamian Emma, Printing-Houses Throughout the Armenian Homeland, in: "Vardzk", 2012, N 6, pp. 7-8.

1858 y․

The press, which was situated on the lower floor of the Patriarchate, started its activity in January 1858: it published not only the “Artzvi Vaspurakani” monthly, but also different books.

Abrahamian Emma, Printing-Houses Throughout the Armenian Homeland, in: "Vardzk", 2012, N 6, p. 8.

In one of the issues of this periodical, M. Khrimian explains the existence of printing drawbacks to his readers, particularly stating: “The press functions in a place where printing business has no traditions: its employees, the printers, smelters and typesetters, are young fellows with no experience... The printing machine is small in dimensions, whereas the work to be carried out is large in scale.”

Կոստանդյան Է., Մկրտիչ Խրիմյան. հասարակական-քաղաքական գործունեությունը, Երևան, 2000, էջ 66-67: Abrahamian Emma, Printing-Houses Throughout the Armenian Homeland, in: "Vardzk", 2012, N 6, p. 8.

1862 y․

In 1862 Archimandrite Mkrtich Khrimian was appointed Primate of Taron and Prior of Sourb Karapet (Holy Forerunner) Monastery of Moosh: “First and foremost he prepared one of the presses of Varag with its accessories to take it to Sourb Karapet Monastery... He consigned the continuation of the work in the printing-office to the brethren and leading pupils...”

Չիթունի Տ., Վարագայ յոբելեան. յիշատակարան եւ կոչ Վարագայ կրթական հաստատութեան յիսնամեայ յոբելեանի (1857-1907), Կ.Պոլիս, 1910, էջ 13: Abrahamian Emma, Printing-Houses Throughout the Armenian Homeland, in: "Vardzk", 2012, N 6, p. 8.

1864 y․

The press of Varag Monastery stopped functioning in the middle of 1864 and resumed its activity for a short time only in August 1872 working until 13 January 1873. The editor was Manuel Ananian, and the employees were Manuel Artamettsian, Tigran Amirjanian, S. Gnuny and others.

Տէր-Մկրտիչեան Ե., Գանձեր Վասպուրականի, հ. Ա, Պոսթոն, 1967, էջ 619: Abrahamian Emma, Printing-Houses Throughout the Armenian Homeland, in: "Vardzk", 2012, N 6, p. 8.

1884 y․

In 1884 the press was sealed on the order of the Turkish Government: “Itare Eminy, the Mufetish of Mearif, another Turkish official, Agha Margar Nalbandian and six policemen... first went to Varag Monastery and sealed its museum and press, after which they came to the central school...” In 1892 Governor of Van Bahri Pasha had the printing machine moved to Van by force and started the publication of the “Van” Turkish-language newspaper.

«Արձագանք», 1885, N 1, 9 յուլիսի, էջ 7: Վարդ (Գարեգին Սրվանձտյանց), Մի պտոյտ Վանի շրջակայքում, «Արաքս», 1898, Ա, էջ 61: Abrahamian Emma, Printing-Houses Throughout the Armenian Homeland, in: "Vardzk", 2012, N 6, p. 8.

An inhabitant of Van, P. Mekhikian, writes the following about the painful closing of the press: “Unfortunately, I do not remember the year: on an autumn day that was Sunday... the press of Varag and its accessories were slowly carried away to the city loaded on ox carts, covered so that they would not be seen, and surrounded with guards armed with bayonets. The Government was said to have made an agreement with our national organisations to “...provisionally borrow or rent” the press. ...Many people, especially the young, had tears in their eyes, their fists clenched tightly: they knew very well what was meant by saying ‘provisionally borrow or rent.’ They had come to look at the captured [press] for the last time... The press was placed in two large single-storey rooms close to the Government building in Kaghakamej: they started using it by publishing an eight-day Turkish-language newspaper of 4 pages named “Van”... I do not remember how long the Government used it or what happened to it in the long run, but I know that on the eve of the first war, a Turkish newspaper called “Van” was still published in the city.”

Մխիկեան Պ., Վարագայ տպարանի գերութիւնը, «Վարագ», 1954, N 4, էջ 21-22: Abrahamian Emma, Printing-Houses Throughout the Armenian Homeland, in: "Vardzk", 2012, N 6, p. 8.

A record of 1893 says the following about the removal of the printing machine of Varag to Van: “Some short while back the officials appeared and walked off with the precious instrument, of which the voice had been mute for many years. They erected it in Van, and, having kidnapped an Armenian compositor, used it to publish an official gazette.”

Armenia. Travels and Studies by H. F. B. Lynch, vol. 1, London, New York: Longmans, Green, and Co., 1901, p. 114. Abrahamian Emma, Printing-Houses Throughout the Armenian Homeland, in: "Vardzk", 2012, N 6, p. 8.

1908 y․

After the proclamation of the Turkish Constitution, in 1908, the press “...was returned to Varag...when the aforementioned Turkish newspaper ceased being published ...the Turkish authorities returned the press and moulds bound to the brethren of Varag. The overseer of the monastery, Mr. Petros, ordered the shepherds to immediately go down to the city with a cart harnessed by enduring oxen. The books bound by the press were moved to Varag loaded on carts of oxen under a shower of happy greetings and songs.”

Տէր-Մկրտիչեան Ե., Գանձեր Վասպուրականի, հ. Ա, Պոսթոն, 1967, էջ 620: Abrahamian Emma, Printing-Houses Throughout the Armenian Homeland, in: "Vardzk", 2012, N 6, p. 8.

1908 y․

In the same year, the teachers of Varag Monastery started publishing the “Artzvik” biweekly with a hectograph, but it continued for only 3 months.

Տէր-Մկրտիչեան Ե., Գանձեր Վասպուրականի, հ. Ա, Պոսթոն, 1967, էջ 622: Abrahamian Emma, Printing-Houses Throughout the Armenian Homeland, in: "Vardzk", 2012, N 6, p. 9.

1910 y․

The Union of the Alumni of Varag, which was founded in 1910, wanted “...to reopen the press of our Artziv Hayrik [in the same year] to perpetuate his memory for ever.”

They meant Mkrtich Khrimian, whom they regarded as their father (hayrik is the Armenian equivalent for father). Artziv is the Armenian equivalent for eagle: by calling him in this way, they emphasized his boundless energy and courage (translator). Պօղոսեան Ե., Պատմութիւն Հայ մշակութային ընկերութիւններու, հ. Բ, Վիեննա, 1963, էջ 33: Also see «Յառաջ», Կարին, 1910, N 49: Abrahamian Emma, Printing-Houses Throughout the Armenian Homeland, in: "Vardzk", 2012, N 6, p. 9.

The activity of the press finally terminated in the days of the Great Genocide of the Armenians (1915): “We also saw the press of the “Arztvi Vaspurakan”: a hand press now ruined and thrown aside...”

«Հովիտ», 1915, N 39, էջ 609: The casting machine of Varag Monastery was moved to Echmiatzin and used in the 1 st Printing House of Yerevan in the Soviet years. Since 1960 it has been kept in Yerevan History Museum. Abrahamian Emma, Printing-Houses Throughout the Armenian Homeland, in: "Vardzk", 2012, N 6, p. 9.

Type Photo
View Exterior
Source Black-and-white negative
Date 1889 y․

Mkrtich Khrimian in 1889

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Reprint
Source Black-and-white negative

Mr. Petros as leaning on the press of the “Artzvi Vaspurakani”: reprinted from: Փափազեան Վ., Իմ յուշերը, հ. Բ, Պէյրութ, 1952, էջ 293.