St. George School :: ARMENIAN HISTORICAL MONUMENTS

St. George School 1866 y․

Azerbaijan / Northern Artsakh / Dashkesan / Pib

Historical Introduction
1866 y․

Pib was one of the first villages in Northern Artsakh to open a school. The available archive documents are not unanimous in mentioning the date of its foundation: thus, according to one of them, in 1866 it had 88 pupils.

“Meghu Hayastani,” 1878, No. 25, p. 3.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 209.210.

1915 y․

Another states that in 1915 the institution boasted 43-year-long existence, which suggests that it had opened in 1872.

National Archives of Armenia, fund 56, list 18, file 1062, p. 1.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 210.

1875 y․

According to a reference-book of 1878, in 1875 “…it is already three years since its Gevorgian School started functioning…”

“Meghu Hayastani,” 1878, No. 25, p. 3.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 210.

1876 y․

As alleged in a record, “The village school was established on 15 April 1876, when Mr. Alexandre Araratiants commenced delivering lectures there at my invitation…”

“Meghu Hayastani,” 1879, No. 46, p. 3.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 210.

1877 y․

Two inscriptions carved on the walls of the institution attest that it was founded in 1877 (fortunately, Priest Hovhannes Khojayants put them down in 1904).

National Archives of Armenia, fund 56, list 15, file 571, p. 20.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 210.

1876 — 1878 yy․

The period between 1876 and 1878 marked true bloom and prosperity for the school. Alexandre Araratiants, a graduate of Tiflis’ Nersissian School who taught there at that time, enjoyed respect and popularity both among the pupils and villagers. Diocese Inspector H. Ter-Hovhannissian, who visited all the schools within that bishopric, was particularly pleased with the educational level of Pib’s schoolchildren.

“Mankavarzhakan Tert,” Tiflis, 1878-1879, pp. 12-13.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 210.

1877 y․

The institution was established in 1877 through the income received from the estates of Charek Monastery (its pupils had their lessons in a private house before that). Its building, which was completed in 1878, consisted of four rooms.

National Archives of Armenia, fund 35, list 1, file 364, p. 11, 34.
“Meghu Hayastani,” 1883, No. 18, p. 4.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 210.

1877 y․

The school was known by the name of St. Gevorgian between 1877 and 1878.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 210.

1879 — 1880 yy․

It remained closed from 1879 till 1880: “When teacher Alexandre Araratiants refused to continue working in Pib Village, the school closed and did not function for two years, since Diocese Inspector Mr. Barkhudariants did not condescend to approve the candidacy of the teacher the local inhabitants had put forward. This year, however, the people themselves have appointed a teacher there, realizing that they should not have relied on that official.”

“Meghu Hayastani,” 1881, No. 120, p. 2.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 210.

1883 y․

Beginning with 1883, the spiritual authorities ordered that Charek Monastery allocate an annual allowance of 100 rubles to Pib’s school.

National Archives of Armenia, fund 35, list 1, file 500, p. 2.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 210.

1885 y․

Sharing the fate of the other Armenian educational institutions in the Russian Empire, it closed on the order of the Tsarist authorities in 1885.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 210.

1888 y․

In 1888 Catholicos Makar I issued a bull approving the candidacy of Vahan Grigorian, Priest Petros Sargissian and verger Michael Gulumiants as the trustees of Pib’s parish school.

“Ararat,” 1888, p. 129.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 210.

1896 y․

In 1896 classes were again interrupted there on the order of the Tsarist authorities and resumed only in 1906 (the school is mentioned as having a library at that time).

National Archives of Armenia, fund 35, list 1, file 364, pp. 2, 16.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 211.

Comparing the number of the local population with that of the pupils, we reveal that the majority of children of school age did not attend classes. With some other reasons put aside, they were unable to receive education due to their involvement in agricultural work. The pupils’ number varied from season to season: “In winter they amount to about 120, but beginning with May, their number is gradually reduced to 20.”

“Meghu Hayastani,” 1878, No. 25, p. 3.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 211.

1915 y․

In the school year of 1915/1916, Echmiatzin Synod allocated an allowance of 100 rubles to the institution from the General Fund of Parish Schools.

“Ararat,” 1916, p. 13.
Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 211.

Inscription, Armenian, Construction 1877 y․

Engraved on the south-eastern wall of the school:
Pib’s St. Gevorgian School was built in 1877 through the efforts and means of the local inhabitants and the financial assistance of Prior of Charek Cloister Archimandrite Astvatzatur Ter-Harutiunian from Seghnakh.
Reference: National Archives of Armenia, fund ä461, list 1, file 9, p. 187.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 210.

Inscription, Armenian, Construction 1877 y․

Incised into one of the school walls:
This school was built in the days of inspector Movses Yepiskopossian and teacher Alexandre Araratian in 1877.
Reference: National Archives of Armenia, fund ä461, list 1, file 9, p. 187.

Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 210.

Below follows a chronology of the activity of Pib’s parish school:

Dates	Schoolgirls	Schoolboys	Teachers	Notes	Source
1866		88			National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3848, p. 115. In: Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 211.
1876		30	1	Functioned as a male school	National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3850, p. 52; fund 56, list 3, file 62, p. 46. In: Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 211.
1877		95	1	St. Gevorgian	National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3850, p. 130. In: Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 211.
1878				Reopened	Khudoyan, S. The East Armenian Schools between 1830 and 1920. Yerevan, 1987, p. 482. In: Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 211.
1878		93	1	St. Gevorgian	National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3850, p. 178. In: Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 211.
1882		65	2		Khudoyan, S. The East Armenian Schools between 1830 and 1920. Yerevan, 1987, p. 482. In: Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 211.
1883				Functioning	National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 500, p. 2. In: Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 211.
1890		58			National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3887, p. 151. In: Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 211.
1890		54			Khudoyan, S. The East Armenian Schools between 1830 and 1920. Yerevan, 1987, p. 482. In: Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 211.
1891		60			National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3889, p. 150. In: Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 211.
1892		52			National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3891, p. 122; fund 56, list 15, file 11, pp. 12-13. In: Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 211.
1893				Functioning	National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3895, pp. 126-127. In: Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 211.
1894		58	1		National Archives of Armenia, fund 53, list 1, file 3895, p. 99; file 3896, pp. 34, 175-176. In: Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 211.
1906	28	59		Reopened on 15 September as a one-year school of 4 classes. Another archive document mentions 1907 as the year of the school’s reopening (National Archives of Armenia, fund 56, list 15, file 571, p. 20).	National Archives of Armenia, fund 35, list 1, file 207, p. 19. In: Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 211.
1907				Functioned as a one-year male school	National Archives of Armenia, fund 35, list 1, file 285, p. 2. In: Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 211.
1909	37	61	2	Unisex	National Archives of Armenia, fund 57, list 2, file 1849, p. 17. In: Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 211.
1910				Functioned as a uni sex school	National Archives of Armenia, fund 35, list 1, file 605, p. 4. In: Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 211.
1911	47	60	2		National Archives of Armenia, fund 35, list 1, file 682, p. 57. In: Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 211.
1911/12	14	76		Galust Mamikonian, Yermonia Yeghian Functioned as a four- year school.	National Archives of Armenia, fund 56, list 15, file 571, p. 20. In: Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 211.
1912				Functioning	National Archives of Armenia, fund 35, list 1, file 718, p. 2. In: Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 211.
1914		75	2		Khudoyan, S. The East Armenian Schools between 1830 and 1920. Yerevan, 1987, p. 482. In: Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 211.
1915				Functioning. The building was in need of repairs	National Archives of Armenia, fund 56, list 6, file 1062, p. 1. In: Karapetian, Samvel. Northern Artsakh, Yerevan, 2007, p. 211.