Unknown Heroines of Mush

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Unknown Heroines of Mush

 

http://massispost.com/archives/8888

Updated: June 25, 2013

 

By Joseph Dagdigian

 

In Venice, in 1512, manuscript lover Hagop Meghapart printed the first

Armenian book, the Urbatagirk prayer book, giving birth to the art of

Armenian printing. Prior to this Armenian manuscripts were laboriously

hand written, copied, and illustrated by scribes. Last year, 2012,

Armenians celebrated the 500th anniversary of Armenian printing with a

number of events. One of these events was the establishment of a

monument commemorating the heroic rescue of the Msho Jarntir, Homilies

of Mush, manuscript in Armenia's capital of Yerevan.

 

During the 1915 Genocide of the Armenians, Turkey not only was intent

on destroying the Armenian population in Western Armenia, it also

attempted to erase from the Turkish occupied Armenian homeland any

remnants of Armenian civilization - including cultural monuments,

libraries, monasteries, and manuscripts. Two women, both from Mush,

whose names as far as I know are unknown, determined that a priceless

Armenian manuscript which they found in the ruins of Mush's Surb

Arakelots Monastery must be rescued. The manuscript was huge, 22

inches wide and 27 inches long, weighing 61 pounds. The women divided

the manuscript into two parts, each endeavoring to transport their

half to the relative safety of Eastern (Caucasian) Armenia. Probably

not knowing if they, their families, Mush, or even Armenia would

survive the horrors of the Genocide, they determined that this

religious, cultural, and literary treasure must live to see another

day. It is not even known if these women were literate. This book was

and is a part of Armenia's cultural heritage. One woman succeeded in

delivering her half of the book to Holy Echmiadzin. The other woman

did not survive her journey. Reaching Erzurum, she buried her half of

the manuscript in a monastery there, and subsequently died. Later a

Russian soldier found this half of the book and ultimately both halves

of the book were reunited in Armenia's manuscript repository, the

Matenadaran, in Yerevan.

 

In the Matenadaran's display room the Msho Jarntir - Homilies of Mush,

the largest manuscript in the Matenadaran's collection, is on display

next to the smallest manuscript in the Matenadaran's collection. These

and numerous other ancient manuscripts may be viewed by visitors, and

photographed (without flash) for a small fee.

 

The monument commemorating the rescue of the Homilies of Mush may be

seen on the greenway near the intersection of Teryan and Moskovyan

streets in Yerevan. The monument depicts the Msho Jarntir and two

women rescuers.

 

A homily is a story or sermon intended to set a moral example without

delving into detailed religious or theological issues. The Homilies of

Mush was written in the Avag Monastery in Yerzinga, Western Armenia,

around 1200-1202. It was commissioned by a man named Astavatsadur,

perhaps a wealthy merchant, who was killed during the Mongol - Tatar

invasion of Armenia. Through a series of events the manuscript ended

up in Mush. It miraculously survived the Genocide, and was rescued by

two women - cultural heroes of Armenia.