The launching of the 37th volume of the Haigazian Armenological Review

An Armenological Repository

Today more than ever Armenians are dispersed, and there are institutions and units of varying organizational capacity in some 120 countries. Due to their worldwide dispersal, as well as globalization and other factors, Armenians are involved in an unprecedented manner in international economic, political, cultural, artistic, social, scientific, communications and state affairs around the world.

Therefore, today more then ever, it is impotant to amalgamate, systematize and categorize the increasingly diverse and scattered creative output of the Armenian people.

For instance, one may mention the fact that today in some 50 countries Armenian-language and/or Armenian-related books are being published. But these publications do not have a common gathering place where one can search and choose the book one likes.

To be more specific, many books are being published in different places in the field of Armenian studies. Research centers organize conferences and publish their proceedings. Periodicals of Armenology and other fields publish a large number of research papers and archival materials on Armenian-related matters. Several Armenian studies topics have attracted renewed interest. Both the number of non-Armenian experts and the languages in which they write their Armenian-related papers have increased. Interdisciplinary communication is more than ever diverse and easy. Armenian studies have become multidisciplinary. The sphere of Armenian studies is growing horizontally more than vertically.

These developments, however, have not resolved some old concerns of Armenian studies. Rather, they have added new challenges to existing difficulties and raised new issues, creating further complications. For instance, today it is hard to accumulate adequate, comprehensive information and knowledge on any particular Armenian topic that has previously been researched. Existing bibliographies of periodicals and books, as well as archival lists, are localized and at times partial, and thus are far from being complete and all-encompassing. Current researchers have access only to incomplete information on the sources that exist on specific topics, and when, where and by whom they have been published.

Today, when technological and methodological innovations enable Armenian studies to flourish and help to elevate the field to a qualitatively new level, the existence of an online Armenian studies repository, where all kinds of published materials — books, articles, review papers, research and archival materials — will be stored and categorized, is more than ever essential.

Discussion of the details of this Armemonological repository seems of secondary importance at this stage. What is of utmost importance, however, is its immediate initiation with pan-Armenian support and efforts, through the active participation of academic, research, and cultural institutions of the Diaspora and the Republic of Armenia.

In the 18^th century, Armenian studies made an important contribution to the development of Armenian self-perception, national identity and the reconstruction of the Armenian character. These developments and the Armenian revival that they triggered were mainly due to the efforts of the Mekhitarist congregation, who alongside other tasks, gathered Armenian sources and studied them in a coordinated manner. In the second half of the 20^th century, the Armenian National Academy of Sciences and the Matenadaran in particular deepened and systematized the study of Armenological topics, elevating the discipline to new heights. Indeed, Armenian studies became a strong factor impacting and orienting national life .

Today, Armenian studies should give new impetus to Armenian spiritual and cultural revival, and once again play a significant role in the development of a pan-national psychology, the consolidation of national unity, and the strenghtening of national commitment to a titular nation.

The gathering and systematic classification of Armenian studies materials were the main objective factors that triggered the advancement of Armenian studies with new strength and power in the past. There is no doubt that assembling all Armenian studies materials on an online platform will not only preserve their legacy but will also generate renewed interest in and further growth of the field.

All should support efforts to ensure the realization of the Armenological repository, and its successful use, growth and sustainability.

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

The Very Rev. Father Antranik Granian

EDTORIAL BOARD

Antranik Dakessian (executive secretary) – Arda Ekmekji (ex-officio) – Arshalouyse Topalian – Armen Urneshlian – Nanor Karageozian (ex-officio)

CONSULTATIVE BODY

Sylvia Agemian – Megerditch H. Bouldoukian – Seta B. Dadoyan – Murad Hasratian – Hranush Kharatian – Susan Pattie – Jirayr Tanielian – Hratch Tchilingirian – Yervand Yerkanian

Representative in Armenia

Artsvi Bakhchinyan