Gladzor University

Gladzor University Historical and Cultural Reserve-Museum is located in the village of Vernashen, Vayots Dzor Region, Republic of Armenia. The exhibition of the reserve-museum, which is organized by Vernasheni st. Hakob Church, and is completed by the inclusion of the Tanahat monastery complex. It is dedicated to the history of the foundation of the university, its activities, its role and significance in the spiritual, scientific, and social life of medieval Armenia. XIII-XIV centuries. belonging to this famous Armenian educational center was the center of development of religious, socio-political, philosophical, and creative thought of the time, which was called by contemporaries "The Second Athens of Art", "The Capital of Wisdom", "The Famous University". Famous Armenian intellectuals of the time, Nerses Mshetsi, Yesai Nchetsi, Hovhannes Orbel, Mkhitar Sasnetsi, Stepanos Tarsayich, Hovhanes Vorotnetsi, Khachatur Kecharetsi, Toros Taronatsi, Avag, Momik and others received their higher education, worked and created here.

Renowned scientists, Gh. Alishan, G. Hovsepyan, L. Khachikyan, A. Movsisyan, A. Avetisyan, L. Khacheryan, P. Antabyan, Em. Pivazyan, S. Barkhudaryan, A. Abrahamyan, A. Matevosyan, I. Caribbean. 1970-1971 On the initiative of the Chair of Archaeology, Source Studies and Ethnography of Yerevan State University and I. Under Gharibyan's leadership, excavations were carried out at St. Vayots Dzor. In the vicinity of the Stepanos Monastery, during which the traces of Gladzoryan University were discovered.

Gladzor is mentioned as "Athenian slanderer" by Matthew the pen in the manuscript of the years 1283-1284 (No. 571 of the library of the Mkhitaryan Congregation of Vienna). However, in a number of references, the foundation of the educational center is linked to 1279-1281. coincided with the founding of Tanahat (1279), and also with the year when the first teacher of the university, Nerses Mshetsu, moved from the Msho Arakelots Monastery and founded the Gladzorian educational center (1280).

In 1984 on an international scale and by the decision of the government of the Armenian SSR, the Tanhat monastery complex was restored and the 700th anniversary of the founding of Gladzor University was celebrated with great solemnity. A number of Vayots Dzor monuments were also restored and improved within the framework of the anniversary events. In 1984 Among the jubilee events, Vernashen St. The museum dedicated to Gladzor University was founded in Hakob Church, and its 25th anniversary was celebrated in 2009. in October. It was in 2003. has been a branch of the "Historical-Cultural Reserve-Museums and Historic Environment Protection Service" SNOC.

The museum carries out preservation, study and popularization of historical and cultural monuments, cultural values related to the activities of the university located in the territory of the reserve-museum. More than 250 exhibits are presented in the museum exhibition. The latter provide an opportunity to form a complete understanding of the prerequisites for the establishment of the university, the cultural values and contributions left behind, and their current significance. The museum hosts thousands of visitors every year, for whom the spiritual heritage of the university is also interpreted in foreign languages (Russian, English). The works of establishing and popularizing the significance of the medieval scientific and educational center are also organized by conducting purely educational programs, which are actively attended by schoolchildren of different ages of the region. The reserve-museum is also one of the popular educational and cultural, concert, jubilee events and tourist attractions of Vayots Dzor.

Photo By: Cosmo Deus