Treasures of Istanbul Armenian church revealed by US professors

Two professors from the United States have published a book on 18th and 19th century textile treasures held by the Istanbul Armenian Orthodox Church.

Acccording to Hurriyet Daily News & Economic Review, Archaeology Professor Ronald T Marchese and Textile Professor Marlen R Breu published the book after 10 years of in-depth research of the archives and repositories of the church with special permission from Patriarch Mesrop II.

‘The materials that appear in the book have never been studied before,’ said Marchese.

The Turkish Armenian Patriarchate opened its doors to the professors in 1998. The two researchers then spent the next decade examining and cataloguing many of the church’s artifacts, mostly from the 18th and 19th century though some were over 300 years old. Mesrop II, who has been fighting dementia since 2007, authorized the professors to carry out the inaugural study of the church’s textile treasures.

Marchese and Breu studied a variety of materials from holy books with priceless stones to caftans worn by patriarchs, and from golden brocaded clothes devoted to churches by women, to icons and slippers worn by priests.

This thorough, comprehensive research has been published in a book titled “Splendor and Pageantry – Textile Treasures from the Armenian Orthodox Churches of Istanbul.” The book, in English and Turkish, includes color photos of many of the treasures.

Speaking to the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review in an e-mail interview, Marchese said they started work in 1998 and examined hundreds of textile artifacts. “Many pieces used today were made more than 200 years ago, some older than 300 years. Such pieces were donated by Armenians of the past and then blessed to become gifts to the glorification of Church and God.”

Breu said the work was significant because the artifacts had never before studied before or written about. “The older pieces are very important. The reason there are few older objects is the numerous fires, the breaking down of textiles over time, especially if they are used, and other factors. For this reason, our focus in the book is largely on 18th and 19th century artifacts.”