Carl and Emma Soghoyan Manuscript Gallery Opened in the Alex and Marie Manoogian Treasury House Museum of the Mother See
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Information Services – 10/3/13
On September 30, the opening ceremony was held for the Carl and Emma Soghoyan Manuscript Gallery in the Alex and Marie Manoogian Treasury House Museum of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, presided over the opening of the gallery.
Mrs. Emma Soghoyan, benefactor of the Mother See, donated twenty-two illuminated manuscripts and the first printed Armenian Bible, to the Mother See of Etchmiadzin in memory of her departed husband Mr. Carl Soghoyan.
Following the Lord’s Prayer and the singing of the hymns, Mrs. Soghoyan cut the ribbon at the gallery entrance. Led by His Holiness, the guests entered the newly opened gallery.
Rev. Fr. Asoghik Karapetyan, Director of the Museums and Archives of the Mother See, gave opening remarks on this occasion. “Today these manuscripts are put on display in the Holy Etchmiadzin so that as a relic and silent supporter, each single manuscript continues to advocate for this family, especially for peace of the soul of Mr. Carl Soghoyan, and for radiant life to Mrs. Emma Soghoyan”. Father Asoghik also expressed his gratitude to the Catholicos of All Armenians for carefully gathering the treasured relics of Armenian culture that are dispersed around the world, and housing them under the roof of the Mother See.
Mrs. Emma Soghoyan spoke, and shared her positive emotions and excitement with the guests. At the conclusion of the ceremony, His Holiness Karekin II offered his blessings to Mrs. Soghoyan. “We are extremely appreciative that the Lord sends us such honourable children, who with devoted spirit and love, donate our meticulously created spiritual works, to be shared as national treasures”. His Holiness Karekin II also highlighted that the dream of the Armenian benefactor has come true, and the manuscripts, collected over decades, would be properly presented to both Armenians and foreigners under the sanctuary of the Mother See.
Expressing his appreciation to the Soghoyan family once more, the Catholicos of All Armenians wished that the blessings, mercy and abundant graces of God fill the lives of the Armenian people, supporting the nation and leading it to a peaceful and prosperous life.
Displayed in the newly opened gallery, next to the donated manuscript scriptures are also exceptional documents from the archives of the Mother See, including secret papers from the Patriarch of Constantinople, Archbishop Zaven Yeghiayan, regarding the Armenian Genocide as well as his letter to Catholicos Gevorg V, which declared April 24 as the commemoration day of the Armenian Genocide.
