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The Mkhitarian or Mekhitarist Congregation, which held a unique place not only in the Armenian, nut also in the world culture, this year celebrates the 300th anniversary of establishing in Armenian Saint Lazarus Island in Venice. In order to raise awareness about the activities of Mkhitar Sebastatsi, as well as the Congregation, the administration of the Service for the Protection of Historical Environment and Cultural Museum-Reservations SNCO has initiated an exhibition dedicated to the Congregation, which will open at Zvartnots Historical-Cultural Museum-Reserve on September 21.

The religious, educational, scientific and cultural organization was founded by Mkhitar Sebastatsi at Constantinople in 1701. The Congregation found its way to Saint Lazarus Island in Venice in 1717, turning the island into a unique spiritual Armenia.

As the SNCO told Panorama.am, the preparations for the exhibition began at the beginning of this year. During a one-week business trip to Venice, Elmira Yesayan, head of the Department of Organization of Scientific-Methodological Work and Exhibition of the service, got acquitted with the rich and interesting archival materials on the Order.

In addition to this, Director of the Service Ara Tarverdyan met with the administration of Mkhitar Sebastatsi Educational Complex in Armenia, requesting to display some part of the rich archival collection of the complex, namely the declaration on the formation of the Order, prominent people who studied and worked there, original materials and personal items of foreign geniuses, etc, at the exhibition.