Mekhitarist Monastery, Vienna
The Mekhitarist Monastery of Vienna (German: Wiener Mechitaristenkloster;[5] Armenian: Վիեննայի Մխիթարեան վանք, Viennayi Mkhit′arean vank′) is one of the two monasteries of the Armenian Catholic Mekhitarist (Mechitharist) Congregation, located in Vienna, Austria. The main center of the order is located in San Lazzaro degli Armeni, Venice, from which the Vienna branch broke off in 1773. The branch initially settled in Trieste, but moved to Vienna in 1805. After centuries of separation, the two branches of Vienna and Venice united in 2000. The Monastery of Vienna was declared their primary abbey.[6] Until the early 20th century it was an important scholarly institution. It now contains a large number of Armenian manuscripts, magazines, coins, and other items.
Mekhitarist Monastery of Vienna
Scholarly work and publications[edit]
The Vienna branch of the Mekhitarists became particularly noted in the fields of philology and language influenced by the German penchant for rational thinking.[30] The publications of the Mekhitarists, both in San Lazzaro and Vienna, contributed greatly to the refinement of literary Western Armenian.[31]
The monastery had its own printing house until around 2000. Its publications are since printed in Yerevan.[14] In early 20th century the publishing house of the Vienna Mekhitarists contained 70 Armenian fonts, more than any other.[32] An 1839 English publication wrote that their "excellent printing establishment has issued a multitude of pious and useful publications."[33]
The scholarly periodical Handes Amsorya ("Monthly Review") has been published by the Mekhitarists of Vienna since 1887. It is the second oldest Armenian periodical in print today.[34] Besides numerous Armenian scholars, works of foreign scholars such as Heinrich Hübschmann and Nicholas Marr were also published in the journal. It served as the middle circle between Armenian and European scholarships.[35]