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Armenian:Երուսաղեմի Սուրբ Հակոբյանց վանքի «էդուարդ և Հելեն Մարտիկյան» թանգարան | |
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| Established | 1969 (1969)[1] |
|---|---|
| Location | Armenian Quarter,Old City of Jerusalem,East Jerusalem |
| Type | History museum,Art museum |
| Website | armenian-jerusalem |
TheHelen and Edward Mardigian Armenian Museum of Jerusalem, known before its 2023 reopening as theMardigian Museum of Armenian Art and Culture (Armenian:Երուսաղեմի Սուրբ Հակոբյանց վանքի «էդուարդ և Հելեն Մարտիկյան» թանգարան,lit. 'Eduard and Helen Mardigian Museum of Saint James Monastery in Jerusalem'), is a museum in theArmenian Quarter of theOld City ofJerusalem. Dedicated to preserving and showcasingArmenian heritage, the museum highlights the historical, artistic, and cultural contributions of Armenians, with a particular focus on their centuries-long presence in theHoly Land.
The museum is housed within the complex of theArmenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem, one of the oldest Armenian Christian institutions in the world. The museum was officially established in 1969,[2] funded by a generous donation from theEdward and Helen Mardigian family, a prominent Armenian-American philanthropic family known for supporting cultural and educational initiatives. It is located in a 200-year-old building that once housed the Armenian Patriarchate's Theological Seminary. Closed over many years, it reopened in 2022.[3]
Armenians have had a presence in Jerusalem since at least the 4th century A.D., when Armenia became the first nation to adopt Christianity as a state religion. The museum aims to celebrate this enduring legacy and strengthen ties between the Armenian community in Jerusalem and the global Armenian diaspora.[4]
The Mardigian Museum’s collections feature a diverse array of artifacts and artworks, including:
Among the first curators of the museum where three renowned French Armenians, who curated the exhibitions of the new museum in 2022:[2]
The museum is housed in a historic building within the Armenian Patriarchate compound. The architecture combines traditional Armenian and local Levantine styles, characterized by thick stone walls, vaulted ceilings, and intricate geometric carvings. The layout of the museum is designed to harmonize with the monastic atmosphere of the surroundingSt. James Monastery. A new roofing of the inner courtyard was added by French team specialized in museum design, since this opening is often prone to flooding in rainy weather.[6]
The museum is located within the Armenian Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem, near the St. James Cathedral. It offers informational materials in multiple languages, including English, Hebrew, French, Arabic or Armenian.[7] Since the November 2022 reopening, visitors enter through a gate from Armenian Patriarchate Road across from the parking lot. Guided tours are available upon request. It is open on Tuesday through Saturday between 9-16 o'clock.
31°46′24″N35°13′45″E / 31.77327°N 35.22905°E /31.77327; 35.22905