Mekhitarist Congregation, San Lazzaro degli Armeni, Venice

Hrant Khachatryan / PAN Photo Agency

San Lazzaro degli Armeni is a small island in the Venetian Lagoon, northern Italy. For nearly three centuries the island of San Lazzaro has belonged to the monks of the Armenian Mekhitarist Order (degli Armeni means 'of the Armenians'). This small island, once a leper colony, was given to the order's founder Mekhitar in 1717 as he fled with his monks from the Turks. A statue of Mekhitar stands outside. San Lazzaro became a centre for Armenian culture, printing literature in Armenian. When Napoleon closed down the monasteries of Venice and the lagoon, he made an exception for this one.

Saint Lazarus Island and the ship “Armenia” that did a cruise all around the world

The entrance of Mayravank of Mchetarist Congregation, Saint Lazarus

The Abbot of the Mekhitarist Congregation, His Grace Patriarch Eghia Ts. Archimandrite Kilaghpean, delivering his welcome speech and Easter greetings to the Armenian colony present at the Easter's ''table of love'', in the refectory of mayravank (mother m

The ceiling of Saint Lazarus Church with the mosaics of St. Patriarch Nerses Shnorhali and St. Ghevond Erets

The square of Mekhitarist Congregation's main monastery, St. Lazarus

The Sunday liturgy of Forty Circle, during the distribution of St. Communion

The portraits of the congregation's main benefactors and friends displayed on the wall of the corridor adjacent to Matenadaran museum of the main monastery of Mchetarist Congregation

The memorial service of Forty Circle Sunday liturgy

Rare and important antique European books kept in the main monastery of Mchetarist Congregation

The real death mask of Komitas Archimandrite kept in St. Lazarus museum

Easter liturgy, during the distribution of St. Communion

The monumental library of Mayravank built by Abbot Mkhitar

The bust of Abbot Mkhitar and Hovhannes Ayvazovsky's ''Chaos'' displayed in the Chnnozean hall of Mchetarist Congregation Museum

A moment from the Christ's Resurrection Celebration Mass

The curtain of Lim Monastery church displayed in the Chnnozean hall of Mchetarist Congregetaion Museum. 18th Century

The ceiling of St. Lazarus Church, with the mosaics of St. Grigor Narekatsi and Patriarch St. Nerses Lambronatsi

''Lord Byrons' Room'' of Mchetarist Congregation Museum, where the English poet studied Armenian with the guidance of Patriarch Harutyun Archemandrite Avgerean

Mchetarist Congregation's Zharangavorats (Heirs) choir class during St. Easter's Chanting Mass

The room of manuscripts of Mayravank of St Lazar Mchetarist Congregation

The cemetery of St Lazar Mchetarist Congregation

The performance of the patriotic song ''My Distant Homeland'' by the end of the ceremony of Easter's ''love table''. Lyrics by Patriarch Vahan Hovhannesean, music by Gurgen Alemshah

Mayravank of Mchetarist Congregation from the side of St. Lazarus Island lake

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