Lehahayer (Feb 2013)
Rękopisy związane z historią i kulturą Ormian w zbiorach Działu Rękopisów Biblioteki Zakładu im. Ossolińskich
Abstract
Manuscripts concerning Armenian history and culture in the collection of the Manuscript Department of the Ossoliński National Institute Library The article presents an in‑depth register and short review of manuscripts related in any way to the Armenian community, chiefly written in the 18th century, which are preserved in the Ossoliński National Institute in Wrocław. The number of manuscripts, either directly concerning or recorded by Armenians, is 76. The significant majority of them regards the Lwów community, a dozen or so the community in Stanisławów, and only a few manuscripts concern other cities. The largest number of manuscripts in the Ossolineum Library is related to the Lwów Armenians, which seems natural considering the size of the Armenian community in that city and the central position of the Armenian Church in Lwów. The major part of the written material consists of liturgical and theological manuscripts, religious fraternities, registers of items and church expenses. Except for religious texts in this collection there are records of the Armenian community, codices describing the order of court cases of the Armenian community law, royal decrees concerning court cases translated into Armenian, as well as texts related to the Armenian law. The second Armenian community, as represented in the Ossolineum’s collection, were the Armenians of Stanisławów. There are 16 manuscripts either written within that community or directly relating to it. The most valuable of them would be the five volumes of the Armenian privilege law released in Stanisławów, or the vogt and town council books. The Ossoliński National Institute is most likely in possession of numerous other documents, not researched yet, which once belonged to private persons of Armenian descent.
