The Armenians of Lviv in the Scientific Studies, Written and Sacral Records

Abstract

The results of historiographic research devoted to the Armenian diaspora in Lviv are highlighted in the issue. The necessity of such historiographic presentation was enhanced by the high number of historical sources where the Armenians of Lviv were mentioned or described, and their scientific interpretations. The main principles of author’s classification were the credibility of historical sources and artefacts as well as the chronological order of the studies’ emergence which could be related to the history of whole city and to the periods of the Armenian community’s struggle for their rights and privileges. Among the official documents, determined the authentic nature the Armenian community in Lviv, were the tax registries, royal estates’ descriptions, the Armenian judicial acts and a controversial document “The Document of 1062 of Duke Fedor Dmitrievich”, according to which the Armenians were introduced to Lviv for establishing the settlement and the credibility of which had been debatable to the present day. A separate part of the work is devoted to the most prominent historiographical studies and historical essays of the Armenians in Lviv. The new archive materials were included into the scientific usage; in particular, the attention was drawn to the preserved Armenian manuscripts in ancient Armenian that had been stored at the scientific library of Ivan Franko National University of Lviv and needed digitalization and restoration. The scientific work of professor Ya. R. Dashkevych, who was one of the most prominent researchers of the issue “The Armenians in Ukraine” and other national and foreign historians, was briefly described. The conclusion was drawn regarding to the necessity of Ukrainian history’s enrichment by the Armenian’s issue.

Keywords

• the armenians of lviv in the scientific studies
• the source classification
• historical beliefs
• ya. dashkevych
• the armenian manuscripts