Tweet
Textile treasures of Turkish Armenian Patriarchate revealed in a book
VERICIHAN ZIFLIOGLU
ISTANBUL - Hurriyet Daily News
Thursday, April 21, 2011
The closed doors of Turkish Armenian Patriarchate have been opened for
two US experts. Archaeology Professor Ronald T. Marchese and Textile
professor Marlen R. Breu have now published a book after carrying out
10 years of research, with special permission from Patriarch Mesrop
II, on 18th and 19th century textile treasures held by the Istanbul
Armenian Orthodox Church. `The materials that appears in the book have
never been studied before,' says Marchese
After 10 years of in-depth research of the archives and repositories
of the Armenian Orthodox Church, two professors from the United States
have published a book about the church's treasures.
The Turkish Armenian Patriarchate opened its doors to Archaeology
Professor Ronald T. Marchese and Textile Professor Marlen R. Breu in
1998. The two researchers then spent the next decade examining and
cataloguing many of the church's artifacts, mostly from the 18th and
19th century though some were over 300 years old. Mesrop II, who has
been fighting dementia since 2007, authorized the professors to carry
out the inaugural study of the church's textile treasures.
Marchese and Breu studied a variety of materials from holy books with
priceless stones to caftans worn by patriarchs, and from golden
brocaded clothes devoted to churches by women, to icons and slippers
worn by priests.
This thorough, comprehensive research has been published in a book
titled
`Splendor and Pageantry - Textile Treasures from the Armenian Orthodox
Churches of Istanbul.' The book, in English and Turkish, includes
color photos of many of the treasures.
Speaking to the Hurriyet Daily News & Economic Review in an e-mail
interview, Marchese said they started work in 1998 and examined
hundreds of textile artifacts. `Many pieces used today were made more
than 200 years ago, some older than 300 years. Such pieces were
donated by Armenians of the past and then blessed to become gifts to
the glorification of Church and God.'
Breu said the work was significant because the artifacts had never
before studied before or written about. `The older pieces are very
important. The reason there are few older objects is the numerous
fires, the breaking down of textiles over time, especially if they are
used, and other factors. For this reason, our focus in the book is
largely on 18th and 19th century artifacts.'
Close friend of the sultans
Churches have great importance to Armenian society and valuable stones
are
used in all objects from religious dresses to holy books and
icons. =80=9CThe Armenian community was wealthy and many were very
important in Ottoman circles. The working relationship between the
Ottoman authorities and elite of the community benefited both
parties. Many of these people were close friends with sultans and high
government officials. Their prestige in the state offered
opportunities for many Armenians, who displayed their wealth by
becoming patrons. In this manner lavish use of gold and precious
stones attached to objects of faith were donated to the church,'
Marchese said in light of their research.
When asked about the difference between textile treasures in Anatolian
and
Istanbul Armenian Orthodox churches, Marchese said, `In Istanbul the
eastern Anatolian traditions found a place to come together and shared
stitching techniques with their Greek counterparts with the arrival of
Europeans and European traditions as well as their Ottoman neighbors.'
Breu said the items they studied provided a clear insight into the
history
of the church and religious art. `The artifacts of Istanbul churches
reflect the history of the Armenian people and also Ottoman history,
changes in the accepted forms of art in general, especially in
Christian religious art, and the introduction of Western art movements
into the Ottoman Empire in the 19th century. They also reflect art
forms from the East.'
© 2011 Hurriyet Daily News
From: A. Papazian
VERICIHAN ZIFLIOGLU
ISTANBUL - Hurriyet Daily News
Thursday, April 21, 2011
The closed doors of Turkish Armenian Patriarchate have been opened for
two US experts. Archaeology Professor Ronald T. Marchese and Textile
professor Marlen R. Breu have now published a book after carrying out
10 years of research, with special permission from Patriarch Mesrop
II, on 18th and 19th century textile treasures held by the Istanbul
Armenian Orthodox Church. `The materials that appears in the book have
never been studied before,' says Marchese
After 10 years of in-depth research of the archives and repositories
of the Armenian Orthodox Church, two professors from the United States
have published a book about the church's treasures.
The Turkish Armenian Patriarchate opened its doors to Archaeology
Professor Ronald T. Marchese and Textile Professor Marlen R. Breu in
1998. The two researchers then spent the next decade examining and
cataloguing many of the church's artifacts, mostly from the 18th and
19th century though some were over 300 years old. Mesrop II, who has
been fighting dementia since 2007, authorized the professors to carry
out the inaugural study of the church's textile treasures.
Marchese and Breu studied a variety of materials from holy books with
priceless stones to caftans worn by patriarchs, and from golden
brocaded clothes devoted to churches by women, to icons and slippers
worn by priests.
This thorough, comprehensive research has been published in a book
titled
`Splendor and Pageantry - Textile Treasures from the Armenian Orthodox
Churches of Istanbul.' The book, in English and Turkish, includes
color photos of many of the treasures.
Speaking to the Hurriyet Daily News & Economic Review in an e-mail
interview, Marchese said they started work in 1998 and examined
hundreds of textile artifacts. `Many pieces used today were made more
than 200 years ago, some older than 300 years. Such pieces were
donated by Armenians of the past and then blessed to become gifts to
the glorification of Church and God.'
Breu said the work was significant because the artifacts had never
before studied before or written about. `The older pieces are very
important. The reason there are few older objects is the numerous
fires, the breaking down of textiles over time, especially if they are
used, and other factors. For this reason, our focus in the book is
largely on 18th and 19th century artifacts.'
Close friend of the sultans
Churches have great importance to Armenian society and valuable stones
are
used in all objects from religious dresses to holy books and
icons. =80=9CThe Armenian community was wealthy and many were very
important in Ottoman circles. The working relationship between the
Ottoman authorities and elite of the community benefited both
parties. Many of these people were close friends with sultans and high
government officials. Their prestige in the state offered
opportunities for many Armenians, who displayed their wealth by
becoming patrons. In this manner lavish use of gold and precious
stones attached to objects of faith were donated to the church,'
Marchese said in light of their research.
When asked about the difference between textile treasures in Anatolian
and
Istanbul Armenian Orthodox churches, Marchese said, `In Istanbul the
eastern Anatolian traditions found a place to come together and shared
stitching techniques with their Greek counterparts with the arrival of
Europeans and European traditions as well as their Ottoman neighbors.'
Breu said the items they studied provided a clear insight into the
history
of the church and religious art. `The artifacts of Istanbul churches
reflect the history of the Armenian people and also Ottoman history,
changes in the accepted forms of art in general, especially in
Christian religious art, and the introduction of Western art movements
into the Ottoman Empire in the 19th century. They also reflect art
forms from the East.'
© 2011 Hurriyet Daily News
From: A. Papazian