Mechitarist

Mechitarist, member of the Congregation of Benedictine Armenian Antonine Monks, a Roman Catholic congregation of monks that is widely recognized for its contribution to the renaissance of Armenian philology, literature, and culture early in the 19th century and particularly for the publication of old Armenian Christian manuscripts. The congregation, whose constitution is based on the Rule of St. Benedict, was founded in Constantinople (now Istanbul) in 1701 by the Armenian priest Mekhitar Petrosian of Sivas....