Mekhitar

Mekhitar, also known as Mekhitar of Sebaste, was an Armenian Catholic monk, theologian, and historian. He was born in 1676 in Sivas (Sebaste), Ottoman Empire. In his youth, he was deeply influenced by the religious fervor of his time and sought to join the Armenian Church. He was ordained a priest in 1696. Dissatisfied with what he perceived as the isolation of Armenian Christians and a lack of scholarly engagement with Western Christianity, Mekhitar embarked on a mission to unite his people with the Catholic Church.

He traveled to Constantinople and later to the Morea (Peloponnese), where he founded the Mekhitarist Order in 1701. This order was dedicated to the preservation and promotion of Armenian language, culture, and faith, while also embracing Catholic doctrine. Driven by his vision, Mekhitar and his followers eventually settled on the island of San Lazzaro degli Armeni in Venice in 1717, where the order continues to thrive to this day.

Mekhitar was a prolific writer and scholar. His major contributions include the compilation of a comprehensive Armenian dictionary and grammar, which greatly standardized and enriched the Armenian language. He also produced theological works and commentaries on biblical texts, aiming to bridge Armenian tradition with Catholic theology. His legacy lies in the establishment of a vibrant monastic community dedicated to scholarship and the intellectual and spiritual flourishing of the Armenian people within the framework of the Catholic Church. Mekhitar died in 1749 on the island of San Lazzaro.