
Dr. Roberta Ervine, Associate Professor of Armenian Studies, departs today for Istanbul to participate in an international symposium in commemoration of the 290th anniversary of the death of Patriarch Hovhannes Golod.
She will present a paper entitled, "Physical Evidences of an Inspired Partnership: Joint Inscriptions of Hovhannes Golod and Grigor Shghtayakir ("the Chain-Bearer") in Jerusalem."
The conference is being jointly-sponsored by the Armenian Patriarchate and the Mesrob Mashdots Matenadaran (Manuscript Library) of Yerevan. Ervine is one of two North American scholars who will participate in the conference.
Hovhannes Golod served as Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople from 1715-1741. Together with his brother monk, Grigor Vardapet, he not only brought a period of stability to the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople, but he rescued the Armenain Patriarchate of Jerusalem from the brink of financial ruin and cultural devastation.
In addition to his administrative gifts, Hovhannes Golod was a literary figure and an able politician. In her lecture, Dr. Ervine will present various facets of Hovhannes' character and activities, as well as of the cooperation between Consantinople and Jerusalem during his reign.