Arakel’s “Book of History” translated into English

February 22, 2011 - 12:25 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Prof. George Bournoutian will give a lecture entitled The Book of History of Arakel of Tabriz: A Vital Source on 17th Century Armenia and More, at 8 p.m. on Feb. 24, at the National Association for Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR) Center in Belmont, according to wickedlocal.com.

Bournoutian has translated and provided extensive commentary to Arakel’s “Book of History,” the first English translation of this important text. First published in two volumes, it is now revised and available in one volume from Mazda Publishers. The book will be on sale the night of the lecture at NAASR.

Arakel of Tabriz was the most important Armenian historian of the 17th century. His “Book of History” (Girk patmuteants) was the first printed Armenian history, having been issued in 1669 by Voskan of Erevan in Amsterdam. Arakel, who died in 1670, was therefore the first Armenian historian to see his work published in his lifetime (A first edition of the Girk patmuteants, donated by Prof. Bournoutian, is part of NAASR’s Mardigian Library).

Arakel’s History covers the period from 1602 to 1662 and is an invaluable source not only for Armenian history but for history in general, especially Ottoman, Persian, Georgian, and Jewish history.

Arakel explains the forced exile of the Armenians to Iran by Shah Abbas I and their fate during the reigns of Shah Safi and Shah Abbas II. His book contains rare information about the great fire of Istanbul, as well as the rise of the self-proclaimed Jewish Messiah Sabatai Sevi (or Zevi), who converted to Islam. A most important part is the efforts of Catholic missionaries to steal relics of St. Hripsime and the list of the coadjutor Catholicoi who reigned in Echmiadzin. His chapter on the Armenian community in Lvov, Poland, is of particular interest.

Bournoutian is the author or translator of numerous other books, including “A Concise History of the Armenian People,” “Two Chronicles on the History of Karabagh,” “The Travel Accounts of Simeon of Poland,” “Tigran II and Rome,” “Jambr,” and “A Brief History of the Aghuank Region.” He is senior professor of history at Iona College and has taught Armenian history at Columbia University, Tufts University, New York University, Rutgers University, the University of Connecticut, Ramapo College, and Glendale Community College.