Milwaukee Armenians

       Next year we will be celebrating the 500th anniversary of the first Armenian printed book. In the year 1512 Hagop Meghabard became aware of the invention of printing by Gutenberg, and he went to Venice and helped create the first Armenian printed book, Ourpatakirk (The Book of Fridays), a collection of prayers. The Prelacy’s 2012 pocket diary is dedicated to this singular event.
        We call to your attention that in April 2012 the Library of Congress will open an exhibition in commemoration of the 500th anniversary of the first printed Armenian book and the first printing press dedicated to the publication of works in the Armenian script. The exhibition will also celebrate the designation by UNESCO of Yerevan as the Book Capital of the World, 2012. Accompanying the exhibit will be a book on the Armenian literary tradition, an illustrated brochure for the exhibition, Gallery Talks, and Special Tours. Dr. Levon Avdoyan, the Armenian and Georgian area specialist at the Library of Congress since 1991, is the curator of the exhibit.