Armenian Gospel of Skewra, kept in the National Library of Poland, presented to the Prime Minister

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan visited the National Library of Poland located in the Palace of the Republic in Warsaw. During the tour, accompanied by Director Tomasz Makowski, the Prime Minister got acquainted with the library’s heritage.

The Skewra Gospel, a parchment manuscript from 1197, is on permanent display at the National Library, the illustrations of which belong to Grigor of Skewra, and the book was commissioned by Nerses Lambronatsi. According to the manuscript’s memoirs, it was created in 647 of the Armenian calendar, that is, in 1198/1199, during the reign of King Levon I of the Rubinyan dynasty and Catholicos Grigor V Apirat. It was noted that in 1997, after confirming the Armenian identity of the Gospel and obtaining the necessary permits, the manuscript was transferred to the Ordinary of the Armenian Rite in Poland, Cardinal Józef Glemp. In 2006, the Polish Archbishop Primate Glemp, responding to the request of representatives of the Polish Armenian community, signed an agreement with the Director of the National Library, according to which the Gospel was provided for safekeeping to the library and is currently on display.

The National Library of Poland also houses other exhibits representing the Armenian historical heritage.