Treasures of Armenian Jerusalem: The Crown Jewels of our National Inheritance

Outside Armenia, nowhere are so many priceless Armenian cultural and religious treasures more abundant than in the Armenian quarter of Jerusalem. Nestled within the Old City, around the Armenian convent of St James, the quarter is famous for its remarkable collection of religious art, ancient manuscripts, and marvels of Armenian artifacts.

Protecting these treasures and Armenian-owned properties in what is the most contested city in the world is essential to ensure that future generations can appreciate Armenian Jerusalem's early Christian roots and deep imprint in the Holy Land. It tells a powerful story of the resilience of a people and their faith across the ages.

Originally published April 2025.

About the speaker

Bedross Der Matossian

Bedross Der Matossian is the Vice-Chair, Professor of Modern Middle East History, and Hymen Rosenberg Professor in Judaic studies at the Department of History at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Born and raised in East Jerusalem, he is a graduate of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and completed his PhD in Middle East History at Columbia University in 2008. He has taught at MIT and the University of Chicago. He is the author, editor, and co-editor of multiple books including the award-winning book Shattered Dreams of Revolution: From Liberty to Violence in the Late Ottoman Empire (Stanford University Press, 2014) and his latest book The Horrors of Adana: Revolution and Violence in the Early Twentierth Century (Stanford University Press, 2022).

Bedross Der Matossian