Khrimyan Hayrik-200 - 1,000 dram 2020

Modern Silver Commemorative - 241

Mkrtich I Vanetsi Khrimyan (Khrimyan Hayrik, 1820-1907) is a public, political and cultural figure, Catholicos of All Armenians since 1893.
He received informal education at parochial schools on Lim and Ktuts islands in Lake Van (Vaspourakan Province, Western Armenia). He founded Armenian periodicals “Artsvi Vaspourakan” (1855) and “Artsvik Tarono” (1863), and established Zharangavorats schools (schools for clergymen) at Varagavanq Monastery and St. Karapet Monastery of Moush. In 1854 Khrimyan became a celibate priest (vardapet) and in 1868 he was consecrated as bishop. He appealed to the authorities of a number of European countries to settle the Armenian Issue diplomatically. In 1878 he headed the Armenian delegation at the Congress of Berlin. He supported the creation and operation of “Black Cross” and “Protector of Homeland”, underground organizations in Van and Karin, respectively, fighting for national liberation, for which he was exiled to Jerusalem. As the Catholicos of All Armenians, he continued his national liberation activities.
He authored books that tackled religious, philosophical, poetic and other relevant topics, by which he expressed the emotions and suffering of the people.


Obverse: the building of the Khrimyan Museum-gallery, a rosace, a fragment from the “Metal scoop“ spring - monument (author - Areg Israyelyan), a behest by Khrimyan Hayrik and his signature.
Reverse: a portrait of Khrimyan Hayrik.

Designed by Eduard Kurghinyan.
Minted in the Lithuanian Mint

Denomination: 1,000 dram
Metal: Silver 925
Weight: 33.6g
Diameter: 40mm
Mintage: 500 pcs.
Edge: Reeded
Strike quality: Proof