Mekhitarist Medals

Raphaelian School Prize (or Award) Medal, Venice, 1843

Among the earliest educational institutions of the Mekhitarist Order, the Raphaelian School (founded in 1836 with funds from Raphael Karamyan, 1730–1790) issued medals until the latter half of the 19th century. The oldest medal depicts a round structure symbolizing the school, surrounded by the Armenian inscription “ԱՇԱԿԵՐՏԵԼՈՑ ՌԱՖԱՅԵԼԵԱՆ ՎԱՐԺԱՐԱՆԻՆ” (“To the Students of the Raphaelian School”), with “Ի ՎԵՆԵՏԻԿ” (“IN VENICE”) below. On the reverse, a laurel wreath frames the word “ՄՐՑԱՆԱԿ” (“MEMORIAL”), and above the arrow appears “ԱՌԱՔԵԼՈՒԹԵԱՆ ԵՒ ՈՒՍՈՒՄՆԱՍԻՐՈՒԹԵԱՆ” (“For Teaching and Education”). The engravers’ names—“STIORE FEC. FERRARI DIR.”—are found at the bottom. Produced in silver, lead, brass, as well as gold‑ or silver‑plated lead, these medals were used for approximately six decades.

Their distinct Armenian inscriptions set them apart from many 19th‑century Italian school medals. The texts were furnished by the patron and appear on both sides, although variants lacking the “ՄՐՑԱՆԱԿ” (“Prize Medal”) inscription may have been used at other Mekhitarist schools (for example, in Constantinople).

Another version bears the inscription “ԱՇԱԿԵՐՏԵԼՈՑ ՄԱՅՐ ԵԿԵՂԵՑՈՅ ՎԱՐԺԱՐԱՆԻ Կ. ՊՈԼԻՍ” (“To the Students of the Mother Church School, Constantinople”) along the edge of the obverse while retaining the same reverse. Issued by Vahram Thorgomyan, this variant is rare, absent from Mekhitarist museum collections. A notable silver example, 44 mm in diameter, resides in the State History Museum of Armenia, with “ՅԻՇԱՏԱԿ” (“Memorial”) engraved on the reverse—likely commemorating a visit to the school.

“ՈՒՍՈՒՄՆ” (“EDUCATION”)

“ԿՐՕՆՔ” (“RELIGION”)

Muradian School Prize Medals, ca. 1834–1870

The Muradian School, founded in 1834 in Pavia, relocated to Sèvres (on the outskirts of Paris) after two decades. In 1870, during the Franco‑Prussian War, it merged with the Raphaelian School in Venice. Later, in 1929, it moved to Sero. The school closed its doors during World War II and reopened in 1946. Over the course of its history, it issued two distinct medals.

The first medal displays the school’s emblem on its obverse—a quartered French shield featuring a six‑pointed star, a garland, a bell, and a fountain of liberty. At the center is an equal‑armed cross, and on the shield, a moon feeds the reins. Along the edge appears the inscription “ՄՈՒՐԱՏԵԱՆ ՎԱՐԺԱՐԱՆ” (“Muradian School”). On the reverse, within a wreath of laurel and oak leaves, is “ՈՒՍՈՒՄՆ” (“EDUCATION”). The second medal matches the same design except that “ՈՒՍՈՒՄՆ” is replaced by “ԿՐՕՆՔ” (“RELIGION”). Both medals were awarded as academic prizes.

After merging with the Raphaelian School in 1870, the institution became known as the Murad‑Raphaelian School.

Silver

Bronze

Father Mekhitar Bicentennial Medal (1696–1896)

Although Father Mekhitar officially founded the Mekhitarist Congregation in 1701, this medal was issued in 1896 to mark the two‑hundredth anniversary of his priestly mission, which began in 1696. The obverse features a left‑facing bust of Mekhitar Sebastatsi, emphasizing his pivotal role in establishing the Order. The reverse displays an equal‑armed cross above the Armenian inscription «ԵՐԽԱՐԻՒՐԵԱԿ ՔԱՀԱՆԱՅՈՒԹԵԱՆ ՀԵՂԻՆԱԿԻ ՄԽԻԹԱՐԵԱՆ ՈՒԽՏԻ 1696–1896» (“Bicentenary of the Priesthood’s Founder of the Mekhitarist Congregation, 1696–1896”).

Gilt (Gold-plated bronze)

Silvered (Silver-plated bronze)

Bicentenary of the Founding of the Mekhitarist Order (1701–1901)

Struck in 1901 to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Father Mekhitar’s founding of the Order, this medal is considered the Mekhitarists’ first jubilee medal. The obverse depicts Father Mekhitar writing at a desk, with an open book and a lamp, framed by the Armenian inscription «ԾԱՌԱՅ ԱՍՏՈՒԾՈՅ ՄԽԻԹԱՐ ԱԲԲԱՅ ՎԵՆԵՏԻԿ – Ս. ՂԱԶԱՐ» (“Servant of God, Father Mekhitar, Venice–St. Ghazar”). On the reverse is a view of the San Lazzaro Island buildings along the Adriatic Sea, with a gondola in the background. Below, floral motifs flank the Order’s emblem and the inscription «ԵՐԿԵՐԻՒՐԱՄԵԱԿ ՄԽԻԹԱՐԵԱՆ ՄԻԱԲԱՆՈՒԹԵԱՆ 1701–1901» (“Bicentenary of the Mekhitarist Monastic Congregation, 1701–1901”). Minted in Milan at the Johnson workshop, the medal measures 60 mm in diameter and was produced in bronze (some silver‑ or gold‑plated), silver, and gold. Despite its compact size, the low‑relief artistry on each side captures nuanced detail and depth, reflecting both the Order’s rich heritage and the significance of this commemorative event.

Murad‑Raphaelian School Centennial Medal, 1936

In 1936, the Murad‑Raphaelian School marked its 100th anniversary, even though the Muradian School had already been functioning independently in Sero since 1930. During this centennial celebration, a special medal was issued to commemorate the school’s founders, and at the end of the academic year, it was awarded to outstanding students. The design shows the right‑facing portraits of R. Karamyan and S. Muradian, surrounded by the Armenian inscription “ՀԱՐԻՒՐԱՄԵԱԿ ՄՈՒՐԱՏ‑ՌԱՖԱՅԵԼՅԱՆ ՎԱՐԺԱՐԱՆԱՑ” (“Centennial of the Murad‑Raphaelian School”). On the reverse appears the emblem of the school—an equal‑armed cross bearing the letters of the Mekhitarist Order’s seal (“Ո. Կ. Վ. Ա.”) at the cross tips. Each corner of the cross displays a sun, a moon, a feathered angel, and the color red, all encircled by the inscription “ՓԱՏՈՒԱ — ՎԵՆԵՏԻԿ — ՓԱՐԻԶ. 1836—1936” (“PATUA — VENICE — PARIS. 1836—1936”). Cast in silver or lead (sometimes gold‑plated), these medals were produced in Milan by the Italian engraver and miniaturist Costantino Affer (1906–1987), in collaboration with Jeragyan, a master craftsman of the Mekhitarist Order.

ca. 1936–1960

ca. 1960 and later

Mekhitarist School Prize Medals (ca. 1936–1960 and later)

Beginning in the mid‑20th century, the Mekhitarist Order introduced standardized medals to recognize outstanding students. One version, issued from around 1936 to the 1960s, features a portrait of Mekhitar Sebastatsi in profile, framed by the inscription «ԾԱՌԱՅ ԱՍՏՈՒԾՈՅ ՄԽԻԹԱՐ ԱԲԲԱՅ» (“In Service of God, Father Mekhitar”). On the reverse, within a wreath of laurel and oak leaves, appears «ԿՐՕՆՔ ԵՒ ՈՒՍՈՒՄՆ» (“Religion and Education”). The clerical attire suggests the design was based on a contemporary painting of Mekhitar Sebastatsi.

A subsequent medal, introduced from about 1960 onward, served as an encouragement prize for students in all Mekhitarist schools. Its obverse bears the Order’s emblem along with the words «ՄԽԻԹԱՐԵԱՆ ՎԱՐԺԱՐԱՆ» (“Mekhitarian School”).

Bronze

White metal

200th Anniversary of Abbot Mekhitar’s Passing Medal (1749–1949)

Issued in 1949 by the Mekhitarist Order in Venice, this medal commemorates the 200th anniversary of Abbot Mekhitar’s passing. The obverse reproduces H. Ajemyan’s painting “Mekhitar — Educator,” depicting Father Mekhitar surrounded by his students before a church backdrop. Encircling the scene is the Armenian inscription «ՄԽԻՏԱՐ ԱԲԲԱՅ ԴԱՍՏԻԱՐԱԿ» (“Abbot Mekhitar the Teacher”), reflecting his pivotal role as both spiritual leader and educator. On the reverse, a panoramic view of San Lazzaro Island appears alongside the inscription «ԵՐԿՀԱՐԻՒՐԱՄԵԱԿ ՄԱՀՈՒԱՆ ՄԻՒԹԱՐԱՅ ԱԲԲԱՅԻ 1749–1949» (“200th Anniversary of the Death of Abbot Mekhitar 1749–1949”), honoring two centuries since his passing.