Mekhitarist School Merit Medal of Pangalti, Constantinople (c. late 19th early 20th Cent.)

ANRO-1491

Obverse: Inscribed with "ՄԽԻԹԱՐԵԱՆ ՎԱՐԺԱՐԱՆ" ("Mekhitarist School"), the obverse features the school's emblem: a cross at the center encircled by various symbols representing education, faith, and enlightenment. A crown rests atop the design, flanked by floral motifs, symbolizing honor and achievement.

Reverse: Encircled by a laurel wreath, the reverse bears the inscription "ԿՐՕՆԿ ԵՒ ՈՒՍՈՒՄՆ" ("Faith and Education"), encapsulating the values upheld by the Mekhitarist educational institutions.

Specifications: Brass plated pewter, 27.6mm, 6.70g
Artist / Engraver:
Mint:
Edge: Plain edge
Mintage:
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Image shown: ANRO collection inv. no.

The Mekhitarist School of Pangalti, Constantinople, was one of the prominent Armenian educational institutions established under the guidance of the Mekhitarist Congregation. Operating during the late Ottoman Empire, the school provided a rigorous education grounded in Armenian cultural and religious heritage. The Mekhitarists, an Armenian Catholic order founded by Abbot Mekhitar of Sebaste in 1701, emphasized a synthesis of faith, education, and enlightenment.

By the late 19th century, the Mekhitarist schools in Constantinople had gained a reputation for producing well-educated graduates fluent in multiple languages and skilled in the sciences, humanities, and theology. The merit medal symbolizes academic excellence and reflects the congregation's mission to foster intellectual growth and moral development within the Armenian community. The inscription "Faith and Education" highlights the dual pillars of the Mekhitarist ethos, which sought to preserve Armenian identity through the cultivation of knowledge and spirituality.