1933 Commemorative Medal of Bzommar Monastery

ANRO-1739

Obverse: The obverse features an image of the Virgin Mary, represented with her hands clasped in prayer. The inscription around her reads "ՏԻՐԱՄԱՅՐ ԶՄՄԱՌՈՒ" (Lady of Bzommar), emphasizing the dedication of this medal to the Marian shrine at Bzommar. The year 1933 is prominently placed, marking a special event related to the monastery.

Reverse: The reverse side shows a detailed depiction of the Bzommar Monastery, with the inscription "ՎԱՆՔ ԶՄՄԱՌՈՒ" (Bzommar Monastery). The monastery is a historic center for Armenian Catholicism, serving as the seat of the Catholicos-Patriarch and a place of pilgrimage.

Specifications: 25mm??
Artist / Engraver:
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Edge: Plain??
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Reference:
Image shown: Ebay item no. 305858055074

This medal, issued in 1933 by the Bzommar Monastery, commemorates the Virgin Mary, depicted on the obverse, and the Bzommar Monastery, shown on the reverse. While the specific reason for issuing this medal remains unclear, one plausible hypothesis is that it was created to mark the 150th anniversary of the formal recognition of the Armenian Catholic Millet by the Ottoman Empire in 1830. This recognition was a crucial event that granted the Armenian Catholic Church legal autonomy and the right to self-govern within the Ottoman Empire.

The 1830 recognition allowed Armenian Catholics to establish their own patriarchate and strengthened institutions like the Bzommar Monastery, which played a central role in religious and cultural life. However, it's important to note that this hypothesis is speculative, and further research would be needed to confirm whether this historical milestone is directly connected to the issuance of the 1933 medal​.