Manouk Petrosian

Mkhitar (1676–1749) Abbot Mkhitar (Manouk Petrosian), was prominent Armenian scholar and theologian. He converted to Roman Catholicism. In about 1717, Abbot Mkhtar found the renowned Congregation of scholar monks in Venice, on St. Lazarus Island. The monastery of Mkhitar developed a worldwide famous academy. Later, Byron and Stendhal took courses of the Armenian language.

Background

Mkhitar was an Armenian priest who was originally from Sivas, but was currently living in Erzurum. He came in contact with the Jesuit missionaries and then in 1701 went to Constantinople in order to try to unite the Armenian and the Roman churches.