On September 9, 2024, the Central Bank of Armenia puts into circulation “150th anniversary of foundation of Gevorkian Theological Seminary of Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin” silver collector coin.
Collector coin dedicated to the 150th anniversary of foundation of Gevorkian Theological Seminary of Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin
The Gevorkian Theological Seminary opened on September 28, 1874 in Holy Etchmiadzin, on the initiative of the Catholicos of all Armenians, Gevork IV of Constantinople, on the Feast of St. Gevork the Warrior, and was named the Zharangavorats Theological Seminary of St. Gevork.
As the only higher educational institution of the time, it occupied an important place in the history of the Armenian Apostolic Church and Armenian culture, science, and education. The seminary resolved numerous Armenology issues and developed curricula and textbooks for Armenian schools.
The best educators of the time taught at the seminary. Those included Manuk Abeghyan, Hrachia Acharian, Leo, Stepan Lisitsyan, Kristapor Kara-Murza, Hovhannes Hovhannisyan, Hakob Manandian, Archbishop Malachia Ormanian, Bishop Karapet Ter-Mkrtchyan, Bishop Garegin Hovsepyan, Yervand Ter-Minasyan, and others.
Komitas, Avetik Isahakian, Derenik Demirchyan, Nicholas Adontz, Aksel Bakunts, and others are among the prominent graduates of the seminary.
In 2005, the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Armenia licensed the seminary as a higher educational institution. Today, the seminary is the only theological university in Armenia.
The Vaskenian Theological Academy at Lake Sevan and the priest training auditorium work in conjunction with the seminary.
New programs available today provide an opportunity for Armenian students from around the world to receive a theological education at the seminary.
Obverse: the logotype of the Gevorkian Theological Seminary, an excerpt from the seminary’s hymn “ՄԵԾ ՏԵՍԻԼՔԻ ՄԵՆՔ ԶԱՎԱԿՆԵՐ” (“We are sons of the Great Vision”), the dove symbolizing the Holy Spirit and a khachkar rosette.
Reverse: the portrait of Catholicos Gevork IV of Constantinople, the Gevorkian Theological Seminary building.
Designers: Vardan Vardanyan (obverse), Lusine Lalayan (reverse).
The coin is minted at the Mint of Poland.
Technical specification
Face value 1000 dram
Metal/fineness silver 9250
Weight 33,6 g
Diameter 40,0 mm
Quality proof
Edge ribbed
Quantity of issue 500 pcs
Year of issue 2024
Notice
Collector coins are made of precious metals and are issued to present to the society the national, international, historical and cultural, spiritual and other values of the country, to immortalize these values in the metal and to meet the demands of the numismatic market.
Like any other currency the collector coins have face value which makes them the means of payment. However, the face value of these coins is much lower that their cost price which includes the cost of the precious metal used for manufacturing of the coin, mintage and other expenses. Low face value and high cost price allow these coins to be considered as the items of collection and not the means of payment used in money circulation. The collector coins have also the sale price set by the Central Bank of Armenia.
As the items of collection the collector coins are issued in very restricted quantities and are not reissued.
Numismatists, collectors and all interested persons can buy the Armenian collector coins in the sales salon “Numismatist” which is in the building of the Central Bank of Armenia and is open for everyone.
CBA Public Relations Service
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