p style="text-align:center;">

A public lecture dedicated to the 240th anniversary of the birth of Hovhannes Hovakim Lazaryan, a representative of the prominent Lazaryan dynasty, an Armenian public-political and cultural figure, and an exhibition of the exclusive book heritage of the Lazaryan Seminary were held in the reading room of the Rare Book Department of the National Library of Armenia. The speaker, Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor Haykaz Hovhannisyan, presented the rich biography and multifaceted activities of Hovhannes Lazaryan, emphasizing his important contribution to the development of Armenian educational, cultural and public life.

It is noteworthy that Haykaz Hovhannisyan, a longtime scholar of Lazarian history, has primarily used the National Library of Armenia's exclusive collection of Lazaryan Seminary books for his scientific research. A substantial portion of those books served as the foundation for the creation of his numerous articles and works. Lusine Lulukyan, an employee of the Department, presented the unique book collection of the Lazaryan Seminary, preserved in the library’s collections. The exhibition revealed the exceptional significance of the seminary’s library as one of the most important educational and cultural centers of its time, which was used by Vahan Teryan, Yervand Shahaziz, Raphael Patkanyan, Hovhannes Hovhannisyan, Vardges Surenyants, Yeghishe Tadevosyan and many other prominent intellectuals. Today, about 27,620 items from that valuable heritage are preserved in the National Library of Armenia.

During the event, Lusine Balayan from the Personal Collections Sub-Department gave an engaging account of Hovhannes Lazaryan's life and activities. She discussed his patriotic endeavors, educational initiatives, and the rich legacy he left in Armenian history.