Etchmiadzin Paper Factory

The Etchmiadzin Paper Factory was a paper factory, which was built in the 1780s by Catholicos Simeon I of Yerevan in Etchmiadzin. The factory was active for about half a decade, but stopped operating after Catholicos Simeon's death. The factory has been destroyed, due to the invasions of Mamad Khan at the end of the 18th century and at the beginning of the 19th century, and the Russian-Persian war afterwards, after which a paper factory has never been rebuilt in Armenia.

Building history

In 1771, the construction of the publishing house, which was essential to publish religious literature, ends. But due to the absence of the Paper, the performances of the publishing house became endangered. At that period, the paper was hardly brought from Europe,^[1] so Simeon Erevantsi undertakes the construction of a paper factory.

In 1772, he asked from Kevork for Tchakig from Madras, who was in Constantinople to send some expert paper producers to Etchmiadzin, which went vainly. After two years, he asks from Philipos vartabed of India to send the instruction of paper production, which helps to the construction of the paper factory without others' help. After three years of letters, by the help of Tchakikian, he succeeds to bring two experts from Paris, Monsieur Beysiaunie and Monsieur Dessiaurie. The latters head to Etchmiadzin after signing a contract with Tchakikian. In March 1775, the construction of the factory begins. The experts, along with their translator, Stepan, were trying to drag the construction and snatching more amount of money, in order to keep the secret of paper production from the population.^[2] These experts didn't have the right to spread the secret of paper production and they had agreed on this.

On January 4, 1776, the first paper, which had a low quality, is produced. Simeon threads to punish the experts, so they promise to prepare a new sieve and produce paper in higher quality.^[3]

Before these experts' arrival, Simeon has asked for experts from Persia, who arrived to Etchmiadzin on June 28, 1775 and built a new factory in a short period of time. They also taught two students (Nigoghayos and Markar) how to produce paper in high quality. By these, two factories are built in the city, by French and Persian experts. The French experts' factory had 2240m length and 1008m width. All the expenses were provided by Krikor Agha of Tchakig. There isn't any information about the size of the Persian factory. On April 16, 1776, after the Persian experts finished their work, returned to Persia. On October 28, the young French expert was put out of the job, following the old expert. (The French experts put out of Etchmiadzin because they didn't do their job).

The factory has been directed by the first Armenian paper producer, Nigoghayos, who has studied from Persian experts and also had some idea of French experts' works.

Construction Expenses

The two factories' construction in Etchmiadzin and furnishing them had cost 18,000 ghroush in general (Turkish currency unit), the experts', labors' and food expenses are excluded.

On construction, 1235 rock sorters have worked each day (everyday 20-25 para^{[Ն 1]}), 279 turners (12-15 para), smiths (25 para), 4217 tiller (6 para), 318 constructors (15 para) and so on.

Instruments Used In the Factory

The paper factory's instruments were made of wood, stone, and different kinds of metals.

The most important wooden instrument was the presser or "manguiana", which was like constrigents used for oil-pressing in Armenia. It was made up of two or four beams of 12-15 meter, bear, "bourghou" and "gakhkar". Manguiana was used to press the paper. Mortars were made to mince and chop the paper's composition.

Ponds and boats, which were used to move the liquid paper substance from place to another, were made by stone. Special water mills were made to mince the substance.

Different sizes of plates, faucets, mixers, and other objects have been made by copper.

The sieves, that were made temporarily, had have a big role in high-quality paper production. Some small instruments, which were essential for different measuring, were bought by a French expert.

Materials

Canvas palace was used as a main material for paper production. In order to get canvas, Simeon Erevantsi has asked for experts of Bayazed, Kars,^[4] Karin,^[5] also from vartabed Hovsep Arghoutian of Astrakhan. The latter may collect palaces from Russian cities and send to Etchmiadzin.^[6]

Other than the canvas, cotton, hemp, linseed stem are also used. As auxiliary substances, alkali, torton, borax, alum, glue were used. All the substances were imported from Turkey.

Use of products

The produced paper was used mainly to provide the local necessities, partly to other cathedrals' and diocesan prelacy's necessities. Some examples of papers have been sent to Heraguel king of Georgia, Armenian church prelates of Constantinople and Russia, and others. Local papar was mainly used in publishing house. Some writings have been printed, such as "The Solvent" of Simeon Catholicos. The produced substance has been also used for secretaryship.

The paper was kind of coarse, had light hay color, gray or not in white color. It had watermark, one side has been designed by the monogram of "St. Etchmiadzin", beneath were the first letters of Simeon Catholicos' name, and on the next page, "թուին ՌՄԻԷ" (1776) and Krikor Mikaelian's (Tchakikian) name's first letters were wriiten in monogram. Since, the factory's and publishing house's construction expenses have been provided by Krikor Tchakikian, Simeon Erevantsi hraves by his name on the works. Tchakikian's name was mentioned on the frontispieces of the published books.

Other attempts for the factory construction

Etchmiadzin's factory has operated for 5–6 years, till the Simeon Catholicos's death. Subsequently, some attempts of paper factory construction were held, but haven't succeeded. In 1837, bishop Sahag sends editors to the synod of Etchmiadzin, in order to build paper factory, drawing pencils', and some other materials' companies. Bishops factory construction petition is rejected in the Synod's session of March 1, 1837. Drawing pencils' and others' editors are examined during the session of July 16, where it is decided to provide the necessary financial needs to the bishop.

See also

• Simeon I Erevantsi

References

Links

External links