History

In the centuries-old history of the Armenian periodical press, the “Historical-Philological Journal” (HPHJ) of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia has its unique place. For 61 years long, going through a complex and difficult path of scientific research, scientific-organizational and scientific-publishing, the periodical has become one of the most prestigious journals in Armenology, a well-known forger of scientific staff, successfully accomplishing its multifaceted tasks. The political meltdown in the Soviet Union since the mid-1950s, the growth of the economy that began in the previous decades, the upsurge of the level of general population – the creation of a wide network of schools, higher education and research institutions provided favorable conditions for the advancement of science, including Armenology. Under such favorable historical and political conditions, only in 1958 it became possible to implement the establishment of a new Armenological journal with the efforts of the leadership of the Academy of Sciences of Armenia and renowned Armenologists. Prominent historians and philologists Ash. Hovhannisyan, S. Yeremyan, L. Khachikyan, B. Arakelyan, A. Gharibyan, S. Arevshatyan and others were included in the Editorial Board of the periodical created by the decision of the AS Presidency. The Editor-in-Chief of the Journal was appointed renowned historian, Vice-President of the Academy, Academician M. M. Nersisyan, who incessantly directed the work of the journal for nearly 40 years. In the following years, the staff of the Journal’s Editorial Board was refreshed with new members – Armenologists and Orientalists B. Piotrovsky, I. Abuladze, V. Bănăţeanu, A. Ghanalanyan, K. Ghafadaryan, G. Jahukyan, Ed. Jrbashyan, G. Sargsyan, G. Brutyan, Em. Pivazyan, Hr. Bartikyan and others. After the death of the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of the Journal M. Nersisyan, in 1999 this post was entrusted to the NAS RA Academician, the renowned Armenologist V. Mikayelyan. After the latter’s death in 2005, a single issue of the Journal was published under the editorial supervision of doctor of historical sciences P. Muradyan, and another – under Deputy Editor-in-Chief, responsible secretary, doctor of philological sciences A. Zakaryan. In 2006 well-known philologist-philologue S. Harutyunyan was elected NAS RA Corresponding Member. On June 13, 2018, RA NAS Presidency appointed NAS RA Academician A. Melkonyan Chairman of the Editorial Board of the HPHJ and doctor of philological sciences A. Zakaryan as Editor-in-Chief. Content structure formed from the first issue of the journal and preserved for many years in the same form – sections and subsections (“Articles”, “Reports”, "Discussions", “Historical and Cultural Outlines”, “Publications”, “Reviews”, “Diaspora life”, “Our jubilees”, “News”, “Scientific information”), subsequently were subjected to some additions and adjustments. The materials in the periodical are published in Armenian and Russian, with summaries in relevant languages. Subsequently, English language summaries were attached to them, which made the general content of these materials available to foreign-language readers. The bilingual periodical with 1500-2400 printing units has been circulating not only in Armenia but also abroad since its inception. Today, although the number of the printing units of the Journal has decreased (250 copies), it reaches its readers worldwide as in the past. By the way, until 1990, 4 issues of the Journal were published annually, in 1991-1997 – 1 or 2 issues, up to 2000 there were united issues, and in 2000 the three-month Journal turned into a four-month periodical, and at real time 3 issues are published annually. Over the past 61 years, 211 major issues of the “Historical-Philological Journal” were published, each with a volume of 15-20 presses, on average, 25 articles were inserted in each issue, that is to say, around 5.800 print units were printed here. In 1983 the HPHJ 1958-1982 bibliographic lists were published in Armenian and Russian, and the 1983-2007 one – in 2009 in Armenian, Russian and English languages. The number of publications listed, respectively 2828 and 1909 units, represent the directions and development of scientific studies and research processes of the Armenian Studies and other related scientific fields during the half century. It should be mentioned, the 1983-2007 bibliographic list of the HPHJ was published by the means of “Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation” (Head of the Armenian department – Honorable Doctor of the NAS RA Z. Yekavyan). In the pages of the HPHJ, Armenian and foreign specialists have published articles, reports and scientific-cognitive materials on the discussion of various issues of the Armenian history, literature, language, archaeology, lithography, folklore, ethnography, philosophy, law, arts, architecture, as well as important scientific and cultural events, Armenological publications in Armenia, the Diaspora, and abroad. It has also comprehensively elucidated historical and cultural life of Armenian colonies. All this has been accompanied by interrelations and ties with neighboring countries and peoples. The Journal has a significant contribution to the field of Oriental, Caucasian, Byzantine studies. Issues of general cultural and historical interest have always been in the focus of the Journal, further expanding its scientific frames, making it a periodical of wide coverage. From this viewpoint, the sections of publications, reviews and scientific information are again rich, where unpublished letters of distinguished persons of science and culture, compositions, archive certificates of various kinds, and reviews of important publications of Armenological, Oriental and general cultural value in the world are published. It can be definitely stated that the materials published in the Journal are distinguished by a rich and multi-layered source study and historiographical basis. Numerous Armenian and foreign scholars from Transcaucasia, Russia, Ukraine, Moldova, Europe, countries of the Near and Middle East, America, and other countries in different years have intensively participated in the activities of the Journal. Thus, foreign scientists from Bulgaria worked for the Journal D. Angelov, V. Guzelev, from Czechoslovakia: L. Motalova, from Romania: V. Bănăţeanu (for many years he was also a member of the Editorial Board), from Italy, J. F. Bonfante, V. Pisani, P. Cuneo, A. Alpago-Novello, France: F. Feydit, J.-P. Mahé, from the USA: R. Thomson, J. Greppin, R. Jacobson, from the Netherlands: St. Michael, M. Stone, from Belgium: J. J. Weitenberg, Hungary: E. Schutz, J. Trocani, from Germany: H. Walter Paul, from Russia: V. Toporov, O. Shirokov, T. Izmaylova, A. Tereshchenko, from Ukraine: I. Kripyakevich, N. Rashban, S. Averbuch, A. Zinchenko, S. Y. Dashkevich, from Georgia: I. Abuladze (he was also a member of the Editorial Board), D. Chkhikishvili, G. Melikishvili, from the Republic of North OssetiaAlania: Vl. Besolov, from Iran: M. Malek Mohammad, A. Yahyamasihi, from Turkey: B. Bilmez and many others. Almost all prominent Armenologists from Armenia and the Diaspora have presented their papers in the periodical. Such a large involvement of the authors proves, on the one hand, the widespread international recognition of the Journal, on the other hand, its high scientific credibility and reputation. The latter has found its expression in the high praise of the letters addressed to the editorial staff of world-known scholars from different countries. The role of the Journal was highly appreciated by J. Orbeli, V. Minorski (London), K. Melik-Ohanjanyan, H. Siruni (Bucharest), H. Armen, H. Shalyan (USA), representatives of Venice and Vienna Mkhitaryans and many others. Summoning up the activities of the “Historical-Philological Journal” over the past six decades, it may be surely stated: this Armenological periodical of the NAS RA has brought together a large number of Armenologists from the Homeland and foreign countries around itself, and has done effective work to realize its program goals and objectives. The scientific organizational significance of the Journal is particularly appreciated in this respect, since the editorial staff (many years of staff experience, solid traditions, achievements in Armenology, the ability to properly present the broad society of readers) has consistently organized, streamlined, and directed the development of the Armenological thought. It will not sound loud if it is noted that several generations of Armenologists have found their self-affirmation in the very pages of this Journal. HPHJ has become a renowned organ of Armenology and gained universal recognition in our country and abroad. It is impossible to imagine Armenology without this Journal. At present, in the conditions of independent statehood, when the evaluation for Armenology in the Republic of Armenia has much risen and has become one of the orientations of state political and national security, we believe that the new upsurge of the editorial work and the moral and financial care of the state should also be pursued.

Ashot Melkonyan
Chairman of the “Historical-Philological Journal”,
NAS RA Academician

Anushavan Zakaryan
Editor-in-Chief of the “Historical-Philological Journal”,
Doctor of philological sciences