Lazarev Institute of Oriental Languages
Encyclopedia
The Lazarev Institute of Oriental Languages, established in 1815, was a Moscow
school specializing in Caucasia
n language and culture, particularly that of Armenia
, and the cultural center of the Armenian diaspora
in Russia. Many Russian scholars specializing in Transcaucasia received their education at the institute. The former Institute in Armyansky Lane is a listed memorial building and currently houses the Embassy
of Armenia in Moscow
.
, Armenian
, Persian
, and Turkish
. By 1844 the school had 105 students, of which 73 were Armenians, 30 Russians, and 2 others.
In 1848 the institute was upgraded to a lyceum, and in this new form trained Armenian school teachers and priests. As the Russian empire expanded through the Caucasus
and Central Asia
, the institute became central to the training of Russian civil servants and interpreters. In 1872 it was formally divided into two sections, one of which continued as a gymnasium, while the other presented a three-year course in the Armenian, Persian, Arabic, Turkish, and Georgian language
s, history, and culture.
Between 1919-1920, the institute was renamed first the Armenian Institute, then the Southwest Asian Institute, then the Central Institute of Modern Oriental Languages, and finally the Moscow Institute of Oriental Studies
. By the 1930s the institute had lost its students, and its library was transferred to the Moscow's Lenin Library.
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The first stone buildings on the site, eventually incorporated into present-day building, emerged in the last quarter of 17th century as the Miloslavsky
residence. In the first half of 18th century they were owned by the Meller family - owners of iron mills in Ural
region. Miloslavsky-Meller house is considered to be among the largest private stone buildings of 17th century Moscow.
Lazar Lazaryan, russified as Lazarev, acquired the land near the corner of present-day Krivokolenny and Armyansky lanes in 1758. Between 1758 and 1812 the main house was gradually expanded, notably by Ovakim Lazarev, son of Lazar and founder of the Institute.
Armyansky Lane area was spared by the Fire of 1812
. In 1814 Ovakim Lazarev commissioned remodelling of the facade
in Empire style. Name of the architect remains unknown; construction was managed by T. G. Prostakov, a free man, and I. M. Podyachy - a serf of Lazarevs. By 1823 the main building acquired its present-day shape; an obelisk
in the rear courtyard, raised in 1822, was cast of pig iron
produced at Lazarev's iron mills in Perm
(later, the obelisk was moved into the front courtyard).
In 1828 Lazarev purchased adjacent building (2, Armyansky Lane) and converted it to an Armenian printshop. This corner lot has been previously owned by Saltykov
and Nesvitsky families. New property remained unchanged until 1850s, when Pyotr Grigoriev (son of Afanasy Grigoriev
) rebuilt it to match the main building. Subsequent restorations retained the street facades, but removed Grigoriev's finishes on the side wall, revealing 17th century brickwork.
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
school specializing in Caucasia
Caucasus
The Caucasus, also Caucas or Caucasia , is a geopolitical region at the border of Europe and Asia, and situated between the Black and the Caspian sea...
n language and culture, particularly that of Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
, and the cultural center of the Armenian diaspora
Armenian diaspora
The Armenian diaspora refers to the Armenian communities outside the Republic of Armenia and self proclaimed de facto independent Nagorno-Karabakh Republic...
in Russia. Many Russian scholars specializing in Transcaucasia received their education at the institute. The former Institute in Armyansky Lane is a listed memorial building and currently houses the Embassy
Diplomatic mission
A diplomatic mission is a group of people from one state or an international inter-governmental organisation present in another state to represent the sending state/organisation in the receiving state...
of Armenia in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
.
The Institute
The institute was established in 1815 by the Lazarev (Lazarian) family. In 1827 control passed to the Ministry of Public Education, the school was renamed the Lazarev Institute of Oriental Languages, and was remodeled as a special gynasium with language courses in ArabicArabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
, Armenian
Armenian language
The Armenian language is an Indo-European language spoken by the Armenian people. It is the official language of the Republic of Armenia as well as in the region of Nagorno-Karabakh. The language is also widely spoken by Armenian communities in the Armenian diaspora...
, Persian
Persian language
Persian is an Iranian language within the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European languages. It is primarily spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and countries which historically came under Persian influence...
, and Turkish
Turkish language
Turkish is a language spoken as a native language by over 83 million people worldwide, making it the most commonly spoken of the Turkic languages. Its speakers are located predominantly in Turkey and Northern Cyprus with smaller groups in Iraq, Greece, Bulgaria, the Republic of Macedonia, Kosovo,...
. By 1844 the school had 105 students, of which 73 were Armenians, 30 Russians, and 2 others.
In 1848 the institute was upgraded to a lyceum, and in this new form trained Armenian school teachers and priests. As the Russian empire expanded through the Caucasus
Caucasus
The Caucasus, also Caucas or Caucasia , is a geopolitical region at the border of Europe and Asia, and situated between the Black and the Caspian sea...
and Central Asia
Central Asia
Central Asia is a core region of the Asian continent from the Caspian Sea in the west, China in the east, Afghanistan in the south, and Russia in the north...
, the institute became central to the training of Russian civil servants and interpreters. In 1872 it was formally divided into two sections, one of which continued as a gymnasium, while the other presented a three-year course in the Armenian, Persian, Arabic, Turkish, and Georgian language
Georgian language
Georgian is the native language of the Georgians and the official language of Georgia, a country in the Caucasus.Georgian is the primary language of about 4 million people in Georgia itself, and of another 500,000 abroad...
s, history, and culture.
Between 1919-1920, the institute was renamed first the Armenian Institute, then the Southwest Asian Institute, then the Central Institute of Modern Oriental Languages, and finally the Moscow Institute of Oriental Studies
Moscow Institute of Oriental Studies
Moscow Institute of Oriental Studies ) was a university-level educational institution that operated in Moscow, Russia, in 1920-1954. It was created as a result of merging Lazarev Institute of Oriental Languages and the Oriental studies departments in Moscow's other higher educational...
. By the 1930s the institute had lost its students, and its library was transferred to the Moscow's Lenin Library.
The building
Miloslavsky
Miloslavsky , Miloslavskaya , or Miloslavskoye may refer to:People*Ilya Miloslavsky , a Russian boyar and diplomat*Maria Miloslavskaya , first wife of tsar Alexis I of Russia...
residence. In the first half of 18th century they were owned by the Meller family - owners of iron mills in Ural
Ural (region)
Ural is a geographical region located around the Ural Mountains, between the East European and West Siberian plains. It extends approximately from north to south, from the Arctic Ocean to the bend of Ural River near Orsk city. The boundary between Europe and Asia runs along the eastern side of...
region. Miloslavsky-Meller house is considered to be among the largest private stone buildings of 17th century Moscow.
Lazar Lazaryan, russified as Lazarev, acquired the land near the corner of present-day Krivokolenny and Armyansky lanes in 1758. Between 1758 and 1812 the main house was gradually expanded, notably by Ovakim Lazarev, son of Lazar and founder of the Institute.
Armyansky Lane area was spared by the Fire of 1812
Fire of Moscow (1812)
The 1812 Fire of Moscow broke out on September 14, 1812 in Moscow on the day when Russian troops and most residents abandoned the city and Napoleon's vanguard troops entered the city following the Battle of Borodino...
. In 1814 Ovakim Lazarev commissioned remodelling of the facade
Facade
A facade or façade is generally one exterior side of a building, usually, but not always, the front. The word comes from the French language, literally meaning "frontage" or "face"....
in Empire style. Name of the architect remains unknown; construction was managed by T. G. Prostakov, a free man, and I. M. Podyachy - a serf of Lazarevs. By 1823 the main building acquired its present-day shape; an obelisk
Obelisk
An obelisk is a tall, four-sided, narrow tapering monument which ends in a pyramid-like shape at the top, and is said to resemble a petrified ray of the sun-disk. A pair of obelisks usually stood in front of a pylon...
in the rear courtyard, raised in 1822, was cast of pig iron
Pig iron
Pig iron is the intermediate product of smelting iron ore with a high-carbon fuel such as coke, usually with limestone as a flux. Charcoal and anthracite have also been used as fuel...
produced at Lazarev's iron mills in Perm
Perm
Perm is a city and the administrative center of Perm Krai, Russia, located on the banks of the Kama River, in the European part of Russia near the Ural Mountains. From 1940 to 1957 it was named Molotov ....
(later, the obelisk was moved into the front courtyard).
In 1828 Lazarev purchased adjacent building (2, Armyansky Lane) and converted it to an Armenian printshop. This corner lot has been previously owned by Saltykov
Saltykov
Saltykov was a Russian noble family. Notable members of the family include:* Alexander Saltykov** Alexander Mikhailovich Saltykov , a Russian writer and translator** Prince Alexander Nikolayevich Saltykov , a Russian statesman...
and Nesvitsky families. New property remained unchanged until 1850s, when Pyotr Grigoriev (son of Afanasy Grigoriev
Afanasy Grigoriev
Afanasy Grigorievich Grigoriev was a Russian Neoclassical architect, who worked in Moscow and its suburbs. Grigoriev is remembered for his refined Empire style mansions, completion of Great Ascension Church and assistance to Domenico Giliardi in rebuilding Moscow after the Great Fire...
) rebuilt it to match the main building. Subsequent restorations retained the street facades, but removed Grigoriev's finishes on the side wall, revealing 17th century brickwork.