Foundation of Culture and Heritage of Polish Armenians

The Foundation of Culture and Heritage of Polish Armenians (Fundacja Kultury i Dziedzictwa Ormian Polskich) is a Polish non-profit foundation established on 7 April 2006 by a decree of Cardinal Józef Glemp, then ordinary of the Armenian Catholic Church in Poland. Its seat is in Warsaw. Its guiding idea is that Armenians have always been, and remain, an important part of Polish history and culture. The Foundation was entrusted with the care of a substantial body of Armenian heritage rescued from Armenian churches in the former eastern borderlands (Kresy) of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth: a collection of early printed books, vestments, paintings and liturgical vessels. It catalogues, digitises and conserves these holdings and continues to gather other Polish armenica. Its activities are supported by the Ministry of Administration and Digitisation and the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage. Its best-known programme is the Archive of Polish Armenians (Archiwum Polskich Ormian), which comprises more than 3,600 objects, most of them from the eastern borderlands. The holdings include 87 manuscript books (52 of them in Armenian), early printed books, books published after 1800, manuscript materials, 45 volumes of metrical registers, periodicals, more than 1,500 old photographs, documents, liturgical vestments and vessels, paintings and memorabilia. The early-printed collection totals 380 volumes, including 16th- and 17th-century imprints and 39 damaged volumes; the document collection comprises 465 files covering various aspects of Armenian social life in the eastern borderlands. Digitised materials are presented through the Virtual Archive of Polish Armenians (Wirtualne Archiwum Polskich Ormian), which makes available the legacy of Archbishop Józef Teodorowicz (including correspondence and notes), the records of the parish offices of Stanisławów and Tyśmienica, metrical registers including those from Kuty, manuscripts (including a scan of a page from the late-12th-century Skewra Gospel), fragments of early printed books, periodicals (mainly the interwar "Posłaniec św. Grzegorza") and archival photographs, including the legacies of Father D. Kajetanowicz and S. Donigiewicz. Beyond archival work, the Foundation spreads knowledge about Polish Armenians and promotes Armenian history and culture. It maintains a permanent museum exhibition, "Treasury of Polish Armenians" (Skarbiec Ormian Polskich), at Świętojerska 12 in Warsaw, open on Saturdays and Sundays from 3 to 6 p.m. (groups by telephone appointment). It publishes the quarterly "Awedis" and runs related digital projects such as Wiki.Ormianie (biograms of Polish Armenians) and the Treasury of Knowledge on Polish Armenians. It also engages with academic life: in March 2026 the Sadok Barącz Workshop on the History of Polish Armenians was inaugurated at the Institute of History of the Jagiellonian University, with the Foundation represented by board member Paweł Krzeczunowicz. The Foundation also marks commemorations such as the anniversary of the Armenian Genocide and organises conferences, including one in memory of Professor Alfred Ohanowicz.

The Foundation of Culture and Heritage of Polish Armenians was established on 7 April 2006 by a decree of Cardinal Józef Glemp, then ordinary of the Armenian Catholic Church in Poland. Its seat is in Warsaw. The Foundation's guiding idea is that Armenians have always been and continue to be an important part of Polish history and culture. From its creation, the Foundation was entrusted with the care of a significant body of Armenian heritage rescued from Armenian churches in the former eastern borderlands (Kresy) of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. This included a collection of early printed books, vestments, paintings and liturgical vessels. The Foundation's mandate was to catalogue, digitise and conserve these objects, and to continue gathering other Polish armenica. Its work has been supported by the Ministry of Administration and Digitisation and the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage. A central achievement is the Archive of Polish Armenians (Archiwum Polskich Ormian), which now comprises more than 3,600 objects, most of them originating from the eastern borderlands. The archive holds 87 manuscript books, 52 of them in Armenian; early printed books; books published after 1800; manuscript materials; 45 volumes of metrical registers; periodicals; more than 1,500 old photographs; documents; liturgical vestments and vessels; paintings; and memorabilia. The early-printed collection totals 380 volumes, including 16th- and 17th-century imprints and 39 damaged volumes. The document collection comprises 465 files covering various aspects of Armenian social life in the eastern borderlands. Digitised materials are made available through the Virtual Archive of Polish Armenians (Wirtualne Archiwum Polskich Ormian). This online resource presents the legacy of Archbishop Józef Teodorowicz, including correspondence and notes; the records of the parish offices of Stanisławów and Tyśmienica; metrical registers including those from Kuty; manuscripts, among them a scan of a page from the late-12th-century Skewra Gospel; fragments of early printed books; periodicals, mainly the interwar "Posłaniec św. Grzegorza"; and archival photographs, including the legacies of Father D. Kajetanowicz and S. Donigiewicz. Beyond archival work, the Foundation spreads knowledge about Polish Armenians and promotes Armenian history and culture. It maintains a permanent museum exhibition, the Treasury of Polish Armenians (Skarbiec Ormian Polskich), at Świętojerska 12 in Warsaw, open on Saturdays and Sundays from 3 to 6 p.m., with group visits by telephone appointment. It publishes the quarterly "Awedis" and runs related digital projects such as Wiki.Ormianie, which presents biograms of Polish Armenians, and the Treasury of Knowledge on Polish Armenians. The Foundation also engages with academic and commemorative life. In March 2026, the Sadok Barącz Workshop on the History of Polish Armenians was inaugurated at the Institute of History of the Jagiellonian University; the Foundation was represented by board member Paweł Krzeczunowicz. In April 2026, a conference in memory of Professor Alfred Ohanowicz was held at Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University in Warsaw, organised by representatives of the Armenian Youth Organization in Poland led by Susanna Garibian. The Foundation also participates in commemorations such as the anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, which in 2026 marked its 111th year with an Armenian Catholic Mass celebrated by Father Józef Naumowicz at the Dominican Church on Freta Street in Warsaw. A new board of the Foundation was announced on 1 February 2026.

• Foundation established by decree of Cardinal Józef Glemp, ordinary of the Armenian Catholic Church in Poland.

• Archive of Polish Armenians assembled, comprising more than 3,600 objects, mostly from the eastern borderlands.

• Virtual Archive of Polish Armenians launched online, presenting digitised materials.

• Treasury of Polish Armenians permanent exhibition opened at Świętojerska 12 in Warsaw.

• New Board of the Foundation announced.

• Sadok Barącz Workshop on the History of Polish Armenians inaugurated at the Institute of History of the Jagiellonian University.

• Academic conference in memory of Professor Alfred Ohanowicz held at Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University in Warsaw.

• Commemorations of the 111th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide began with an Armenian Catholic Mass in Warsaw.

A heritage and memory institution dedicated to preserving and promoting the history and culture of Polish Armenians.

• Archive of Polish Armenians (Archiwum Polskich Ormian)

  Holds more than 3,600 objects, including 87 manuscript books (52 in Armenian), 380 early printed volumes, 45 metrical registers, over 1,500 old photographs, documents, vestments, vessels and paintings.

• Virtual Archive of Polish Armenians (Wirtualne Archiwum Polskich Ormian)

  Online presentation of digitised materials, including the legacy of Archbishop Józef Teodorowicz, parish records, metrical registers, manuscripts, periodicals and photographs.

• Treasury of Polish Armenians (Skarbiec Ormian Polskich)

  Permanent museum exhibition at Świętojerska 12 in Warsaw, open Saturdays and Sundays 3–6 p.m.

• Awedis quarterly

  Quarterly publication of the Foundation; issue No. 66 was announced as available.

• Wiki.Ormianie

  Digital project presenting biograms of Polish Armenians.

• Treasury of Knowledge on Polish Armenians

  Digital knowledge resource on Polish Armenians.

1. 1Foundation of Culture and Heritage of Polish Armenians – official websitedziedzictwo.ormianie.pl
2. 2Inauguration of the activities of the Workshop named after Zadok Baracz on the history of Polish Armeniansdziedzictwo.ormianie.pl
3. 3About the Foundationdziedzictwo.ormianie.pl
4. 4Fundacja Kultury i Dziedzictwa Ormian Polskich – Wikidatawikidata.org
5. 5Fundacja Kultury i Dziedzictwa Ormian Polskich – Wikipedia (Polish)pl.wikipedia.org