The contribution of the Venice Mekhitarist Congregation to Armenian mu­si­cology is remarkable and worthy of special research. It is mainly reflected in the pages of the jour­nal “Bazmavep”.  

The foundation for musical and musicological tradition was laid more than three hundred years ago, by the founder Abbot Mekhitar of Sebaste. 

Subsequently, other members of the Congregation were distinguished by their mu­sical talent, and among them F. Ignatios Kyureghian was one of the most outstanding. He studied the Armenian khaz-written manuscripts with great di­ligence. In 1898, F. Ignatios re-published the Armenian “Book of Hours” on the basis of the selected manuscripts of the Mekhitarist Congregation in Venice. 

His most important musicological work was published in “Baz­­mavep”, in 1900, 1903 and 1904, in a large series of articles, titled “Inves­ti­ga­tion of Shara­kan Khazes” and consists of author’s writings and translated sections. 

This represents a comparative investigation, the first article of which is in­tro­ductory, and the next is a passage translated from the French researcher Ch. Vil­loteau’s book “Description de L’Egipte”, published in 1809. The passage is de­voted to the Armenian me­dieval khaz-signs. Then F. Ignatios puts in writing his thoughts about the khazes, com­paring them with neumes – the signs of Gre­go­rian singing. The author tries to find explanation for the connection between kha­zes and their designs. 

This work is remarkable for being one of the first attempts to decipher the Ar­me­nian medieval khazes. This is the first in-depth theoretical research which then stimulated many further studies, and it has preserved its scientific value up to now.