MEKHITARISTS, raelel-titr-ists. A congre gation of Armenian Christians who reside on the island of San Lazaro at Venice, but have also obtained a footing in France, Austria. Turkey, Russia, and elsewhere. They derive their name from Alekhitar (i.e. the Comforter) Da Petro (born 1676, died 1749), who in 1701 founded at Constantinople a religions society for the purpose of diffusing the knowledge of the old Armenian language and literature. in 1702 the society removed to the Norea, then under the rule of Venice. and founded a convent at Motion. Pope Clement XI. in 1712 confirmed the congregation. gave it the Benedictine rule, and made Mekhitar its abbot. The war between Turkey and Venice compelled its transference in 1715 to Venice, where, on the island of San Lazaro, the Mekhi Wrists held a convention in 1717. In 1773 a split in the congregation ()velum'. and a branch is no».
established in Vienna. The Mekliitarists acknowl edge the supremacy of the Homan Pontiff. The most useful occupation of the Venetian branch is printing the classic writings of Armenian litera ture, including an Armenian translation of the Bible (1734); their editions are universally ad mitted to be the hest and most correct. They also issue a journal, which is much read through out the Levant. Those in Vienna eonduet a Ger man bookstore. For the history of those at. Venice, consult : Bon% Le convent de Saint Lazaro d Fenise, at histoire succinct(- de Pordre des hleehitaristes arnieniens (Paris, 1837) : also La nglois, Le eourent artnenien de Fenix(' (Paris, 1809) ; for those at Vienna, consult Scherer, the itechitaristea in Wirn (5th ed., Vienna. IS92).