Michael E. Stone
Prof. Stone was born in Leeds, England, and grew up in Australia. He received a D.Litt. from the University of Melbourne and a Ph.D. from Harvard University, where he studied under, among others, the late Prof. Avedis K. Sanjian.
Stone, who is Chairman of the Armenian Studies Program, has taught at the Hebrew University since 1965. He is currently Professor of Armenian Studies and Gail Levin de Nur Professor of Religious Studies at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
Selected Bibliography Books and Monographs (In addition to over 250 articles in Scholarly Journals)
1. (editorial assistant), Scrolls from the Wildlerness of the Dead Sea. ASOR, 1965.
2. The Testament of Levi: A First Study of the Armenian Manuscripts of the Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs in the Convent of St. James, Jerusalem. Jerusalem: St. James Press, 1969.
3. The Manuscript Library of the Armenian Patriarchate in Jerusalem. Jerusalem: St. James Press, 1969.
4. Apocryphal Fragments from Qumran and the Church Fathers. Jerusalem: Akademon, 1970 (with the assistance of E. Shefer; in Hebrew). * ed. Jerusalem: Akademon, 1970.
5. The Books of the Life of Adam and Eve and IV Baruch. Jerusalem: Akademon, 1970.
6. Concordance and Texts of Armenian IV Ezra. Oriental Notes and Studies, Jerusalem: Israel Oriental Society, 1971. 11,
7. The Testament of Abraham: A Translation of the Greek Versions. Texts and Translations Pseudepigrapha Series, 2. Missoula: Scholars Press, 1972.
8. Texts for the Understanding of Jewish and Pagan Religiosity in the Graeco-Roman Period. Jerusalem: Akademon, 1973.
9. The Armenian Version of the Testament of Joseph. Texts and Translations Pseudepigrapha Series, 6. Missoula: Scholars Press, 1975.
10. ed. Armenian and Biblical Studies. Jerusalem: St. James Press, 1976. 1,
11. with J. Strugnell, The Books of Elijah, Parts 1 and 2. Texts and Translations Pseudepigrapha Series, 5. Missoula: Scholars Press, 1979.
12. with B. Narkis, Armenian Art Treasures of Jerusalem. Jerusalem: Masada, 1979.
13. The Armenian Version of 4 Ezra. University of Pennsylvania Armenian Texts and Studies, 1. Missoula: Scholars Press, 1979.
14. Armenian Inscriptions from Sinai: Intermediate Report with Notes on Georgian and Nabatean Inscriptions. Sydney: Maitland, 1979.
15. Scriptures, Sects and Visions: A Profile of Judaism from Ezra to the Jewish Revolts. Philadelphia & Oxford: Fortress & Blackwells, 1980.
16. Signs of the Judgment, Onomastica Sacra and The Generations from Adam. University of Pennsylvania Armenian Texts and Studies, 3 ed. M.E. Stone. Chico: Scholars Press, 1981.
17. The Penitence of Adam. CSCO, 429-30; Scriptores Armeniaci, ed. R. Draguet. Leuven: Peeters, 1981. 13-14,
18. Armenian Apocrypha Relating to Patriarchs and Prophets. Jerusalem: Israel Academy of Sciences, 1982.
19. An Analytical Index of Armenian Apocrypha Relating to Patriarchs and Prophet. Jerusalem: Institute of Jewish Studies, 1982.
20. The Armenian Inscriptions from the Sinai with Appendixes on the Georgian and Latin Inscriptions by Michel van Esbroeck and W. Adler. Harvard Armenian Texts and Studies, 6; ed. R.W. Thomson. Cambridge: Harvard University, 1982.
21. with G.W.E. Nickelsburg, Faith and Piety in Early Judaism. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1982.
22. with T.J. Samuelian, Mediaeval Armenian Culture. University of Pennsylvania Armenian Texts and Studies, 6 Chico: Scholars Press, 1983.
23. ed. Jewish Writings of the Second Temple Period. Philadelphia and Assen: Fortress and van Gorcum, 1984. 2.2,
24. with S.P. Cowe, ed. Banin Spasaworn: N. Bogharian Festschrift. Paris: 1984.
25. with D. Satran, Emerging Judaism: Studies on the Fourth & Third Centuries B.C.E. Minneapolis: Augsberg-Fortress, 1989.
26. Features of the Eschatology of IV Ezra. Harvard Semitic Studies 35; Atlanta: Scholars, 1989.
27. Commentary on 4 Ezra. Hermeneia, Minneapolis: Augsberg-Fortress, 1990
28. Textual Commentary on the Armenian Version of 4 Ezra. SBLSCSS, 35; Atlanta: Scholars, 1990
29. Studies in the Pseudepigrapha, with Special Reference to the Armenian, Studia in Veteris Testamenti Pseudepigrapha, Leiden: Brill, 1991.
30. A History of the Literature of Adam and Eve , Early Judaism and its Literature, Scholars Press, Atalanta, 1992.
31. The Rock Inscriptions and Graffiti Project, Catalogue of Inscriptions, Volumes 1-2: Inscriptions 1-6000, Society of Biblical Literature Resources for Biblical Study, 28-29, Scholars Press, Atlanta, 1992.
32. The Rock Inscriptions and Graffiti Project, Catalogue of Inscriptions, Volumes 3 Inscriptions 6000-8500, Society of Biblical Literature Resources for Biblical Study, Scholars Press, Atlanta, 1993.
33. with G.A. Anderson, A Synopsis of the Primary Adam Literature, Atlanta, Scholars, 1994.
34. with S. Ajamian, Text and Context: Studies in the Armenian New Testament (University of Pennsylvania Armenian Texts and Studies, 13) Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1994.
35. with C. Zuckermann, Repertory of Printed Armenian Translations of Classical Works, Jerusalem, Institute of African and Asian Studies, 1996 (booklet).
36. Texts and Concordances of the Armenian Adam Literature, Vol. 1 (Early Judaism and Its Literature, 12) Atlanta: Scholars, 1996.
37. Armenian Apocrypha: Relating to Adam and Eve. Leiden: Brill, 1996
38. with E.G. Chazon, Biblical Perspectives: Early Use and Interpretation of the Bible in the Dead Sea Scrolls. Leiden: Brill, 1998.
39. with T.A. Bergren, Biblical Figures Outside the Bible. Trinity Press International, 1998.
1999
40. with E.G. Chazon, Pseudepigraphical Perspectives: The Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha in Light of the Dead Sea Scrolls (Studies on the Text of the Desert of Judea, 31) Leiden: Brill, 1999.
41. with G.A. Anderson, A Synopsis of the Books of Adam and Eve: New and Revised Edition. Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1999.
2000
42. with G.A. Anderson, Studies in the Books of Adam and Eve, in Literature on Adam and Eve: Collected Essays, ed. G. Anderson, M. Stone, J. Tromp. Leiden: Brill, 2000.
43. with M.E. Shirinian, Pseudo-Zeno: Anonymous Philsophical Treatise (Philisophia Antiqua, 83) Leiden: Brill, 2000.
44. with B.G.Wright and D. Satran, The Apocryphal Ezekiel (Early Judaism and its Literature, 18) Atlanta: SBL, 2000.
45. with R. Ervine, The Armenian Version of Epiphanius' On Weights and Measures, (CSCO) Subsidia, Leuven, 2000.
2001
46. with S.M. Paul and A. Pinnick (eds.), 'Al Kanfei Yonah: Collected Studies of Jonas C. Greenfield on Semitic Philology. Leiden and Jerusalem: Brill and Magnes, 2001.
47. Concordance of the Apocryphal Armenian Adam Books (Hebrew University Armenian Studies, 1) Leuven: Peeters, 2001.
49. Adam's Contract with Satan: The Legend of the Cheirograph of Adam. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 2001.
2002
48. Editor-in-Chief, with D. Kouymjian and H. Lehmann, Album of Armenian Paleography, Aarhus University Press, 2002
49. with R.R. Ervine and Nira Stone (eds.), The Armenians in Jerusalem and the Holy Land (Hebrew University Armenian Series, 4) Leuven: Peeters, 2002.
In Press
50. with Nira Stone, The Armenian Church, Dublin: Chester Beatty Library (50 pp. approx.)
51. with Gregory E. Sterling, Armenian Paradigms. Leuven, Peeters.
Under Preparation
52. Critical Edition of the Armenian Version of the Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs. Hebrew University Armenian Series.
53. with E. Eshel and J.C. Greenfield, The Aramaic Levi Document. SVTP, Leiden, Brill.
54. with Nira Stone, Catalogue of the Additional Armenian Manuscripts in the Chester Beatty Library, Dublin.
55. Adam and Eve in the Armenian Tradition, 3 vols.
56. Sinai Diary, sent to publisher.
NAASR ASSEMBLY HEARS ABOUT
ARMENIAN STUDIES IN JERUSALEM
New Directors and Officers Elected
Prof. Michael Stone of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem spoke at the luncheon program preceding the 47th Annual Assembly of the National Association for Armenian Studies and Research on the history and current activities of the Armenian Studies Program of the University. The Assembly was held on Saturday afternoon, November 3, 2001, at the NAASR Center and Headquarters in Belmont, MA.
Prof. Stone was born in Leeds, England, and grew up in Australia. He received a D.Litt. from the University of Melbourne and a Ph.D. from Harvard University, where he studied under, among others, the late Prof. Avedis K. Sanjian.
Stone, who is Chairman of the Armenian Studies Program, has taught at the Hebrew University since 1965 and possesses unique insight into the remarkable growth of the program during that period. Noting that Jerusalem has had profound significance for the Armenians as well as an important Armenian presence for many centuries, he observed that it is nonetheless surprising that in a nation such as Israel, with its population of about 6 million and a very small Armenian community, there should be such a program at all, much less such an active one. “Moreover,” he stated, “for most of the [program’s] 35 years of existence it has not had any outside support but was established and maintained by the Hebrew University from its own budget.”
Period of Dynamic Growth
Even though the program has long been successful, Stone pointed to the last few years as a period of dynamic growth. In addition to himself, Stone’s wife Nira teaches Armenian Art and Dr. Sergio LaPorta, who last year received a Ph.D. from Harvard University’s Armenian Studies program, serves as lecturer in Armenian. In all, between 40 and 60 students participate in Armenian Studies courses each year. The department holds a series of lectures each year directed to the Armenian and general Israeli public. There is also a Hebrew University Armenian Students Organization, and “the University reached an agreement with the Armenian Patriarchate [so that] an increasing number of clergy are receiving their education at the University.”
In addition to the success of the program in teaching, it has also engaged in other important undertakings. Stone highlighted the work that has been done in collecting and preserving Armenian inscriptions in the Holy Land, which include some of the oldest known uses of the Armenian alphabet. In addition, under the scientific direction of Prof. Bert Vaux of Harvard University’s Department of Linguistics, the program, in collaboration with the Israel Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia, has begun a study of the distinctive Armenian dialect of Jerusalem, which is nearly extinct.
Major Archeological Study
One of the more publicized accomplishments of the program has been the archeological study over the past two years of a medieval Jewish cemetery in Armenia. Stone said that “The results are remarkable, and the tombstones and inscriptions of the thirteenth-fourteenth centuries open up new windows on Armenian history as well as reveal the existence of a Jewish community in Armenia, of whose existence we knew nothing at all.” This project has been carried out in partnership with the Institute of Archeology of the Academy of Sciences of Armenia and the Diocese of Siunik of the Armenian Church. The findings will be published in the near future.
Another important project Prof. Stone is involved in is the Hebrew University Armenian Studies publications series, which continues the now-defunct University of Pennsylvania series. The first volume in the series has just been published, with three more currently in press and at least another three in preparation.
Prof. Stone concluded with the hope that the program will continue to develop dynamically and that it will go on “training young people in the language, literature, and history of the Armenians.” He observed that “We have a unique combination of circumstances, offer an unparalleled program and one of the highest levels of activity of any of the Armenian Chairs anywhere. Imagine, when peace comes, as we pray it will, how much more we will be able to achieve.”
Business Session and Elections
Following Prof. Stone’s talk, reports were given by the chairmen of the Assembly’s special committees: Erivan Hagopian of Lexington, Nominating; Jack Medzorian of Winchester, Constitution and Rules; Prof. Aram S. Karakashian of Waltham, New Business and Resolutions; and Bernard Zulalian of Belmont, Auditing. The Assembly was chaired by NAASR Board Chairman Manoog S. Young of Belmont, and Robert D. Bejoian of Cambridge served as Secretary of the Assembly.
Three new Directors were elected to the NAASR Board. The new Directors are: Dr. Joan Bamberger of Watertown, retired Associate Professor of Anthropology, Wellesley College; Rev. Nersess Jebejian of Pinellas Park, FL, Mission Parishes Coordinator of Florida and Louisiana of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church and NAASR Life Member; and Dr. Seda E. Keshishian of Lincoln, Clinical Psychologist and Instructor at Harvard University, Dept. of Psychiatry.
Re-elected as Directors were Van M. Aroian of Worcester, Bertha Mugurdichian of Providence, R.I., Dr. Moorad Mooradian of Springfield, VA, Helen Mardigian of Bloomfield Village, MI, James M. Kalustian of Arlington, and Manoog S. Young.
Nine States Represented
The NAASR Board of Directors consists of 27 members who serve 3-year terms. There are Directors from the following states: California (4), Florida (1), Illinois (1), Massachusetts (16), Michigan (1), New Jersey (1), New York (1), Rhode Island (1), and Virginia (1). There are also regional representatives appointed to represent NAASR in over 15 other sections of the country with major Armenian communities.
The members of the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors, elected subsequent to the Assembly, are Nancy R. Kolligian of Watertown, Chairman; Manoog S. Young, Chairman Emeritus; Raffi P. Yeghiayan of Lexington, Vice-Chairman; Prof. Aram S. Karakashian, Second Vice-Chairman; Van M. Aroian, Secretary; Yervant Chekijian of Boston, Treasurer; and Robert D. Bejoian, Advisor.
The continuing Directors are Dr. Gregory H. Adamian of Medford; Anton Boghossian of Belmont; Dr. Vartkes L. Broussalian of Granada Hills, CA; Dr. Vatche Ghazarian of Waltham; Berjoohy Haigazian of Mt. Laurel, NJ; M. Hrair Karamanoukian of Hollywood, CA; Karen Kazarosian of Watertown; Michael Kilijian of Fresno, CA; Jack M. Medzorian; Armand K. Mirijanian of Morton Grove, IL; Debra Saryan of Andover; Joyce Sulahian of New York, NY; and Charles J. Tateosian of Walnut Creek, CA.
Further information about NAASR and its programs to further Armenian studies, research, and publication is available by writing to its national headquarters at 395 Concord Ave., Belmont, MA 02478, by phone at 617-489-1610, by e-mail at hq@naasr.org, or by fax at 617-484-1759.