Hidden among the calm waters of the Venetian lagoon, the island of San Lazzaro degli Armeni is a refuge of peace and culture, far from the most crowded tourist routes. Small in size, but rich in history, the island holds a fascinating story and an invaluable treasure for Armenian culture: the monastery of the Mechitarist monks.
Founded in 1715 by Mechitar, an Armenian monk fleeing Ottoman persecution, the monastery has become a center of spirituality and cultural preservation, where books, manuscripts, and centuries-old traditions blend into a harmonious intertwining. One of the most fascinating examples of this tradition is
Vartanush, a rose jam
that has its roots in an ancient Armenian recipe passed down by the monks over the centuries. The island of San Lazzaro, which once housed a leper colony, was granted to Mechitar by the Republic of Venice in 1715 to allow him to establish a monastic community. Since then, it has become a symbol of cultural and religious resistance, thanks to the Mechitarist monks who, following the rule of Saint Benedict, transformed the island into a place of study, prayer, and preservation of Armenian heritage.
In addition to its spiritual vocation, the island is known for its lush garden, located in the northern part. This garden, maintained with great dedication, hosts several varieties of roses, such as the dog rose and the damask rose.
In this garden
the roses are not simple decorative flowers
but a fundamental part of a tradition that continues to flourish. Every May, at the first light of morning, the monks carefully gather the petals of wild rose and damask rose, choosing the best flowers and working them by hand with great attention. The resulting jam is a symbol of patience and dedication: the petals are mixed with sugar and lemon juice, left to macerate, and then cooked until a velvety consistency is achieved and an aroma that evokes the scent of a garden in full bloom is released. The result is a jam of intense red color, whose delicate flavor carries with it all the charm of freshly picked roses.
Inserted in the Arc of Taste by Slow Food
It represents one of those traditional food products at risk of disappearing, which the initiative aims to preserve and enhance. In this way, what is born in a small corner of the Venetian lagoon becomes a universal symbol of biodiversity and respect for tradition.
For centuries, this jam has been a specialty reserved for the internal consumption of the monastery, which was traditionally offered to visitors of the island as a sign of hospitality and as a symbol of the spiritual and material wealth of the monastery.
As of today, even tourists arriving in San Lazzaro can purchase it, not just as a simple souvenir, but as an authentic witness to Armenian culture.
Offering this product to the outside world allows the monks to share their history and traditions, enabling visitors to take a piece of this ancient culture with them.
San Lazzaro degli Armeni represents a precious bastion of Armenian culture in the heart of the Venetian lagoon, where the production of Vartanush, with its meticulous attention to detail and respect for centuries-old traditions, demonstrates how the Mechitarist monks have been able to keep their identity alive, even far from their homeland.
Therefore, Vartanush is not just a rose jam, but a concentration of history, dedication, and love for a tradition that continues to bloom, like the roses in the gardens of San Lazzaro.
