Vahan Hovanessian’s Novel ‘The Mandylion’ Released in English

In 2013, Vahan Hovanessian released his novel “The Mandylion,” written in Russian and made available in Yerevan bookstores only. This month, Havanessian, a former candidate for the Armenian presidency and currently serving as Armenia’s ambassador to Germany, released an English translated version of his novel, available as an e-book on Amazon.

“’The Mandylion’ is best for those who really love history,” Hovanessian says. The book is an intellectual thriller spanning several historical epochs. The quest for an ancient secret, full of dangers and adventures, develops on the background of the history of Armenians and peoples of the Eastern Mediterranean, intertwined with the history of Christianity and the struggle of Christian people of the region for their freedom.

“The plot involves historical figures like King Abgar and Emperor Constantin XI and describes historical events like the Fall of Constantinople in details often omitted from textbooks,” explains Hovanessian.

Hovanessian says he sought to release the book in English after the book’s reception exceeded his expectations and significant pressure was put on him by readers in the diaspora who were interested in the novel.

The English edition of “The Mandylion” is available on Amazon.com as a downloadable e-book for $9.99.