Jan Hasso Agopsowicz (1915-1982) : Armenian, Bibliophile, Creator of Bookplates

The article presents the biography of Jan Hasso Agopsowicz (1915-1982), Polish Armenian, full of merit for the Armenian environment in Poland. He was born in Kociubińce, Eastern Galicia, in the Armenian landowning family. In 1931- 1938 he studied in Rome, at the Papal Armenian College and Gregorian University, preparing himself for the adoption of priestly orders in the Armenian rite. In October 1938 he resigned from finalisation of the theological studies and returned to Poland. After World War II, he lived in Nowy Sącz, where he was a manager of the analytical laboratory in the municipal hospital. Agopsowicz focused a lot on the situation of the Armenian diaspora in Poland and the activity of the Armenian environment. He wanted to guarantee the pastoral care for Catholic Armenians in Poland and to ensure the persistence of the Armenian rite so he intervened with the Holy See and Primate Stefan Wyszyński. Furthermore, he engaged in artistic activity. Creation of bookplates was his passion – he designed 240 bookplates. Interests of Agopsowicz concerning the Armenian history and culture, as well as his numerous contacts with Armenians, led to the creation of several dozen bookplates with Armenian themes. Moreover, he gathered a large book collection relating to Armenian themes in different languages. He died in Nowy Sącz and was buried at the Rakowicki Cemetery in Krakow.