ALIŠAN, LEONZIO. - Mekhitarist monk of Venice, b. in Constantinople in 1820, d. in Venice, renowned for sanctity, on 22 Nov. 1901. He entered the monastery of Venice and, ordained priest in 1840, taught for several years at the Raphaelian College, founded and directed by the Mekhitarists, of which he was director in 1844 and 1866. In 1843, collaborating with Fr. G. Aivazovski, he revived *Pazmaveb*, the organ of the Congregation, which promoted the religious and cultural needs of the Armenian nation. From 1859 to 1861, he directed the Muraitar College in Paris, also founded and run by the Mekhitarists of Venice for the education of Armenian youth. In 1872, he was transferred to the monastery of St. Lazarus, where he conceived and composed his numerous works, filled with erudition on all aspects of ancient history, archaeology, and Armenian topography.
Ališan’s output was exceedingly vast: ascetical and poetic works, through which he rose to fame as the greatest poet of his time, collected in five volumes (Venice 1857–58); historical and geographical works: *Geografia dell’Armenia illustrata* (ibid. 1853); *Airarat* (ibid. 1890); *Sissuan* (ibid. 1885); *Sirak* (ibid. 1886); *Sissakan* (ibid. 1893); *L’antica fede degli Armeni, mitologia armena* (ibid. 1895); *L’aurora del cristianesimo degli Armeni* (ibid. 1901); *Frammenti e vestigia dell’Armenia* (ibid. 1870–1902).