There are people in the history of Russia who significantly influenced its development. One of these people is Hovhannes Lazaryan, whom his contemporaries knew under the name of Ivan Lazarev. It was with his light hand that the resettlement of Armenians to Russian land and the provision of all rights to them began.
Ivan Lazarev came to Russia as a child - his family, fleeing the war in Persia, came to Moscow. The Lazaryan family was ancient and respected: they were diplomats, financiers, merchants. In Moscow, the head of the family quickly achieved success, opening weaving factories, where they bought goods even for Empress Elizabeth II.
It was at this time that the first Armenians began to come to Moscow, and Aghazar Lazyaryan helped to improve certain quarters for them.
Biography
When Ivan grew up, his father sent him to get an education in St. Petersburg. The young man studied and at the same time was engaged in commerce: he traded in silk, took up jewelry. He was well versed in precious stones and thanks to this he met the court jeweler of Empress Catherine - the Frenchman Jeremy Pozier. He even invited the young man to become something like his companion. This opened the doors to the upper world for Ivan. He quickly got used to it, because he often lent money to high-ranking officials. And soon he became a friend of a Russian celebrity - Count Orlov. Since Orlov was close to Catherine, he could form a patronage to Lazarev.
Brilliant career
Once it happened: Jeremy Pozier left Russia, and Orlov advised his friend Ivan as a court jeweler. Catherine made an order: to make several orders and purchase precious rarities. Lazarev did everything to the highest level, he liked his work, and he received the highest favor, becoming Catherine's personal advisor in the jewelry business. He also took the position of the leading financier of the Russian Empire.
Famous diamond
The whole world knows about the huge diamond "Orlov", which the favorite presented to the Empress. However, this name does not reflect the origin of the jewel, for it was not Orlov who found it, but Lazarev. This stone belonged to their family. When they fled from Persia, they took with them jewelry, among which was this huge diamond - the size of a walnut.
The diamond belonged to the ruler of Persia, Nadir Shah, and Ivan's uncle was his close friend. When the Shah was killed, he appropriated the stone, and then presented it to his nephew.
Ivan kept the diamond in a bank in Amsterdam, so at first it bore two names: "Amsterdam" and "Lazarevsky". In addition, Dutch jewelers skillfully cut the jewel into the shape of a rose. Lazarev sold this diamond to Orlov, who presented it to Catherine in the hope of further favor. Therefore, later the stone began to be called "Orlov".
Catherine generously paid the jeweler for his efforts: he received a title of nobility. Once at an audience she allowed Ivan to ask for whatever he wants. And then he asked for permission to build a church for the Armenians so that they would pray as they were accustomed to. His request was granted, and the church was built on Nevsky Prospect.
In old age, Lazarev was engaged in a lot of patronage, and after his death, by will, all his fortune was used to build a school for Armenian children from poor families in Moscow. This school was opened by Ekim Lazarev - Ivan's brother. Later it was transformed into the Lazarev Institute of Oriental Languages, which later became part of the Institute of Oriental Studies.
