"I Confess With Faith" Saint Nerses Shnorhali – the Gracious (1102 – 1173) "ՀԱՎԱՏՈՎ ԽՈՍՏՈՎԱՆԻՄ" Ս. ՆԵՐՍԵՍԻ ՇՆՈՐՀԱԼԻՈՅ

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Armenian illuminated manuscripts

A collection of the best known and most characteristic illuminated manuscripts of the Armenian Church

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Armenian illuminated manuscripts form one of the most beautiful traditions of the Medieval Armenian art. The earliest surviving examples date from the 5th century, following the invention of the Armenian alphabet by Masrop Mashtots Մեսրոպ Մաշտոց (362-440). Very few fragments dated from the 5th-7th centuries have been survived. The oldest preserved in its entirety dates from the 9th century. 13th-14th centuries form the golden age of the Armenian calligraphy. Among the greatest Armenian miniaturists is Toros Roslin Թորոս Ռոսլին (1210-1270), who lived and worked in the Armenian kingdom of CIlicia.

Armenian Illuminated manuscripts are remarkable for their festive designs based on the Armenian  religious life and culture. lluminated manuscripts mostly recount the Holy Bible, in particular the Holy Gospels, as well as many aspects of the religious life and teachings of the Armenian Church. Most of the manuscripts were written and illustrated by monks. Armenian monasteries have been for centuries the centres of religious art and literature. Most of those manuscripts are exquisitely elaborated, covered in gilt and brilliant colors. It was a common belief that the beauty of the illustration could refresh the human mind and spirit.

Of the 31,000 Armenian manuscripts currently listed around the world, about 10,000 of them are ornamented, with 5,000 – 7,000 of them containing miniatures. Most of these manuscripts are preserved in the Matenadaran Institute of Yerevan (more than ten thousand manuscripts and fragments of manuscripts).

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»   The Four Evangelists

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The Four Evangelists, Gospel of early 10th century, ms697 Mekhitarists Library Vienna

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The Evangelists St. Mark and St. Luke, Gospel of Translators, 965-967, W.537 Walters collection

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The Evangelists St. Luke and St. John, the so-called “Second Echmiadzin Gospel”, 10th century, ms2555 Jerusalem Armenian Patriarchate

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The Four Evangelists, by Hovaness, 1018, Kgharit monastery, Talask, ms4804 Matenadaran collection

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The Four Evangelists, by Evargis the priest, 1038, Gospel of Taron, ms6201 Matenadaran collection

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The Four Evangelists, by Samuel the priest, Melitine Gospel, 1041, Melitine, Sebastia, ms3624 Jerusalem Armenian Patriarchate

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The Four Evangelists, by Husik, 1045, Melitene, Sebastia by order of Catholicos Bedros, ms3723 Matenadaran collection

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The Four Evangelists, 1050, Melitene, Sebastia, ms974 Matenadaran collection

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The Four Evangelists, 1064, from Shukhra Khandaria, Cappadokia, ms1924 Jerusalem Armenian Patriarchate collection

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The Four Evangelists, Stepanos and Nikolayos Arakel, 1269, Crimea, ms2705 Matenadaran collection

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»   St. Matthew the Evangelist

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St. Matthew the Evangelist, Queen Mlk’é Gospels, 851-862, Mekhitarists’ Library, San Lazaro, Venice

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St. Matthew the Evangelist, by Hovaness, The Beqiwnc’ Gospel, 1044-1060, ms10099 Matenadaran collection

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St. Matthew the Evangelist, by Hovhannes of Besuntz, 1053, Sandika Monastery (near Ani), ms3793 Matenadaran collection

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St. Matthew the Evangelist, by Tiranu Grigor, 1232, Targmanchats Gospels, ms2743 Matenadaran collection

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St. Matthew the Evangelist, by Tiranu Grigor, 1237, ms7700 Matenadaran collection

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St. Matthew the Evangelist, by Toros Roslin, 1262, W.539 Walters collection

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St. Matthew the Evangelist, by Barsegh, 1270, Grner monastery, ms345 Matenadaran collection

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St. Matthew the Evangelist, by Simon monk, 1293, Skevra monastery, Cilicia, ms5784 Matenadaran collection 

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St. Matthew the Evangelist, by Grigor Tatevatsi, 1297, monastery of Tatev, ms7482 Matenadaran collection

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St. Matthew the Evangelist, by Sargis Pidzak, 1336, Sis, Cilicia, ms5786 Matenadaran collection

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St. Matthew the Evangelist, by Grigor of Syunik, 14th century, ms6305 Matenadaran collection

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St. Matthew the Evangelist, 14th century, Cilicia, Matenadaran collection

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St. Matthew the Evangelist, by Aristakes, 1475, Lake Van, W.540 Walters collection 

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St. Matthew the Evangelist, by Hagop Jughayetsi, 1610, Isfahan of Djoulfa, ms7639 Matenadaran collection

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St. Matthew the Evangelist, by Mesrop Khzanetsi, 1609, The Bodleian Library

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»   St. Mark the Evangelist

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St. Mark the Evangelist, Queen Mlk’e Gospel, 851-862, Mekhitarists’ Library, San Lazaro, Venice

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St. Mark the Evangelist, by Hovhannes of Besuntz, 1053, Sandika Monastery (near Ani), ms3793 Matenadaran collection

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St. Mark the Evangelist, by Toros Roslin, 1262, W.539 Walters collection

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St. Mark the Evangelist, 1265 Bible, ms2027 Jerusalem Armenian Patriarchate

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St. Mark the Evangelist, by Sargis Pidzak, 1276, Hromkla, Cilicia, ms7648 Matenadaran collection

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St. Mark the Evangelist, by Khachadur, Tiflis Gospels, ms546 Matenadaran collection

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St. Mark the Evangelist, by Sargis Pidzak, 1351, Hromkla, Cilicia, ms6292 Matenadaran collection

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St. Mark the Evangelist, by Toros Roslin, Malatia Gospels, 1268, Hromkla monastery, ms10675 Matenadaran collection

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St. Mark the Evangelist, Sebastia Gospel, 12th century, ms311 Matenadaran collection

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St. Mark the Evangelist, by Smbat sparapet, 1376, Crimea, ms7644 Matenadaran collection

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St. Mark the Evangelist, by Mesrop Khzanetsi, 1609, The Bodleian Library

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»   St. Luke the Evangelist

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St. Luke the Evangelist, Queen Mlk’e Gospel, 851-862, Mekhitarists’ Library, San Lazaro, Venice

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St. Luke the Evangelist, by Hovhannes of Besuntz, 1053, Sandika Monastery (near Ani), ms3793 Matenadaran collection

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St. Luke the Evangelist, by Toros Roslin, 1262, W.539 Walters collection

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St. Luke the Evangelist, by Toros Roslin, 1265, Zeytun Gospel, ms10450 Matenadaran collection

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St. Luke the Evangelist, by Toros Roslin, 13th century

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St. Luke the Evangelist, by Sargis Pidzak, 1351, Hromkla, Cilicia, ms6292 Matenadaran collection

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St. Luke the Evangelist, by Mesrop Khzanetsi, monastery of Khizan, 1605-1651, Paul Getty museum

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St. Luke the Evangelist, by Mesrop Khzanetsi, 1609, The Bodleian Library

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»   St. John the Evangelist

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St. John the Evangelist, Queen Mlk’e Gospel, 851-862, Mekhitarists’ Library, San Lazaro, Venice

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St. John the Evangelist, by Hovhannes of Besuntz, 1053, Sandika Monastery (near Ani), ms3793 Matenadaran collection

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St. John the Evangelist, by Hovhannes Sandghkavanetsi, 1060, Mugni Gospels, ms7736 Matenadaran collection

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St. John the Evangelist, 12th century, ms7737 Matenadaran collection

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St. John the Evangelist, 1224, Khoranashat vank, Artsakh, ms4823 Matenadaran collection

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St. John the Evangelist, by Tiranu Grigor, 1232, Targmanchats Gospels, ms2743 Matenadaran collection

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St. John the Evangelist, Toros Roslin, Queen Keran Gospel, 1262, ms2563 Jerusalem Arm.Patriarchate

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St. John the Evangelist and Prochorus, by Toros Roslin, 1262, W.539 Walters collection

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St. John the Evangelist, by Toros Roslin, 1265, Zeytun Gospel, ms10450 Matenadaran collection

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St. John the Evangelist, 1265 Bible, ms2027 Jerusalem Armenian Patriarchate

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St. John the Evangelist, by Toros Roslin, Malatia Gospels, 1268, ms10675 Matenadaran collection

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St. John the Evangelist, by monk Avag, 1337, Agarak monastery, ms212 Matenadaran collection

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St. John the Evangelist, by Mesrop Khzanetsi, monastery of Khizan, 1605-1651, Paul Getty museum

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St. John the Evangelist, by Mesrop Khzanetsi, 1609, The Bodleian Library

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St. John the Evangelist, Malnazar Gospels, 1637, Paul Getty museum

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