"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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»   Armenian illuminated miniatures

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Incipition, manuscript by Grigor, early 11th century, ms5547 Matenadaran collection

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Incipition, 1069, Gospel from Narek monastery, ms10434 Matenadaran collection

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Incipit from the Gospel of St. Luke, 1069, Narek monastery, ms10434 Matenadaran collection

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Incipit from the Gospel of St. John, 1069, Narek monastery, ms10434 Matenadaran collection

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Incipit from the Gospel of St. Matthew, 1100, Horomos monastery, ms7635 Matenadaran collection

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Incipit from the Gospel of St. Mark, 1100, Horomos monastery, ms7635 Matenadaran collection

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Incipit from the Gospel of St. Luke, 1100, Horomos monastery, ms7635 Matenadaran collection

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Incipit from the Gospel of St. John, 1100, Horomos monastery, ms7635 Matenadaran collection

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Incipition, The Red Gospel, by T’ut’ayel, Constantinople, by order of Ter Asot, Bishop of Aine, 1236-1242, ms6202 Matenadaran collection

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Incipition, The Red Gospel, by T’ut’ayel, Constantinople, by order of Ter Asot, Bishop of Aine, 1236-1242, ms6202 Matenadaran collection

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Incipit from the Gospel of St. Mark, Zeytun Gospel, by Toros Roslin, 1256, ms10450 Matenadaran collection

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Incipit from the Gospel of St. Luke, Zeytun Gospel, by Toros Roslin, 1256, ms10450 Matenadaran collection

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Incipit from the Gospel of St. John, Zeytun Gospel, by Toros Roslin, 1256, ms10450 Matenadaran collection

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Opening page of St. Matthew Gospel, by Toros Roslin, 1262, W.539 Walters collection

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Gospel from Hromkla, Cilicia, 1270, ms7648 Matenadaran collection

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Opening page of St. Luke Gospel, by Toros Roslin, 1262, W.539 Walters collection

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The Gospel of St. John, Chapter 1, first page, Shukhonts manuscripts, 13th century

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Title page of St. Matthew Gospel, by Sargis Pidzak, Gospel of Eight Painters, 1320, ms7651 Matenadaran collection

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The Gospel of St. Mark, Chapter 1, first page, by Toros Taronatsi, 1318, ms206 Gladzor monastery, Matenadaran collection

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The Gospel of St. John, Chapter 1, first page, by Toros Taronatsi, 1323, Gladzor monastery, ms6289 Matenadaran collection

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The Gospel of St. Matthew, Chapter 1, first page, by Sargis Pidzak, 1336, Sis, Cilicia, ms5786 Matenadaran collection

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Gospel of Smbat Sparapet, 1376, Crimea, ms7644 Matenadaran collection

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Gospel by Hovhaness vardapet Khizantsi, 1390-1400, Khizan monastery, ms346 Matenadaran collection

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Opening page of St. Matthew Gospel, by Mesrop Khzanetsi, 1609, The Bodleian Library

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Opening page of St. Mark Gospel, by Mesrop Khzanetsi, 1609, The Bodleian Library

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Opening page of St. Luke Gospel, by Mesrop Khzanetsi, 1609, The Bodleian Library

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Opening page of St. John Gospel, by Mesrop Khzanetsi, 1609, The Bodleian Library

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The Gospel of St. Matthew, Chapter 1, first page, 17th century, Gospel from St. Sargis monastery, Tigranakert (Amida), W.541 Walters collection 

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The Gospel of St. John, Chapter 1, first page, 17th century, Gospel from St. Sargis monastery, Tigranakert (Amida), W.541 Walters collection 

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