Transfiguration

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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 Transfiguration of the Lord

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M974G_3_TransfigurationLazarus

The Transfiguration of our Lord and the raising of Lazarus, 1050, Melitene, Sebastia, ms974 Matenadaran collection

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M7736G_15_Transfiguration

The Transfiguration of the Lord, by Hovhannes Sandghkavanetsi, 1060, Mugni Gospels, ms7736 Matenadaran collection

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The Transfiguration of Jesus Christ, by Toros Roslin, 1262, W.539 Walters collection

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tfiguration nkar_2407

The Transfiguration of the Lord, 1265, Gospel of Keran, ms1965 Jerusalem Armenian Patriarchate

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1-Toros Roslin-Transfiguration-1265-72

The Transfiguration of the Lord, by Toros Roslin, 1256, Zeytun Gospel, ms10450 Matenadaran collection

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M10675G_Transfiguration

The Transfiguration of the Lord, by Toros Roslin, Malatia Gospels, 1268, Hromkla monastery, ms10675 Matenadaran collection

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The Transfiguration of our Lord, by Momik, 1302, Noravank, ms6792 Matenadaran collection

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jesus_transfiguration_armenian

The Transfiguration of our Lord, by Toros Taronatsi, 1307, Gladzor monastery, ms1917 Matenadaran collection

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1330-ms2929-transfiguration.jpg

The Transfiguration of our Lord, Gospel from village of Urunkar, 1330, ms2929 Matenadaran collection

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1336-ms5786-pentecost-e1565792082556.jpg

The Transfiguration of our Lord & the Holy Pentecost, by Sargis Pidzak, 1336, Sis, Cilicia, ms5786 Matenadaran collection

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The Transfiguration of our Lord, by Aristakes Tzeruni, Aghtamar Gospels, 1391, Aghtamar, lake Van, ms8772 Matenadaran collection

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ms6305-tfiguration

The Transfiguration of the Lord, by Grigor monk, Syunik, 14th century, ms6305 Matenadaran collection

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1482-ms942-tfiguration

The Transfiguration of our Lord, 1428, monastery of St. Stepanos, Maghard, Iran, ms942 Matenadaran collection 

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