"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 Wedding at Cana

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The wedding at Cana, by Grigor Sukiasants, 1332, Crimea, ms7664 Matenadaran collection

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The wdding at Cana, by Aristakes Tzeruni, Aghtamar Gospels, 1391, Aghtamar, lake Van, ms8772 Matenadaran collection

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»   Preaching and miracles of Jesus

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The Miracles of Jesus, Gospel of Taron, 1038, ms6201 Matenadaran collection

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Jesus walks on water, the Multiplication of the loaves and fish, by Hagop Markare, Haghbat Gospel, 1211, Horomos monastery, ms6288 Matenadaran collection

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Miracle of the draught of fishes, by Toros Roslin, 1262, W.539 Walters collection

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Jesus walks on water, by Toros Roslin, 1262, W.539 Walters collection

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The feeding of the five thousand, by Toros Roslin, 1262, W.539 Walters collection

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Jesus blesses the children, by Toros Roslin, 1262, W.539 Walters collection

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The cleansing of the leper, by Toros Roslin, 1262, W.539 Walters collection

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The raising of the daughter of Jairus, by Toros Roslin, 1262, W.539 Walters collection

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Christ and the woman from Samaria, by Toros Roslin, 1262, W.539 Walters collection

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Christ anointed at the house of Lazarus, by Toros Roslin, 1262, W.539 Walters collection

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Jesus walks on water, by Aristakes Tzeruni, Aghtamar Gospels, 1391, Aghtamar, lake Van, ms8772 Matenadaran collection

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The miracles of Jesus Christ, by Hrstakess Khizanetsi, 1397, Khizan, Vaspurakan, ms7629 Matenadaran collection

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Feeding the multitude, by Daniel of Uranc, 1433,  ms4963 Matenadaran collection

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Jesus walking on water, by Daniel of Uranc, 1433,  ms4963 Matenadaran collection

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Jesus healing,  by Aristakes, 1475, Lake Van, W.540 Walters collection 

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»   The raising of Lazarus

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The raising of Lazarus, by Evargis the priest, Gospel of Taron, 1038, ms6201 Matenadaran collection

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The raising of Lazarus, by Hovhannes Sandghkavanetsi, 1060, Mugni Gospels, ms7736 Matenadaran collection

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The raising of Lazarus, 1236, Gospel from Julfa, Isfahan, Iran, ms36 Armenian Cathedral Library

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The raising of Lazarus, by Toros Roslin, Malatia Gospels, 1268, Hromkla monastery, ms10675 Matenadaran collection

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The raising of Lazarus, by Toros Roslin, 1268, ms32.18 Freer Gallery of Art, Washington

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The raising of Lazarus, by Sargis Pidzak, 1280, Hromkla, Cilicia, ms9422 Matenadaran collection

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Jesus with Martha and Mary Magdalene. The raising of Lazarus, Nimbus manuscripts, 13th century, ms302 The Morgan Library, New York

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The raising of Lazarus, by Thomas Markare, 1315, Khordeants monastery, Nakhichevan, ms2930 Matenadaran collection

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The Baptism & the raising of Lazarus, by Sargis Pidzak, 1336, Sis, Cilicia, ms5786 Matenadaran collection

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The raising of Lazarus, by monk Avag, 1337, Agarak monastery, ms212 Matenadaran collection

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The raising of Lazarus, 1609, by Mesrop Khzanetsi, The Bodleian Library

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