Unique 17th-Century Manuscript Calendar in the Treasury of Etchmiadzin

A unique manuscript written in the first quarter of the 17th century recently complemented the treasury of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, reports the Armenian Shoghakat TV channel.

The monthly notebook (church calendar) created by Priest Hovhannes dates back to 1625. Its double silver cover was made by master Shahmir Karapet in 1656. This manuscript is one of the best examples of the Caesarean school.

The first page of the manuscript depicts the scene of the baptism of the Armenian royal family by the first Patriarch of Armenia Gregory the Illuminator, as well as depicts the Cathedral of St. Etchmiadzin, Mount Ararat, and Noah’s Ark.

On the second page is the founder of the Armenian writing system St. Mesrop Mashtots, Catholicos Sahak Partev who together with Mashtots popularized the new writing system, and outstanding 12th-century thinker, Armenian Catholicos Nerses Shnorhali.

“We are pleased that the pious believers who had inherited family relics decided to hand them over to the Holy Church where they will be open to the public,” said Priest Asoghik Karapetyan, the director of the museums and archives of the Mother See of Holy Echmiadzin.

Today, we know about 21 works of the Caesarean school which are kept in the USA, the UK, Venice, and the Yerevan Institute of Ancient Manuscripts Matenadaran in Armenia. In the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, another similar calendar dating back to 1699 is safeguarded as well.

Մայր Աթոռ Սուրբ Էջմիածինը ձեռք է բերել 1625 թվականի ձեռագիր մատյան