Details
ARMENIAN HYMNAL [SARAKNOC'], copied by the scribe Zak'ariay, ILLUMINATED MANUSCRIPT ON VELLUM
[City of Van, Eastern Armenia (now Turkey) A.D.1516]
122x84mm, 317 leaves, COMPLETE, collation: 1-1012 1110 12-1412 1512+1(3 added) 1612 1712-1(1 cancelled) 18-2612 278-1(2 cancelled). 23 lines, ruled in red, justification 91x58mm, written in black ink in a small bolorgir, rubrics in red, first lines of main hymns [Kanon] in gold bolorgir, with initials in colours and gold, paragraph initials in gold, supralinear neumes [Khaz signs]. 45 MARGINAL MINIATURES, 4 HALF-PAGE AND 5 SMALL HEADPIECES, 5 LARGE OR FULL-PAGE MINIATURES, (SOME HEADPIECES CROPPED, ONE MINIATURE SLIGHTLY RUBBED, SOME FINGERSOILING PARTICULARLY IN LOWER OUTER CORNER DUE TO USE). CONTEMPORARY BLIND-TOOLED BROWN CALF BINDING. THE DECORATION OF THE UPPER COVER CONSISTS OF A LARGE EIGHT-LOBED ROSETTE INTERSECTED BY TWO SQUARES, LARGE INTERLACED STRAPWORK ORNAMENTS ABOVE AND BELOW, LOWER COVER PANELLED WITH A FLORAL OUTER ROLL SURROUNDING A GEOMETRIC RECTANGULAR STRAPWORK BLOCK, FLAP TOOLED WITH STRAPWORK ORNAMENTS, RED SILK DOUBLURES (THONGS LACKING, BOARDS BUCKLED; STITCHING HAS PARTLY BECOME DETACHED FROM THE BACKSTRIP)
PROVENANCE:
(1) The principal colophon on folios 310b-311a records that 'this book of modes' was written in 965 Armenian era [A.D.1516] by the scribe Zak'ariay, in the capital city of Van, under the shelter of the Church of St.Peter and St.Paul, during the Catholicate of Ter Zak'ariay [IInd, Valarsapetec'i, 1515-1520] of All Armenians, during the prelacy of Grigor vardapet and Karapet "the newly appointed bishop" at the monastery of Varag. In a second memorial note on folio 91b the scribe Zak'ariay records that he "copied the Saraknoc' [Hymnal] in memory of his own and his parents' souls and for the enjoyment of his sons Step'anos sarkawag [deacon] in the Armenian era 961", this is actually 1512 A.D. and probably the year when the scribe began copying the manuscript. The scribe has also inserted a single line memorial bearing his name on folio 271a
(2) An early 20th century inscription on the verso of the last leaf in Turkish records that 'this book was seen and bought by Iskender Efendi for 12 lira', signed by David Shakelian.
TEXT:
The Armenian hymnal known as Saraknoc' is divided into eight canons proper to the days of the liturgical year. The development of these hymnals has been traced by Nerses Ter Mikaelian in Das armenische Hymnarium: Studien zu seiner geschichtlichen Entwicklung.(Leipzig 1905). The order of the canons and hymns are described by F.Conybeare in the detailed analysis of a Hymnal in the British Library (Add.8999), in A Catalogue of the Armenian Manuscripts in the British Museum (1913) pp96-104.
The principal divisions of the present manuscript are: I.(ff 2a-11a) Canon of the Birth of the holy Theotokos. II.1.(ff 11a-31a) Canon of the Theophany of the Lucernarum. 2.(ff 31a-50a) Canon of the Presentation of the Lord. III.(ff 50a-91b) Canon of Shrove Tuesday [Barekendan]. IV.(ff 92a-114a) Canon of the Raising of Lazarus. V.(ff 115a-159a) Canon of the holy Paschal [i.e.Easter]. VI.(ff160a-201a) Canon of the Pentecost. VII.(ff 201b-252a) Canon of the Eve of the holy Cross. VIII.(ff 252b-271a) Canon of the whole Martyrs. IX.(ff 271b-291b) Canon of the whole body of those that have died in Christ. X.(ff 291b-317b) Doxologies for the Resurrection; followed by the colophon.
ILLUMINATION:
THE DECORATION BELONGS TO THE 'VAN SCHOOL', COMPRISING WORKS EXECUTED AT VAN, AGHT'AMAR AND THE MONASTERIES ALONG THE NORTHERN AND EASTERM SHORES OF LAKE VAN. THE MINIATURES, PAINTED ON GOLD GROUND, ARE CAREFULLY EXECUTED AND OF FINE QUALITY AND STYLIZED. THEY PRESENT AN EXCELLENT EXAMPLE OF A FULLY ILLUSTRATED HYMNAL. IT WAS ONLY IN THE 15TH AND 16TH CENTURY THAT FULL-PAGE COMPOSITIONS WERE INTRODUCED INTO HYMNALS TO ILLUSTRATE THE IMPORTANT FEASTS AND ARE THUS COMPARABLE TO THE FEAST CYCLE OF GOSPEL MANUSCRIPTS.
THREE SCRIBE/ARTISTS NAMED ZAK'ARIAY ARE KNOWN TO HAVE WORKED IN VAN. THEY ARE ZAK'ARIAY AGHT'MARIC'I (1354-1403); ZAK'ARIAY GNUNEC'I (C.1500-1576); AND ZAH'ARIAY AVANC'I (C.1555-1616). IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO IDENTIFY THE ARTIST OF THE PRESENT MANUSCRIPT WITH ANY OF THE ABOVE WELL-KNOWN ARTISTS OF THE VAN SCHOOL.
THERE ARE FIVE LARGE MINIATURES ILLUSTRATING THE DOMINICAL FEASTS; FOUR LARGE AND FIVE SMALL HEADPIECES INTRODUCING THE CANONS. IN THE OUTER MARGINS OF THE PAGE ARE 45 SMALL MINIATURES, MAINLY OF SAINTS, AT THE BEGINNING OF THE VARIOUS HYMNS.
THE SUBJECTS OF THE LARGE MINIATURES ARE:
FOLIO 1B. JOACHIM AND ANNA UNDER A TREE WITH A NEST OF BIRDS, GOD LOOKING DOWN
FOLIO 31A. PRESENTATION IN THE TEMPLE. MARY, WITH JOSEPH, PRESENTING THE CHILD TO THE PRIEST, WITH ANNA THE PROPHETESS
FOLIO 50A. ADAM AND EVE IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN, A SNAKE WITH WINGS IN THE OUTER MARGIN. THE SCENE ILLUSTRATES THE FEAST OF SHROVE TUESDAY AND THE BEGINNING OF LENT. (ADAM'S FACE A LITTLE RUBBED)
FOLIO 114B. HOLY WOMEN AT THE TOMB. FOUR WOMEN APPROACHING AN ANGEL SEATED IN THE CENTRE, POINTING AT THE EMPTY TOMB. IN THE FOREGROUND FOUR SOLDIERS ASLEEP
FOLIO 159B. PENTECOST. IN THE UPPER TIER, SIX OF THE APOSTLES, SEPARATED INTO GROUPS OF THREE, GAZE UPWARDS AT THE DESCENDING DOVE. BELOW TWO GROUPS OF THREE APOSTLES STANDING EITHER SIDE OF THE DOORWAY, LOOKING AT THREE FIGURES, TWO WITH ANIMAL HEADS, REPRESENTING THE PAGAN PEOPLE FROM DISTANT LANDS
THE 45 SMALL MARGINAL MINIATURES AT THE BEGINNING OF HYMNS, REPRESENT: (F.7B).AN ARCHANGEL [ANNUNCIATION]. (F.8A) THE VIRGIN. (F.11A) THE VIRGIN. (F.12B) HUMAN FIGURE WITH ANIMAL HEAD REPRESENTING ONE OF THE SHEPHERDS. (F.17B) ARCHANGEL GABRIEL. (F.33B) ST.ANTHONY THE ANCHORITE. (F.35A) EMPEROR THEODORUS. (F.36B) DAVID HOLDING AN OPEN SCROLL. (F.38A) ST.STEPHEN THE PROTOMARTYR AND AN ANGEL. (F.40A) SAINTS PETER AND PAUL. (F.42A) AN EAGLE HOLDING A BOOK [FEAST OF ST.JOHN]. (F.44A) AN APOSTLE. (F.46A) A DISCIPLE [FEAST OF THE 72 DISCIPLES]. (F.47B) JONAS IN THE WHALE. (F.60B) CHRIST WITH THE LAMB. (F.75B) MARTYRDOM OF THE FORTY SAINTS. (F.84A) ST.GREGORY THE ILLUMINATOR. (F.93B) PALM TREE [JESUS ENTRY INTO JERUSALEM]. (F.95B) PALM TREE WITH THE FIGURE OF BOY HOLDING A SAW. (F.96A) ADAM AND EVE. (F.98A) A WISE MAIDEN KNEELING, HOLDING TWO CANDLES AND BALANCING THREE ON HER HEAD. (F.103A) AN ORNATE CROSS [GOOD FRIDAY]. (F.112A) EMPTY SHROUDS [RESURRECTION]. (F.120A) JOHN THE BAPTIST. (F.121A) A TEMPLE. (F.148A) CHRIST WITHIN A MANDORLA. (F.152A) PALM TREE. (F.154A) AN EAGLE. (F.170A) JOHN THE BAPTIST. (F.175B) ST.GREGORY THE ILLUMINATOR. (F.178A) A SAINT. (F.180A) SAINT HRIP'SIME. (F.187B) CHRIST [VARDAVAR OR TRANSFIGURATION]. (F.195A) THE VIRGIN. (F.213B) ORNATE CROSS [FEAST OF VARAGA CROSS]. (F.215A) ORNATE CROSS [DISCOVERY OF THE TRUE CROSS]. (F.217A) PROPHET HOLDING A SCROLL. (F.220A) ST.MESROP HOLDING A SCROLL. (F.222A) ST.JAMES OF NISIBIS. (F.224A) FOUR BIRDS [SYMBOL OF THE MASSACRE OF THE INNOCENTS]. (F.225B) AN ARCHANGEL. (F.235A) A CALF [SYMBOL FOR THE MARTYRDOM OF SAINTS SUK'IASEANTS).
LITERATURE: Sirarpie der Nersessian, Armenian manuscripts in the Walters Art Gallery. Baltimore 1973. Cf.pp 76-82 A hymnal of 1678. Hravard Hakobyan, Armenian miniature school of Vaspurakan. Erevan 1978. Arch. Norayr Pogharian, Hay nkaroghner (Armenian scribe/artists of the XI-XVIII century). Jerusalem 1989
[City of Van, Eastern Armenia (now Turkey) A.D.1516]
122x84mm, 317 leaves, COMPLETE, collation: 1-1012 1110 12-1412 1512+1(3 added) 1612 1712-1(1 cancelled) 18-2612 278-1(2 cancelled). 23 lines, ruled in red, justification 91x58mm, written in black ink in a small bolorgir, rubrics in red, first lines of main hymns [Kanon] in gold bolorgir, with initials in colours and gold, paragraph initials in gold, supralinear neumes [Khaz signs]. 45 MARGINAL MINIATURES, 4 HALF-PAGE AND 5 SMALL HEADPIECES, 5 LARGE OR FULL-PAGE MINIATURES, (SOME HEADPIECES CROPPED, ONE MINIATURE SLIGHTLY RUBBED, SOME FINGERSOILING PARTICULARLY IN LOWER OUTER CORNER DUE TO USE). CONTEMPORARY BLIND-TOOLED BROWN CALF BINDING. THE DECORATION OF THE UPPER COVER CONSISTS OF A LARGE EIGHT-LOBED ROSETTE INTERSECTED BY TWO SQUARES, LARGE INTERLACED STRAPWORK ORNAMENTS ABOVE AND BELOW, LOWER COVER PANELLED WITH A FLORAL OUTER ROLL SURROUNDING A GEOMETRIC RECTANGULAR STRAPWORK BLOCK, FLAP TOOLED WITH STRAPWORK ORNAMENTS, RED SILK DOUBLURES (THONGS LACKING, BOARDS BUCKLED; STITCHING HAS PARTLY BECOME DETACHED FROM THE BACKSTRIP)
PROVENANCE:
(1) The principal colophon on folios 310b-311a records that 'this book of modes' was written in 965 Armenian era [A.D.1516] by the scribe Zak'ariay, in the capital city of Van, under the shelter of the Church of St.Peter and St.Paul, during the Catholicate of Ter Zak'ariay [IInd, Valarsapetec'i, 1515-1520] of All Armenians, during the prelacy of Grigor vardapet and Karapet "the newly appointed bishop" at the monastery of Varag. In a second memorial note on folio 91b the scribe Zak'ariay records that he "copied the Saraknoc' [Hymnal] in memory of his own and his parents' souls and for the enjoyment of his sons Step'anos sarkawag [deacon] in the Armenian era 961", this is actually 1512 A.D. and probably the year when the scribe began copying the manuscript. The scribe has also inserted a single line memorial bearing his name on folio 271a
(2) An early 20th century inscription on the verso of the last leaf in Turkish records that 'this book was seen and bought by Iskender Efendi for 12 lira', signed by David Shakelian.
TEXT:
The Armenian hymnal known as Saraknoc' is divided into eight canons proper to the days of the liturgical year. The development of these hymnals has been traced by Nerses Ter Mikaelian in Das armenische Hymnarium: Studien zu seiner geschichtlichen Entwicklung.(Leipzig 1905). The order of the canons and hymns are described by F.Conybeare in the detailed analysis of a Hymnal in the British Library (Add.8999), in A Catalogue of the Armenian Manuscripts in the British Museum (1913) pp96-104.
The principal divisions of the present manuscript are: I.(ff 2a-11a) Canon of the Birth of the holy Theotokos. II.1.(ff 11a-31a) Canon of the Theophany of the Lucernarum. 2.(ff 31a-50a) Canon of the Presentation of the Lord. III.(ff 50a-91b) Canon of Shrove Tuesday [Barekendan]. IV.(ff 92a-114a) Canon of the Raising of Lazarus. V.(ff 115a-159a) Canon of the holy Paschal [i.e.Easter]. VI.(ff160a-201a) Canon of the Pentecost. VII.(ff 201b-252a) Canon of the Eve of the holy Cross. VIII.(ff 252b-271a) Canon of the whole Martyrs. IX.(ff 271b-291b) Canon of the whole body of those that have died in Christ. X.(ff 291b-317b) Doxologies for the Resurrection; followed by the colophon.
ILLUMINATION:
THE DECORATION BELONGS TO THE 'VAN SCHOOL', COMPRISING WORKS EXECUTED AT VAN, AGHT'AMAR AND THE MONASTERIES ALONG THE NORTHERN AND EASTERM SHORES OF LAKE VAN. THE MINIATURES, PAINTED ON GOLD GROUND, ARE CAREFULLY EXECUTED AND OF FINE QUALITY AND STYLIZED. THEY PRESENT AN EXCELLENT EXAMPLE OF A FULLY ILLUSTRATED HYMNAL. IT WAS ONLY IN THE 15TH AND 16TH CENTURY THAT FULL-PAGE COMPOSITIONS WERE INTRODUCED INTO HYMNALS TO ILLUSTRATE THE IMPORTANT FEASTS AND ARE THUS COMPARABLE TO THE FEAST CYCLE OF GOSPEL MANUSCRIPTS.
THREE SCRIBE/ARTISTS NAMED ZAK'ARIAY ARE KNOWN TO HAVE WORKED IN VAN. THEY ARE ZAK'ARIAY AGHT'MARIC'I (1354-1403); ZAK'ARIAY GNUNEC'I (C.1500-1576); AND ZAH'ARIAY AVANC'I (C.1555-1616). IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO IDENTIFY THE ARTIST OF THE PRESENT MANUSCRIPT WITH ANY OF THE ABOVE WELL-KNOWN ARTISTS OF THE VAN SCHOOL.
THERE ARE FIVE LARGE MINIATURES ILLUSTRATING THE DOMINICAL FEASTS; FOUR LARGE AND FIVE SMALL HEADPIECES INTRODUCING THE CANONS. IN THE OUTER MARGINS OF THE PAGE ARE 45 SMALL MINIATURES, MAINLY OF SAINTS, AT THE BEGINNING OF THE VARIOUS HYMNS.
THE SUBJECTS OF THE LARGE MINIATURES ARE:
FOLIO 1B. JOACHIM AND ANNA UNDER A TREE WITH A NEST OF BIRDS, GOD LOOKING DOWN
FOLIO 31A. PRESENTATION IN THE TEMPLE. MARY, WITH JOSEPH, PRESENTING THE CHILD TO THE PRIEST, WITH ANNA THE PROPHETESS
FOLIO 50A. ADAM AND EVE IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN, A SNAKE WITH WINGS IN THE OUTER MARGIN. THE SCENE ILLUSTRATES THE FEAST OF SHROVE TUESDAY AND THE BEGINNING OF LENT. (ADAM'S FACE A LITTLE RUBBED)
FOLIO 114B. HOLY WOMEN AT THE TOMB. FOUR WOMEN APPROACHING AN ANGEL SEATED IN THE CENTRE, POINTING AT THE EMPTY TOMB. IN THE FOREGROUND FOUR SOLDIERS ASLEEP
FOLIO 159B. PENTECOST. IN THE UPPER TIER, SIX OF THE APOSTLES, SEPARATED INTO GROUPS OF THREE, GAZE UPWARDS AT THE DESCENDING DOVE. BELOW TWO GROUPS OF THREE APOSTLES STANDING EITHER SIDE OF THE DOORWAY, LOOKING AT THREE FIGURES, TWO WITH ANIMAL HEADS, REPRESENTING THE PAGAN PEOPLE FROM DISTANT LANDS
THE 45 SMALL MARGINAL MINIATURES AT THE BEGINNING OF HYMNS, REPRESENT: (F.7B).AN ARCHANGEL [ANNUNCIATION]. (F.8A) THE VIRGIN. (F.11A) THE VIRGIN. (F.12B) HUMAN FIGURE WITH ANIMAL HEAD REPRESENTING ONE OF THE SHEPHERDS. (F.17B) ARCHANGEL GABRIEL. (F.33B) ST.ANTHONY THE ANCHORITE. (F.35A) EMPEROR THEODORUS. (F.36B) DAVID HOLDING AN OPEN SCROLL. (F.38A) ST.STEPHEN THE PROTOMARTYR AND AN ANGEL. (F.40A) SAINTS PETER AND PAUL. (F.42A) AN EAGLE HOLDING A BOOK [FEAST OF ST.JOHN]. (F.44A) AN APOSTLE. (F.46A) A DISCIPLE [FEAST OF THE 72 DISCIPLES]. (F.47B) JONAS IN THE WHALE. (F.60B) CHRIST WITH THE LAMB. (F.75B) MARTYRDOM OF THE FORTY SAINTS. (F.84A) ST.GREGORY THE ILLUMINATOR. (F.93B) PALM TREE [JESUS ENTRY INTO JERUSALEM]. (F.95B) PALM TREE WITH THE FIGURE OF BOY HOLDING A SAW. (F.96A) ADAM AND EVE. (F.98A) A WISE MAIDEN KNEELING, HOLDING TWO CANDLES AND BALANCING THREE ON HER HEAD. (F.103A) AN ORNATE CROSS [GOOD FRIDAY]. (F.112A) EMPTY SHROUDS [RESURRECTION]. (F.120A) JOHN THE BAPTIST. (F.121A) A TEMPLE. (F.148A) CHRIST WITHIN A MANDORLA. (F.152A) PALM TREE. (F.154A) AN EAGLE. (F.170A) JOHN THE BAPTIST. (F.175B) ST.GREGORY THE ILLUMINATOR. (F.178A) A SAINT. (F.180A) SAINT HRIP'SIME. (F.187B) CHRIST [VARDAVAR OR TRANSFIGURATION]. (F.195A) THE VIRGIN. (F.213B) ORNATE CROSS [FEAST OF VARAGA CROSS]. (F.215A) ORNATE CROSS [DISCOVERY OF THE TRUE CROSS]. (F.217A) PROPHET HOLDING A SCROLL. (F.220A) ST.MESROP HOLDING A SCROLL. (F.222A) ST.JAMES OF NISIBIS. (F.224A) FOUR BIRDS [SYMBOL OF THE MASSACRE OF THE INNOCENTS]. (F.225B) AN ARCHANGEL. (F.235A) A CALF [SYMBOL FOR THE MARTYRDOM OF SAINTS SUK'IASEANTS).
LITERATURE: Sirarpie der Nersessian, Armenian manuscripts in the Walters Art Gallery. Baltimore 1973. Cf.pp 76-82 A hymnal of 1678. Hravard Hakobyan, Armenian miniature school of Vaspurakan. Erevan 1978. Arch. Norayr Pogharian, Hay nkaroghner (Armenian scribe/artists of the XI-XVIII century). Jerusalem 1989