Papers by Anoush Sargsyan
«Բանբեր Հայագիտության», 2021
As a result of moving papacy from Avignon to Rome, Catholic church appeared in a conflict known a... more As a result of moving papacy from Avignon to Rome, Catholic church appeared in a conflict known as Western Schism also called Papal Schism (1377-1417). Simultaneously, the Armenian church faced the same problem. After collapse of the Armenian kingdom of Cilicia (1375) the Armenian catholicosate resettled far from ethnic Armenian lands was about to move the Holy See. And until the Holy See was moved to Echmiadzin in 1441 and the separation of the Holy See of Cillian was documented, disputes occurred inside the church.
Current article discusses the activities of Constantine of Vahka (the most active catholicos of the period) in relation to the life of the Mesopotamian Archbishop, poet, architect and miniaturist Mkrtich Naghash.
Study is based both on the biography of Naghash and the epistle titled “The answer to the Latinists epistle” written by Nagash ahead of the 17th ecumenical council of Florence.
Revue des études arméniennes 38, 2018
A specific place among the works of priest Yovhannēs, one of the most famous scribes of the 17th ... more A specific place among the works of priest Yovhannēs, one of the most famous scribes of the 17th century Amida scriptorium, belongs to two similar manuscripts, CBL 551 and M 10772. Their text comprises the genealogy and a list of succession of rulers in biblical history, in which the most important place is reserved for the genealogy of Christ. Trees and other diagrams give the material visual form, and the texts attached to them contain explanations. Specific features of the manu- scripts are: the systematized structure of the genealogical tree, pictorial elements and various ornamentations of the text, as well as the vertical use of the writing space; in the case of CBL 551 it is also the accordion book format.
Genealogical works appeared in Armenian literature already in its formative period, whereas manuscripts with such contents are known starting in the 14th cen- tury. Our study revealed that the text is a translation from Latin of the Compendium historiae in genealogia Christi by the French theologian and chancellor of the Church of Paris Peter of Poitiers (ca. 1130-1205). Nevertheless, the manuscripts in question contain additional pictorial elements, which, according to our observa- tions, belong to scribe Yovhannēs.
The text of the Abridged Bible represented in the form of a tree-diagram is a biblical genealogy ... more The text of the Abridged Bible represented in the form of a tree-diagram is a biblical genealogy and a succession of rulers. Among the manuscripts containing the Abridged Bible, MS No. 551, copied in 1601 in Amida (Armenian Mesopotamia) and currently kept at the Chester Beatty Library, is of particular importance to our research. The first miniature of this manuscript is a complex image, symbolizing the Heavenly Jerusalem. The miniature combines the Holy Trinity seated on the Tetrаmorphic Throne and the Garden of Eden. The manuscript
was copied and illuminated by the priest Yovhannes, the head of the scriptorium of Amida, who was a skilled artist and a master of miniature painting.
While studying the miniature “The Heavenly Jerusalem,” we reveal the
ways in which Yohannes applied his knowledge and experience. First of all, the iconography of “The Heavenly Jerusalem” is discussed in relation to the Armenian iconographic traditions. We also analyze the main motif the Trees of the Garden of Eden in the context of the commentaries on the Canon Tables, showing that the other motifs of the miniature are related to the trees. This analysis leads to the conclusion that the miniature corresponds to the tenth Canon Table symbolizing the Heavenly Eden, which is also confi rmed by the position of the miniature in the manuscript.
Town Chnqush was located in Armenian Mesopotamia and was known both as spiritual and
cultural cen... more Town Chnqush was located in Armenian Mesopotamia and was known both as spiritual and
cultural center. A spiritual seminary operated in Chnqush. Pupils of the seminary contributed to the
development of the Armenian literature. They studied spiritual literature and in particular, the
manuscripts copying from hand to hand to future generations. Gaspar who was Petros Karkaretsi’s
pupil was well known among scribes. Grigor Daranaktsi also mentioned him as “Archimandrid
Gaspar Chnqushetsi”. Later chnkushian archimandrites became customers of Amid’s scriptorium in
Armenian Mesopotamia.
CBL551 ''Abridged Bible» contains a text concerning Ages of the World according to which the manu... more CBL551 ''Abridged Bible» contains a text concerning Ages of the World according to which the manuscript is divided into 8 periods. The analyses, corresponding to the last three periods, which include Six, Seven and Eight Ages, show that the Ages are symbolized, thus identified with the meaning of the last three days of the Holy Week. The article explains that some miniature elements are connected to this symbolized numbers. Thus, the lockets picturing Emanuel Christ and Man of Sorrows introduce the symbol of the number 6 in the context of Holy Friday, the lockets picturing apostles personalize the 7th century, and the manuscript ''Heavenly Jerusalem'' introduces the 8th century, that is the Second Coming as a beginning of new world.
A specific place among the works of priest Yohannes, one of the most famous scribes of the XVII c... more A specific place among the works of priest Yohannes, one of the most famous scribes of the XVII century Amid school of writing, belongs to two similar manuscripts, CBL551 and M10772. Their text comprises the genealogy and a list of succession of rulers in the Biblical history, in which the most important place is reserved for the genealogy of Christ. Trees and other diagrams visualize the material, and the texts attached to them contain explanations. Specific features of the manuscripts are: the systematized structure of the tree, pictorial elements and various ornamentation of the text, as well as the vertical use of the writing space, in case of CBL551 it is also the accordion book format.
Genealogical works appeared in Armenian literature already in its formative period, whereas manuscripts with such contents аге known starting with the XIV century. Our study revealed that the text is a translation from Latin of the Compedium historiae in genealogia Christi by the French theologian and the chancellor of the Church of Paris Peter of Poitiers (ca. 1130-1205). Nevertheless, the manuscripts in question contain additional pictorial elements, which, according to our observations, belong to scribe Yohannes.
Talks by Anoush Sargsyan
Ermeni el yazması da var. Ermenice el yazma kitaplar Amed’i anlatıyor, 2015
Medieval diagrams: genealogical trees and their Armenian interpretation, 2019
14 marzo Igor Dorfmann-Lazarev Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main Adamo come proto-Noè nel prog... more 14 marzo Igor Dorfmann-Lazarev Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main Adamo come proto-Noè nel programma iconografico della chiesa palatina di Ałt'amar (915-921) 21 marzo Beatrice Spampinato, Università Ca' Foscari Venezia La mostra itinerante "Architettura armena". Un caso di studio attraverso le carte d'archivio 11 aprile Alberto Aghakhan, Università degli Studi di Bologna/Université d'Aix-Marseille L'iconografia dell'Ultima Cena nella miniatura armena 18 aprile Roberto Dan, Università degli Studi di Roma "La Sapienza"/ IsMEO Un'introduzione alla civiltà di Bia/Urartu 2 maggio Marco Ruffilli, Université de Genève Cesare Brandi e le "chiese di cristallo" degli Armeni. Storia di una metafora 9 maggio Gianluca Sapio, Università degli Studi di Torino Armeni nel Basso Ionio calabrese. Nuovi elementi e ipotesi dallo studio delle fonti documentali 16 maggio Anush Sargsyan, Istituto "Mesrop Mashtots" dei Manoscritti Antichi ("Matenadaran") di Erevan Genealogical tree of Christ in the context of the Armenian version of Peter of Poitier's "Compendium historiae in genealogia Christi" Gli incontri si svolgeranno dalle 15.45 alle 17.15 nell'aula 6 di Rio Nuovo,
Conference Presentations by Anoush Sargsyan
Books from the shelves in the hand: the study of the Armenian book collection at the Adjara Museum, 2021
Pragmatic reasons of social education in the Republic of Moldova. The strategies of institutional... more Pragmatic reasons of social education in the Republic of Moldova. The strategies of institutional implementation Marine Aroshidze and Nino Aroshidze (Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University, Georgia) Semiotic mechanism of visualizing textual information 11:30-12:00 Coffee Break MOLDOVA STATE UNIVERSITY MIHAIL KOGALNICEANU STREET, 67/2 HALL 118 12:00-13:30 Panel 1.1. Education under the impact of global processes and new information technologies Chair: Valentina Teosa (Moldova State University) Alla Papțova (Comrat State University, Republic of Moldova) Visualization in communication practices, humanitarian research and the educational process Ruxanda Cheibaș (Moldova State University) The impact of globalization upon the music universities and institutions and the music industry as a tool of global influence Lilian Ciachir (University of Bucharest, Romania) Ethical challenges in the university environment. Romania and the Republic of Moldova in a European context Alexandru Lupușor (Moldova State University) Research and education in humanities in the post-socialist contexts 13:30-14:30 Lunch Break 14:30-16:00 Panel 2. Applied Anthropology in the "post" era Chair: Alexandru Lupușor (Moldova State University) Andrei Colțea (University of Shanghai, China) Religious, political and academic cosmologies: What are the complexity reducing technologies and why we cannot avoid them? Ludmila D. Cojocaru (Moldova State University) Anthropological perspectives in studying the phenomenon of Stalinist deportations from the
Beyond the Legends Surrounding the Name of Nersēs Šnorhali: Case of the table “List on the Consanguinity Degrees”, 2021
Heptamychos, un reflet présocratique chez Irénée de Lyon révélé par la version arménienne de l'Ad... more Heptamychos, un reflet présocratique chez Irénée de Lyon révélé par la version arménienne de l'Adversus haereses Mher Navoyan (Yerevan) Հայ հիմներգության ձևավորման հարցերն ըստ Մանրուսման գրքերի (The Questions of the Formation of the Armenian Hymnography According to the Medieval Musicological Manuals "Manrusum"
The Genealogical Tree of Christ in the Context of the Armenian Version of Peter’s Compendium historiae in genealogia Christi, 2019
This one-day symposium aims to explore the image of the tree as a conduit for the exploration of ... more This one-day symposium aims to explore the image of the tree as a conduit for the exploration of human engagements with environment in the global middle ages, broadly defined, and seeks to encourage cross-cultural, trans-national, and interdisciplinary understanding of the role of trees, woodland, and other vegetation in various contexts. We want to better understand human responses to nature. What is it about 'arboreal beauty' that connects it with the divine? Recognized across cultures as axis mundi, the tree shoots upwards, its trunk and branches stretching, reaching, growing towards the light as it seeks to bridge the in-between space that divides earth from the heavens. The liminal quality of foliage, trees, and forests is recognized by artists and weavers of images across the world.
The Abridged Bible as a Source for Avetik ofTigranakert's Chronicle, 2018
An Exposition of Yohannes of Amida’s 17th-Century Miniature of Heavenly Jerusalem, 2018
The priest Yohannes was the principal scribe of the metropolitan of the Armenian Mesopotamian Ami... more The priest Yohannes was the principal scribe of the metropolitan of the Armenian Mesopotamian Amida scriptorium at the beginning of the seventeenth century. Despite being a little-studied figure, he was a miniaturist of high artistic quality and, from colophon data, it is evident that he was a highly educated person. One of his major works was a manuscript entitled “Abridged Bible,” to which he contributed the opening full-page miniatures depicting Heavenly Jerusalem. The main multi-layer composition features the Holy Trinity on the throne surrounded by cherubim and angels with the Garden of Eden, including its trees, flowers, and the four rivers of Eden—a combination that was a new variant in iconography.
Making use of iconographic, formal, and comparative methodology, this paper shows how the artist applied and transformed theories from miniature art and exegetical literature in his composition of Heavenly Jerusalem. After placing the iconography in the context of Byzantine and Eastern Christian art, I discuss one of the general motive trees, interpreting it through the lens of Canon Table commentaries. Due to its multi-layered composition and the combination of its pictorial elements, the miniature in the iconographic index is ordinary for the iconography of its time. By reading the general motive tree in the context of Canon Table commentaries, it becomes clear that there is a mutual relationship with its other pictorial elements and allegorical representations such as color and number symbolism. Finally, I explain how the miniature corresponds to the tenth Canon Table, which symbolically represents Heavenly Jerusalem.
Drafts by Anoush Sargsyan
AIEA, Newsletter, vol. 54, 2018
N e w s l e t t e r V o l . 5 4 N o v e m b e r 2018
Flyer by Anoush Sargsyan
International Workshop, 2024
Thesis Chapters by Anoush Sargsyan
During the Early modern period, active human mobility within Armenian
communities expanded from ... more During the Early modern period, active human mobility within Armenian
communities expanded from Europe to the shores of the Indian subcontinent, significantly contributing to the extensive circulation of
books. Notably, not only the Armenian church and the merchant class actively sought to wield power and influence, but also external institutions and communities actively participated in the creation and distribution of handwritten and printed books. Concurrent with the advancement of Armenian book printing, the cultural, religious, social, and political identities, and conflicts specific to this transitional period found expression through book production, market dynamics, reading practices, and various associated relationships. In this regard, the inquiry into "What did Armenians read in the 16th-18th centuries?" assumes considerable significance. Consequently, the workshop aims to convene researchers interested in exploring the cultural and historical dimensions of books and texts within this context.
Workshop Focus Areas:
✓ Historical, religious, and confessional contexts and intercommunal ties
✓ Decision-making practices on book creation and realization
✓ The book production
✓ The book market and booksellers
✓ The book collection practices
✓ The travel notes, merchant diaries, and correspondence
✓ Illustration and iconography
✓ Parallel cultural practices (side studies)
Teaching Documents by Anoush Sargsyan
Updated version of the List of digitized Armenian manuscripts of the different collections
Uploads
Papers by Anoush Sargsyan
Current article discusses the activities of Constantine of Vahka (the most active catholicos of the period) in relation to the life of the Mesopotamian Archbishop, poet, architect and miniaturist Mkrtich Naghash.
Study is based both on the biography of Naghash and the epistle titled “The answer to the Latinists epistle” written by Nagash ahead of the 17th ecumenical council of Florence.
Genealogical works appeared in Armenian literature already in its formative period, whereas manuscripts with such contents are known starting in the 14th cen- tury. Our study revealed that the text is a translation from Latin of the Compendium historiae in genealogia Christi by the French theologian and chancellor of the Church of Paris Peter of Poitiers (ca. 1130-1205). Nevertheless, the manuscripts in question contain additional pictorial elements, which, according to our observa- tions, belong to scribe Yovhannēs.
was copied and illuminated by the priest Yovhannes, the head of the scriptorium of Amida, who was a skilled artist and a master of miniature painting.
While studying the miniature “The Heavenly Jerusalem,” we reveal the
ways in which Yohannes applied his knowledge and experience. First of all, the iconography of “The Heavenly Jerusalem” is discussed in relation to the Armenian iconographic traditions. We also analyze the main motif the Trees of the Garden of Eden in the context of the commentaries on the Canon Tables, showing that the other motifs of the miniature are related to the trees. This analysis leads to the conclusion that the miniature corresponds to the tenth Canon Table symbolizing the Heavenly Eden, which is also confi rmed by the position of the miniature in the manuscript.
cultural center. A spiritual seminary operated in Chnqush. Pupils of the seminary contributed to the
development of the Armenian literature. They studied spiritual literature and in particular, the
manuscripts copying from hand to hand to future generations. Gaspar who was Petros Karkaretsi’s
pupil was well known among scribes. Grigor Daranaktsi also mentioned him as “Archimandrid
Gaspar Chnqushetsi”. Later chnkushian archimandrites became customers of Amid’s scriptorium in
Armenian Mesopotamia.
Genealogical works appeared in Armenian literature already in its formative period, whereas manuscripts with such contents аге known starting with the XIV century. Our study revealed that the text is a translation from Latin of the Compedium historiae in genealogia Christi by the French theologian and the chancellor of the Church of Paris Peter of Poitiers (ca. 1130-1205). Nevertheless, the manuscripts in question contain additional pictorial elements, which, according to our observations, belong to scribe Yohannes.
Talks by Anoush Sargsyan
Conference Presentations by Anoush Sargsyan
Making use of iconographic, formal, and comparative methodology, this paper shows how the artist applied and transformed theories from miniature art and exegetical literature in his composition of Heavenly Jerusalem. After placing the iconography in the context of Byzantine and Eastern Christian art, I discuss one of the general motive trees, interpreting it through the lens of Canon Table commentaries. Due to its multi-layered composition and the combination of its pictorial elements, the miniature in the iconographic index is ordinary for the iconography of its time. By reading the general motive tree in the context of Canon Table commentaries, it becomes clear that there is a mutual relationship with its other pictorial elements and allegorical representations such as color and number symbolism. Finally, I explain how the miniature corresponds to the tenth Canon Table, which symbolically represents Heavenly Jerusalem.
Drafts by Anoush Sargsyan
Flyer by Anoush Sargsyan
Thesis Chapters by Anoush Sargsyan
communities expanded from Europe to the shores of the Indian subcontinent, significantly contributing to the extensive circulation of
books. Notably, not only the Armenian church and the merchant class actively sought to wield power and influence, but also external institutions and communities actively participated in the creation and distribution of handwritten and printed books. Concurrent with the advancement of Armenian book printing, the cultural, religious, social, and political identities, and conflicts specific to this transitional period found expression through book production, market dynamics, reading practices, and various associated relationships. In this regard, the inquiry into "What did Armenians read in the 16th-18th centuries?" assumes considerable significance. Consequently, the workshop aims to convene researchers interested in exploring the cultural and historical dimensions of books and texts within this context.
Workshop Focus Areas:
✓ Historical, religious, and confessional contexts and intercommunal ties
✓ Decision-making practices on book creation and realization
✓ The book production
✓ The book market and booksellers
✓ The book collection practices
✓ The travel notes, merchant diaries, and correspondence
✓ Illustration and iconography
✓ Parallel cultural practices (side studies)
Teaching Documents by Anoush Sargsyan
Current article discusses the activities of Constantine of Vahka (the most active catholicos of the period) in relation to the life of the Mesopotamian Archbishop, poet, architect and miniaturist Mkrtich Naghash.
Study is based both on the biography of Naghash and the epistle titled “The answer to the Latinists epistle” written by Nagash ahead of the 17th ecumenical council of Florence.
Genealogical works appeared in Armenian literature already in its formative period, whereas manuscripts with such contents are known starting in the 14th cen- tury. Our study revealed that the text is a translation from Latin of the Compendium historiae in genealogia Christi by the French theologian and chancellor of the Church of Paris Peter of Poitiers (ca. 1130-1205). Nevertheless, the manuscripts in question contain additional pictorial elements, which, according to our observa- tions, belong to scribe Yovhannēs.
was copied and illuminated by the priest Yovhannes, the head of the scriptorium of Amida, who was a skilled artist and a master of miniature painting.
While studying the miniature “The Heavenly Jerusalem,” we reveal the
ways in which Yohannes applied his knowledge and experience. First of all, the iconography of “The Heavenly Jerusalem” is discussed in relation to the Armenian iconographic traditions. We also analyze the main motif the Trees of the Garden of Eden in the context of the commentaries on the Canon Tables, showing that the other motifs of the miniature are related to the trees. This analysis leads to the conclusion that the miniature corresponds to the tenth Canon Table symbolizing the Heavenly Eden, which is also confi rmed by the position of the miniature in the manuscript.
cultural center. A spiritual seminary operated in Chnqush. Pupils of the seminary contributed to the
development of the Armenian literature. They studied spiritual literature and in particular, the
manuscripts copying from hand to hand to future generations. Gaspar who was Petros Karkaretsi’s
pupil was well known among scribes. Grigor Daranaktsi also mentioned him as “Archimandrid
Gaspar Chnqushetsi”. Later chnkushian archimandrites became customers of Amid’s scriptorium in
Armenian Mesopotamia.
Genealogical works appeared in Armenian literature already in its formative period, whereas manuscripts with such contents аге known starting with the XIV century. Our study revealed that the text is a translation from Latin of the Compedium historiae in genealogia Christi by the French theologian and the chancellor of the Church of Paris Peter of Poitiers (ca. 1130-1205). Nevertheless, the manuscripts in question contain additional pictorial elements, which, according to our observations, belong to scribe Yohannes.
Making use of iconographic, formal, and comparative methodology, this paper shows how the artist applied and transformed theories from miniature art and exegetical literature in his composition of Heavenly Jerusalem. After placing the iconography in the context of Byzantine and Eastern Christian art, I discuss one of the general motive trees, interpreting it through the lens of Canon Table commentaries. Due to its multi-layered composition and the combination of its pictorial elements, the miniature in the iconographic index is ordinary for the iconography of its time. By reading the general motive tree in the context of Canon Table commentaries, it becomes clear that there is a mutual relationship with its other pictorial elements and allegorical representations such as color and number symbolism. Finally, I explain how the miniature corresponds to the tenth Canon Table, which symbolically represents Heavenly Jerusalem.
communities expanded from Europe to the shores of the Indian subcontinent, significantly contributing to the extensive circulation of
books. Notably, not only the Armenian church and the merchant class actively sought to wield power and influence, but also external institutions and communities actively participated in the creation and distribution of handwritten and printed books. Concurrent with the advancement of Armenian book printing, the cultural, religious, social, and political identities, and conflicts specific to this transitional period found expression through book production, market dynamics, reading practices, and various associated relationships. In this regard, the inquiry into "What did Armenians read in the 16th-18th centuries?" assumes considerable significance. Consequently, the workshop aims to convene researchers interested in exploring the cultural and historical dimensions of books and texts within this context.
Workshop Focus Areas:
✓ Historical, religious, and confessional contexts and intercommunal ties
✓ Decision-making practices on book creation and realization
✓ The book production
✓ The book market and booksellers
✓ The book collection practices
✓ The travel notes, merchant diaries, and correspondence
✓ Illustration and iconography
✓ Parallel cultural practices (side studies)