Page 150 - THE ARMENIAN CHURCH_Neat

Cultural Activity 151

and Jerusalem, and later in Erevan, Beirut,
and Paris. The Armenian clergy of all ranks,
particularly Catholicoi Khrimian and Sahak,
Patriarchs Y. Tourian, T. Kouchagian, and
Y. Derderian, significantly contributed to the
development of modern Armenian literature
with their literary works.

Contribution to painting,
printing, and music
Through the centuries, the Church has
firmly protected and powerfully promoted
Armenian culture, which, in all its domains,
dimensions, and manifestations, has become
a basic tool in articulating and communi-
cating the faith and spirituality of the Ar-
menian Church. The Church has made an
immense contribution to the multiple spheres
of Armenian culture. Within the limited
scope of this book, I would like to spotlight
three specific areas of special importance:
1) The art of manuscript painting, which
dates back to the 5th Century, has consti-
tuted a fertile domain in Armenian culture.
Illuminated manuscripts were traditionally
ordered by catholicoi, princes, princesses,
and other members of the royal family and
were mostly written in monasteries by monks,
who were called całkoł (painter). The manu-
scripts were illuminated in brilliant colors
and infused with specific meaning. The initial
letters of chapters were normally decorated