Page 151 - THE ARMENIAN CHURCH_Neat

152 The Armenian Church

with birds. The manuscripts also contained
colophons, which provided important in-
formation about the scribe, the sponsor, the
date, and the names of the ruler and the
reigning catholicos, as well as references to
major events. Approximately 15,000 of the
30,000 surviving manuscripts (from the 9th
to the 19th Century) are illuminated with
various biblical scenes, events, and figures.
According to general estimates, about
17,000 manuscripts are preserved in the
National Library of Erevan, Armenia, 4000
with the Mekhitarist Brotherhood in Venice,
Italy, 4000 in the Armenian Patriarchate of
Jerusalem, 2500 with the Mekhitarist Brother-
hood, in Vienna, Austria, 2000 in the Ar-
menian Catholic Patriarchate in Bzommar,
Lebanon, 1400 in the Holy See of St. Etch-
miadzin, Armenia, 300 in the Holy See of
Cilicia, Antelias, Lebanon, 750 in the All
Savior monastery of New Julfa, Iran, 200
in the Prelacy of Aleppo, Syria, and 3000
in individual collections, libraries, and mu-
seums in the Middle East, Europe, and the
U.S.A. Rich with miniatures, the oldest and
most valuable manuscripts are the Gospel of
Queen Mlke (862), the Lazarian Gospel (887),
the Etchmiadzin Gospel (989), the Mughni
Gospel (1050-1060), the Khoranashad Gospel
(1224), the Tarkmanchats Gospel (1232), the
Partserpert Gospel (1248), the Malatia Gospel
(1267), and the Hetum Lectionary (1286).