Utopia, armarium codicum bibliophilorum, Cod. 4

Description by Davit Ghazaryan, translated into English by Aida Charkhchyan, the verse by Mery Hovsepyan, 2013.

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Manuscript title: Armenian Hymnarium

Place of origin: Village of Awendants (Province of Vaspurakan)

Date of origin: AE 1096 - AD 1647

Support: paper

Extent: 413+3 (repeated fs. 227, 238, 245).

Format: 13.1 x 10 cm

Foliation: It has later pagination, made by two different hands from 1 to 816, i.e. 1r-413r.

Collation: PARTS: I to 36 x 12 (I, 8; II, V, 10; III, XI, 11; 36, 6.

Condition: Satisfactory, three ties and three rivets of ties are missing. On Fly-leafs D and E, on Protective sheet C small tears are seen. The manuscript is incomplete and several folios of the text missing: 4 folios between fs. 7 and 8; 1 folio between fs. 29 and 30, 41 and 42, 51 and 52, 111 and 112:

Page layout: one column; 22 lines.

Writing and hands: Scribe: Awetis.

Script: cursive with neumas (khazes).
Colophon about the time of writing
- by the scribe:
  
  390r Glory to the Trinity
  And only the best Nature
  And the best Trinity
  Uninspectable unity.
  
  As the Lord is the reason of birth of essence
  And his son the birth of essence
  The soul is the birth of spring
  Unachievable for the mind
  
  Unsatisfied for the humans tribe
  Without speaking and discussing
  Created in my sorrow
  Recognized from it
  
  AS the humans were appeared
  Were recognized from the children
  With their mind and speech and soul
  And here is the human being
  
  The Lord is instant as his mind
  The hugged son | 390v | is like his speech
  The soul the flown of worthy
  The king and master of human being
  
  As the Lord is the endless sea
  And the son the abundant river
  The soul is the spring of life
  And cooling for the people
  
  The Lord alike the roots of tree
  And his son the branches of it
  The peerless fruit is the soul
  Which together are eternal
  
  As my speech is hesitant
  And my mind is needy
  To dare impudently
  To remember the blameless name
  
  He is the grantor and the dispenser
  He gives freedom plentifully
  They will stay in the
  For ignoring the Trinity
  
  But I being unremembered
  And wise less in the wisdom
  Lazy and idle in the soul
  And lively as a human being
  
  I Beg you the lord of charity
  And you the only Trinity
  Give me the master of wisdom
  To orate with | 391r | explosion
  This metric frugal verse
  
  This marvelous blooming place
  This sweet song-book
  This heaven full of fruit
  Peerless and delicious
  
  The lily of flowering meadow
  With its different colors
  Like a flowery garden
  Smells nicely on the peoples noses.
  
  Being composed by the Saints
  Created with delicious taste
  Being orated by translators
  Have been called psalms.
  
  And the twelve stones
  On the Aharons cloak
  With shiny colors
  Are the names of twelve sons.
  
  And the twelve springs
  Which came from Akhim
  Which were called sweet waters
  And the twelve tribes drunk them
  
  | 391v | And also Hyson Naves Son
  Who took the people away from the country
  Drained the Jordanian
  And choose the twelve stones.
  
  It was the symbol of Jesus
  And the twelve apostles
  That always wondered everywhere
  And served as support of belief.
  
  The Zoo morplics are the twelve
  Who were approved as the masters of the sky
  They rule the human beings
  And irrational elements.
  
  But also the speechless name
  Of the holiest Trinity
  Father, Son and holly spirit
  Formed the twelve letters.
  
  And also with such advices
  With these twelve psalms
  Being composed fully by us
  We will be gloried by them.
  
  As the brought up children
  Will sing these songs sweetly
  | 392r | Will rejoice with their souls
  And happy through their bodies.
  
  And I praise you, oh, you, the psalm,
  Being composed with various stones
  Composed in the churches
  Like Aharons cloak.
  
  And those who orates with soft-spoken words
  With modest soul and holly mind
  Will be the temple and the house
  For the holiest Trinity.
  
  But those who doesn’t say for being lazy
  Or just to say it for the pleasure
  They will never be remissioned
  From now, forever and ever.
  
  You are the remedies of my pains
  And the healer of peoples wounds
  The curber of Sadael regiments
  The supporter of needy.
  
  As the proper ten voices
  The children who are fond of learning
  Always burn him with the hope
  Praising God forever.
  
  | 392v | In this marvelous register
  With various stones which are present
  The man and the religious priest
  Has chosen many of tem
  
  Shining with angels behavior
  Moving ahead with it
  With modest and wise soul
  The adviser of the human beings.
  
  Desirable as a deer
  Immortal as a spring
  Made to create the stones
  And decorate them wonderfully.
  
  I am the reason of disasters
  Unable in kindness
  The announcer and the land
  I did his commands.
  
  Being suffered in my body
  Lively and willing
  With effort and sufferings
  I did it | 393r | fully.
  
  In 1647
  It was done fully
  With the help of Holy Trinity.
  
  And you remember the Lord’s words
  When he’ll come for the Doomsday
  Listen he blissful voice
  And let’s bless my worthy God.
  
  Let’s bless the remorseful Father
  The only Holy Trinity
  Give him ceaseless glory
  Which is blessed forever.
  [Translated by Mery Hovsepyan]
  393r And now, the book of spiritual food, named Hymnal, was rewritten from a good and choice | 393v | example named Xlik by the hand of sinful and ungifted and humble scribe Awetis. Fhanks to God’s favor I started writing and by God’s mercy I did it on 1096 of the Armenian era at the village named Awendants under the shelter of the Church of Saints Peter and Paul and Saint George the general, during the unsettled period of high taxation by the Muslims, and during the rising to the occasion of the force and the oppress all over the world, and what's more to armenian nation for its huge guilty.
  
  Now, if anyone comes to see this in order to read or to copy, remember in your prayers the unworthy scribe Awetis and my parents the priest Vardan and Mahmur, and my grandfather the priest Tuma, and my master Reverend Kirakos, and my sons Tuma and Vardo, and my daughters | 394r | Tankek and Trkhun, and their mother Ariha, who has died this year, who worked hard with unworthy scribe. God, lights their souls in the Holy Kingdom. Amen.
- by the artist: 188v (bottom margin): O brother, open and look and pray for mercy for stupid Gharietsi, on 1647.
Colophon written later:
- 1. (cursive, 18th century)
  136v On 1647 and on 1096 of the Armenian era.
  
  393r On 1096 of the Armenian era.
  
  393v On 1647.
  
  394r On 1647 and on 1096 of the Armenian era.
- 2. (cursive, on 1837) For enjoyment of sir Zohrap Zakharich Melikov 30/9/1837.

Decoration: Artist: Yovanes Gharietsi

Illumination - The Raising of Lazarus 108r, The Washing of Feet 119r, The Kiss of Judas 122r, The Crucifixion 124v, The Entombment 133r, The Resurrection 136v, The Ascension 174v, The Descent of the Holy Spirit (Pentecost) 188v, The Transfiguration 225v, The Dormition of the Mother of God 233v, Two Apostles, one holding the Cross aloft, symbolizing the Feast of the Holy Cross 244v.
In the margin: Annunciation/ Archangel Gabriel (6v) and the Holy Virgin (7r), The Holy spirit 23r, 198v, the Holy Virgin 25v, Saint Anthony the Hermit 31v, Emperor Theodore 33v, David with the head of Goliath 35v, Saint Stephan Protomartyr 37r, Saints Peter and Paul 39v, Saint John the Evangelist 41v, Saint Jonah in the mouth of the whale 48r, Saints Sargis and Martiros 50r, Christ with the lamb 63v, The Forty Martyrs 81v, Saint Gregory the Illuminator imprisoned 92r, The Wise Virgins 114v, Atributs of the Maundy Thursday 118r, the Beheading of St John the Baptist՝ 143v, Saint John the Baptist 207r, Saint Gregory the Illuminator 208v, Saint Nerses the Great 213r, Saint Hripsime 216r, Moses scepter 254r, 255v, a Prophet 262v, Saint Mesrop Mashtots 266r, the Catholicos Saint Hacob Mtsbena 268v, Seraphim 272r, a Patriarch 274v.
Vignettes: 1r, 137r, 189r, 245r.
Headpieces: 51v, 107v, 310v, 334v, 366r, 397r.
Marginal ornaments: vegetal (4v, 8v, 10v, 12v, 14v, 17r, 19r, 21r, 28v, 29v, 42v, 52v, 56v, 59r, 65r, 68v, 72r, 73r, 75r, 79v, 84r, 86v, 99r, 107v, 132v, 139r, 151r, 157r, 162r, 170r, 174r, 193v, 197r, 198v, 202r, 225r, 227ar, 229r, 233r, 236r-v, 241r, 264v, 268v, 294v, 299v, 303r, 310v, 313v, 316r, 318v, 327r, 330v, 334v, 336r, 338r, 339r, 343v, 346v, 349r, 358v, 366r, 368v, 371v, 374v, 377v, 380v, 383v, 387r, 390r, 397r), birds (27r-v, 28r-v, 29r, 46r, 106r, 135r, 146v, 167r, 191v, 193v, 195r, 197r, 200r, 211v, 241r, 270v, 294r, 304v, 321v, 355r), temple (26v, 144v, 152r, 223r, 231r, 250v), siren (45r, 181v, 324v), animal (101v, 289r), tree (110r, 112v, 179r), cross (121v, 125v, 130v, 245av, 247v, 249r, 252v, 258v, 260v), goat (284r).
Ornamented letters: vegetal (10v, 17r, 19r, 50r, 51v, 65r, 86v, 99r, 101v, 106r, 116v, 121v, 125v, 135r, 143v, 167r, 195r, 197r, 202r, 216r, 229r, 236v, 241r, 252v, 254r, 294r, 299v, 303r, 316r, 324v, 327r, 336r, 339r, 343v, 358v, 368v, 371v, 377v, 380v, 387r, 398r-v, 399r, 400r, 401r-v, 402r, 403v, 404v, 405r-v, 406r-v, 407r, 408v, 409v, 410r-v, 411r), ornithomorphic (7r, 8v, 12v, 14v, 21r, 23r, 25v, 27v, 28r, 29r, 33v, 35v, 37r, 42v, 45r, 46r, 59r, 63v, 68v, 72r, 79v, 81v, 92r, 107v, 112v, 114v, 118r, 130v, 132v, 144v, 152r, 162r, 179r, 191v, 193v, 198v, 200r, 207r, 223r, 227ar, 233r, 236r, 247v, 250v, 258v, 260v, 262v, 270v, 272r, 294v, 304v, 310v, 318v, 330v, 334v, 346v, 355r, 366r, 383v, 397r, 399v, 405v, 406r-v), nodal (4v, 26v, 27r, 31v, 48r, 52v, 56v, 73r, 75r, 84r, 110r, 116v, 139r, 146v, 151r, 157r, 170r, 174r, 181v, 208v, 211v, 213r, 225r, 231r, 245av, 249r, 255v, 264v, 266r, 284r, 289r, 313v, 321v, 338r, 349r, 374v, 390r, 397r, 397v, 398r, 400v, 402r, 404r, 405r, 407v, 409r-v, 410r-v, 411r), zoomorphic (51v), geometric (341r, 400v, 402v, 403r-v, 411v).
Colors: red, blue, green, yellow, orange, rosy, violet, white, brown, gray, black, gold.

Additions: Pen trying - Fly-leaf Ar (cursive) Today. Fly-leaf Er (cursive) Georg.
Annotation – Protective sheet Cr (cursive) 413 Blaft + 4 Latin. S. Zaerl (?). Lining B. (cursive) 1277-1096=181.

Binding: blind stamped brown morocco over wooden boards, with fore edge flap; lining from pink cloth. Marginal sides: with floral motifs. Protective sheet: 1 (C) At the beginning: unwritten paper.

Accompanying materials: Fly-leaf: 2 (AB) + 2 (DE), parts of the same manuscript: Latin Breviary, 15th-century.

Contents:

1. 1r-4r [Canon of Joachim and Anna : Parents of the Holy Virgin]
2. 4r-7r Canon of Anna and Joachim: Parents of the Holy Virgin
3. 7r-v Canon of the Annunciation to the Holy Virgin
4. 8r-v [Canon of the Theophany Eve]
5. 8v-10v Canon of the First Day of the Theophany
6. 10v-12v Canon of the Second Day
7. 12v-14v Canon of the Third Day
8. 14v-16v Canon of the Fourth Day
9. 17r-19r Canon of the Fifth Day
10. 19r-21r Canon of the Sixth Day
11. 21r-22v Canon of the Seventh Day
12. 23r-25r Canon of the Eighth Day
13. 25v-29v Glorify the Lord’s Resurrection
14. 30r-31v [Canon of the Presentation to the Temple]
15. 31v-33v Canon of Saint Anthony the Hermit
16. 33v-35r Canon of the Saint King Theodosius
- b. (35r-v) [Hymn of King Trdat]
17. 35v-37r Canon of David and Jacob
18. 37r-39v Canon of Saint Stephan Protomartyr
19. 39v-41v Canon of Sts Peter and Paul
20. 41v-42v Canon of John and Jacob
21. 42v-45r Canon of all Christ Apostles
- b. (45r-46r) Hymn of the Twelve Apostles
22. 46r-48r Canon of the Seventy Two Disciples
23. 48r-50r Canon of the Prophet John
24. 50r-51r Hymn of Sarkis the General
25. 51v-52r Song of the Stove First Sunday Salt and Bread, by Patriarch Nerses
26. 52r-56v [Hymn of the Lent]
27. 56v-60r Canon of the Second Sunday of Bread and Salt
Annot. of the scribe 63r Saturday is the day of Saint Cyril, Patriarch of Jerusalem.
28. 63r-73r Canon of the Third Sunday of Bread and Salt
29. 73r-81v Canon of the Fourth Sunday of Bread and Salt
30. 81v-84r Canon of the Forty Saint Martyrs
31. 84r-91v Canon of the Fifth Sunday of Bread and Salt
32. 92r-99r Canon of the Saint Gregory the Illuminator
33. 99r-107r Canon of the Sixth Sunday of Bread and Salt
34. 107v-110r Canon of the Resurrection of Lazarus
35. 110r-111v Canon of the Entry of Christ into Jerusalem
36. 112r-v [Canon of the Second Sunday of Palms]
37. 112v-114v Canon of the Whit Monday
38. 114v-116v Canon of the Shrove Tuesday
39. 116v-118r Canon of the Ash Wednesday
40. 118r-121v Canon of the Maundy Thursday
41. 121v-125v Canon of the Good Friday
- b. (125v-130v) Song by Patriarch Nerses for the Day of Good Friday from the Gospels
- c. (130v-132v) Song of the Good Friday from the Gospels by Him (Nerses)
42. 132v-136r Canon of the Lord Burial on Holy Saturday
43. 137r-139r Canon of the Holy Easter
- b. (139r-143v) Canon of the Holy and Vivifying Resurrection of Christ
  Annot. of the scribe 139v Monday is the Day of Dead Fathers, Say it when it must be said.
- c. (143v-144v) Saturday is the Day of Saint John the Baptist
44. 144v-151v Canon of the New Sunday of the Easter
Annot. of the scribe 148v This Wednesday is the Annunciation to the Holy Virgin.
45. 152r-174r This Sunday is the day of all martyriums
Annot. of the scribe 164r This Sanday is the day of the appearance of the Holy Cross.
46. 174r-179r This Thursday is the Ascension
47. 179r-187v Canon of the Second Sunday of Palms
48. 189r-191v Canon of the First Day of the Pentecost
49. 191v-193v Canon of the Second Day
50. 193v-195r Canon of the Third Day
51. 195r-197r Canon of the Fourth Day
52. 197r-198v Canon of the Fifth Day
53. 198v-199v Canon of the Sixth Day
54. 200r-201v Canon of the Seventh Day
55. 202r-207r Canon of the Birth of Saint John the Baptist
56. 207r-208v Canon of Saint John the Baptist
57. 208v-211v Canon of Saint Gregory the Illuminator
58. 211v-213v Canon of the Sons and Grandsons of Saint Gregory the Illuminator
59. 213r-215v Canon of Armenian Catholicos Nerses
- b. (215v-216r) Hymn of Catholicos Saint Sahak
60. 216r-222v Canon of Saint Hripsime and her Companions
- b. (222v-223r) Hymn of Saint Sandukht
61. 223r-225r Canon of the Holy Tabernacle (Tapanak)
62. 225r-227ar Canon of the Transfiguration First Day
63. 227ar-229r Canon of the Second Day
64. 229r-231r Canon of the Third Day
65. 231r-233r Canon of Shoghakat
66. 233r-236r Canon of the Holy Virgin’s Dormition First Day
67. 236r-241r Canon of the Second Day
Annot. of the scribe 236v “Saint Souls devoted to the Holy Mother of God by Archimandrite Kirakos Yerzynkatsi”.
68. 241r-243v Canon of the Third Day
69. 245r-245av Canon of the Eve of the Holy Cross Elevation
70. 245av-247v Canon of the Second Day of the Holy Cross
71. 247v-249r Canon of the Third Day
72. 249r-250v Canon of the Fourth Day
Annot. of the scribe 250v Dead Fathers on Shoghakat, Say it when it must be said.
73. 250v-252v Canon of the Fifth Day
Annot. of the scribe 251r It is written on Shoghakat, Know and say.
74. 252v-254r Canon of the Sixth Day
Annot. of the scribe 253v Dead Fathers on Tapanak (Tabernacle), Say it when it must be said
75. 254r-255v Canon of the Seventh Day
76. 255v-258v Canon of the Eighth Day
77. 258v-260v Canon of the Saint Cross of Varag
78. 260v-262v Canon of the Cross of Gut
79. 262v-266r Canon of the Saint Prophets
80. 266r-268r Canon of the Archimandrite Mesrop
81. 268v-270v Canon of the Catholicos Saint Hacob Mtsbena
82. 270v-272r Canon of the Bethlehem Children
83. 272r-274v Canon of the Saint Archangels Gabriel and Michael, and all the Celestial Forces of Christ
84. 274v-278r Canon of the Saint Patriarchs
- 2. (278r) Hymn of Saint Ignatius the Patriarch
- 3. (278r-v) Hymn of John Chrysostom
- 4. (278v-279r) Hymn of Saint Basil the Patriarch
- 5. (279r) Hymn of Saint Gregory the Theologian
- 6. (279r-v) Hymn of Saint Nicholas the Patriarch
- 7. (279v-280r) Hymn of Saint Cyril, Patriarch of Jerusalem
- 8. (280r-v) Hymn of Saint Ephraim the Hermit
- 9. (281r-v) Hymn of Saint Eustratius and his companions
- 10. (281v-282r) Hymn of the Two Myriads of Martyrs
- 11. (282r) Hymn of the Captain Saint Theodore
- 12. (282r-283r) Hymn of Saint Stepanos Ulnetsi
- 13. (283r) Hymn of Minas, Hermogenes and Grabos
- 14. (283r-v) Hymn for the blessing of the holy chrism
- 15. (283v-284r) Song of the chrism over the regenerate
- 16. (284r-v) Hymn of Saint Sukias and his companions
- 17. (284v-285r) Hymn of Vahan Goghtatsi
- 18. (285r-v) Hymn of David Dvinetsi
- 19. (285v-286v) Hymn of Kirakos and his Mother Julita
- 20. (286v) Hymn of Saint Oskan and his companions
- 21. (286v-287r) Hymn of Saint Atome and his companions
- 22. (287r-289r) Hymn of Saint Vartan and his companions
85. 289r-294r Canon of Saint Łevond and his companions
86. 294r-v Song about the First Day of the Unique Week, and about the Mystery of Creation, and about the Resurrection of Christ
- 2. (294v-295v) Song about the Second Day of the Creation, and about the Celestial Forces of Christ
- 3. (295v-296r) Song about the Third Day of the Creation, and about the Third Period, and about Saint John the Baptist
- 4. (296r-297r) Song about the Fourth Day of the Creation, and about the Fourth Period, and about the Annunciation to the Holy Virgin
- 5. (297r-298r) Song about the Fifth Day of Creation, and about the Fifth Period, and the Saint Apostles of Christ
- 6. (298r-v) Song about the Sixth Day of the Creation, and about the Sixth Period, and about the Crucifixion of Christ
- 7. (298v-299v) Song about the Seventh Day of the Creation and about the Seventh Period, and about the Mystery of Passing away
87. 299v-300r Song of the Sunrise Hours from the psalm The Name of Lord
- 2. (300r-301r) Song from the psalm Sing aloud unto God
- 3. (301r-v) Song from the psalm O Lord Our Lord
- 4. (301v-303r) Song from the psalm The Lord is my Shepherd
- 5. (303r-v) Song of the Third Hour of the Day from Miserere
- 6. (303v-304r) Song of Sixth Hour of the Day
- 7. (304r-v) Song of the Ninth Hour
- 8. (304v-306v) Song of the Vesper Hour of Peace
- 9. (306v-307r) Hymn of the Vesting
- 10. (307r-308r) Hymn of Censing during the Liturgy
- 11. (308r-310r) Hymn of the Seven Grasseaters
- 12. (310r) Hymn of the beginning of the Sunday
88. 310v-334r Canon of all Martyrs
89. 334v-358v Canon of the Dead
90. 358v-363r [Song for the Dead by Patriarch Nerses]
- a. (363r-364v) Hymn of all the Dead
- b. (364v-365v) Hymn of the Dead
91. 366r-389v Blessings of the Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ
92. 394v-396v Songs of the celebrations and the Saints
92. 397r-413r [Doxologies for the Religious Holidays and all the Saints]

Bibliography:

Description in Armenian language