Armenian amuletic devotional scroll, with extracts from the Gospels and writings of the saints to ward off evil spirits, in Armenian, illuminated manuscript scroll on paper [Constantinople, dated 4 March 1641]

scroll, approximately 18,000mm. by 80mm., single column of bolorgir script in black ink, headings in liquid gold outlined in red, initials formed of coloured foliage or birds edged in liquid gold, major text breaks marked by carpet-page-like sections of tesselated shapes and silver baubles (oxidised in places), three roundels containing saints, twenty-three large miniatures (each set within column and approximately 110mm. by 70mm.) with bright gold backgrounds, and a very large miniature surmounted by a headband with two angels, flaking from some miniatures (with notable affect to single very large miniature), numerous splits repaired with old paper, some tears to edges throughout, scuffing, cracking and slight water damage to last leaves, else overall in good condition

The scroll has two colophons which both date the manuscript to 1090 in the Armenian era (ie. 4 March 1641 AD.) and state that it was made for use by Lazar, son of Martinos. His son Markos appears in one of the miniatures.

The principal texts are John I:1-17 and IV:46-54; Matthew XV:21-28; St. Grigor of Narek, Lamentations (Canticles XII, XXXIV and XLII); Mark I:3-13 and X:28-32; Luke I:23-25, V:12-16 and I:1-22; St. Grigor of Narek, Lamentations (Canticles XLIII); the prayer of Manesseh (placed at the end of II Chronicles in the Vulgate); the prayer of St. Nerses Snorhali; the prayer of 1001 names of God; the prayer of the archangels for the protection of mankind; the prayer of St. Gevorg the general; the prayer of St. Phocas against storms; the prayer of St. Sarkis; the prayer of the vision of the Cross; the prayer of St. Antioch against demons; the prayer of Yovhannes of Garni for the Sunday of the Annunciation; the story of St. Justiana followed by Psalms; the prayer for St. Stephen the proto-martyr and other prayers against illness and problems.

The miniatures are by two artists. The first, who paints the miniatures in the middle of the scroll produces fine and accomplished examples of the artistic output of the thriving seventeenth-century Armenian community of Constantinople. The second, who paints the first and last miniatures, is less refined, but brings a wealth of detail to his subjects which is quite rare in Armenian art. The illuminations show John the Evangelist; St. Grigor of Narek dressed as an Armenian monk; Luke; King Manasseh; St. Nerses IV Klayec’ I with two angels; Christ with two angels, the Trinity; a kneeling saint blessed by God; SS. Marine and Hrip’sime; the owner’s son Markos; Christ and the Apostles; the Crucifixion; the Virgin and Child; St. Grigor the Enlightener; John the Baptist; the sacrifice of Isaac; the Archangel Gabriel; St. Gevorg and his son Martiros; SS. Phocas, Yarkis and Martiros; two angels holding the Cross; St. Ciprian of Antioch; St. Yovhannes of Garni; St. Justiana; King David and St. Stephen the proto-martyr.