Utopia, armarium codicum bibliophilorum, Cod. 4
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Description by Davit Ghazaryan, translated into English by Aida Charkhchyan, the verse by Mery Hovsepyan, 2013.

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
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
  • 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]
  • 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: