Gospels of Queen Mlké

Saint Matthew portrait from the Gospel of Queen Mlke.

The Gospels of Queen Mlké (Armenian: Մլքե թագուհու Ավետարան) is one of oldest Armenian illuminated manuscripts dated 851 or 862 and is kept in the Mekhitarist abbey on San Lazzaro degli Armeni.[1][2] It is named after the wife of King Gagik I of Vaspurakan, who had it restored in the 10th century and is composed of 464 lambskin pages.[3] Up to the 10th century eight dated Armenian manuscripts have survived: the Gospels of Queen Mlké (851-862) (Venice № 1144/86), the Lazarian Gospels (887) (Matenadaran № 6200), The Gospels of Ashot Sparapet (909) (Matenadaran № 6202), Dsurghut Gospels (974) (Georgia), the Sanasarian Gospels (985) (Matenadaran № 7735), Sk'antchelagorts Gospels (988) (Matenadaran № 8906), Ejmiadsin Gospels (989) (Matenadaran № 2374) and the Gospels of the Translators (966-996) (Walters Art Gallery).[4]

References

1. Nersessian, Vrej (2001). Treasures from the Ark: 1700 years of Armenian Christian art. J. Paul Getty Museum. London: British Library. pp. 181–182. ISBN 978-0-89236-639-2.
2. Caucasian Albania. de Gruyter. 2023. p. 145. ISBN 978-3-11-079468-7.
3. Sanders, Gloria (September 1, 2022). "Crowning Glory: The power of ancient Armenian queens". AGBU. AGBU Magazine. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
4. Nersessian, Vrej; Nersessian, Vrej (2001). Treasures from the Ark: 1700 years of Armenian Christian art. British Library. Los Angeles, Calif: J. Paul Getty Museum. p. 157. ISBN 978-0-89236-639-2. OCLC 47999310.