Nersessian V. Treasures from the Ark: 1700 Years of Armenian Christian Art

Los Angeles: J. Paul Getty Museum, 2001. — 240 p. — ISBN: 0-89236-639-7.Armenia was the first country to recognize Christianity as the official state religion in 301 AD, twelve years before Constantine’s decree granting tolerance to Christianity within the Roman Empire. Ever since, Armenia has claimed the privilege of being the first Christian nation, and the wealth of Christian art produced in Armenia since then is testimony to the fundamental importance of the Christian faith to the Armenian people.
This extensive new survey of Armenian Christian art, published to accompany a major exhibition at The British Library, celebrates the Christian art tradition in Armenia during the last 1700 years. The extraordinary quality and range of Armenian art that is documented here includes sculpture, metalwork, textiles, ceramics, wood carvings and illuminated manuscripts and has been drawn together from collections throughout the world.
In his authoritative text, Dr. Vrej Nersessian, Curator at The British Library, charts the development of Christianity in Armenia. This fascinating history is essential to an understanding of the art and religious tradition of Armenia, a country in which the sense of the sacred extends well beyond the purely religious, infiltrating the entire fabric of Armenian affairs to create a fascinating culture.
This sumptuously illustrated book will be of immense value to anyone with an interest in Byzantine art and culture, the history of Christianity, and the history of Armenia and the Middle Orient.Message from His Holiness Garegin II
Message from the Archbishop of Canterbury
Acknowledgements
Introduction by Professor Robin Cormack 1
[b]The Conversion of Armenia to Christianity
The Land
The Spread of Christianity ir, Armenia
The Date of Armenia's Conversion to Christianity
Apostolicity and Christian Missions
Monasticism and the Role of the Armenian Monasteries in
Armenian Christianity
[b]The Christological Position of the Armenian Church
The Council of Chalcedon
The Armenian Church and the Council of Chalcedon
Chapter Three The Armenian Church within Christendom
Armenian Byzantine Church Relations
Armenian -Byzantine Church Relations at the Time of the Armenian
Cilician Kingdom
The Armenian Church and the Papacy at the Time of the Armenian
Cilician Kingdom
The Armenian Church in Contemporary Times
Chapter Four Sacred Art in Theology and Worship
The Holy Scriptures
The Theology of Armenian Christian Art
Portraits
The Canon Tables: Theology of Colour and Ornamentation
The Nature of Image Veneration in Armenia
Notes
Catalogue
Sculpture
Metal works
Textiles
Carved Wood
Ceramics
Firmans
ManuscriptsExhibition Catalogues
Lenders to the Exhibition