ZEYTUN GOSPEL

The “Zeytun Gospel” is a significant piece of art created by Toros Roslin, a renowned Armenian miniature artist. The manuscript was written and painted in 1256 in the Catholicosate Romkla. The author and recipient of the manuscript is Catholicos Constantine I from Bardzrberd. The Gospel was kept in Zeytun for many years and subsequently became the property of the local Surenyan-Basilosyan princely house. During the migration of Zeytun in 1915, Prince Asatur of Surenyan-Basilosyan took the Gospel with him to Marash. In 1916, before being exiled to Der-Zor, Prince Asatur gave the Gospel to Harutyun Ter-Ghazaryan, a doctor from Marash. The manuscript remained in Harutyun Ter-Ghazaryan’s possession until 1920 when it was lost during the massacre of Armenians in Marash. A Turk eventually found the Gospel but had recurring dreams instructing him to return the manuscript to the Armenians. The Turk handed the Gospel to the Armenian spiritual leader of Marash, Reverend Khachatur Ter-Ghazaryan. Despite the cumbersome journey it underwent, the “Zeytun Gospel” has maintained its historical and artistic value, and it is now considered one of the masterpieces of medieval art.

Share