1.1 Yah. Ms. Or. 4 (Four Gospels) fol. 36r: First Page of the Gospel According to Matthew, The Jewish National University 4

1.2 Yah. Ms. Or. 4 (Four Gospels) fol. 3r: Baptism of Christ, NLL 6

1.3 Yah. Ms. Or. 4 (Four Gospels) fol. 6v: Entry into Jerusalem, NNL 7

1.4 Yah. Ms. Or. 4 (Four Gospels) fol. 15v: Angel and the Holy Women at the Sepulchre, NNL 8

2.1 Page with Marginal Heads, Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem (MS. 285) 12

2.2 Macarius, Marcus and a Sick Cub. Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem (MS. 285) 14

2.3 Mary the Egyptian. Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem (MS. 285) 17

2.4 The Six Brethren Who Found Paradise. Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem (MS. 285) 17

2.5 Paphnutius Meets Onophrius. Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem (MS. 285) 18

2.6 Theophilus and the Monks. Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem (MS. 285) 19

2.7 Marcus and Serapion. Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem (MS. 285) 20

2.8 Paphnutius and the Four Old Monks. Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem (MS. 285) 21

2.9 Pambo and Visitors. Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem (MS. 285) 22

3.1 St. Paphnutius, St. Timothy and the Buffalos. Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem (MS. 285) 26

3.2 St. Paphnutius and St. Onophrius. Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem (MS. 285) 27

3.3 St. Paphnutius and the Old Monk. Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem (MS. 285) 28

3.4 St. Paphnutius and the Four Old Monks. Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem (MS. 285) 29

3.5 St. Paphnutius and the Four Young Monks. Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem (MS. 285) 30

4.1 Mosaic floor from Shellal, upper part. Photo by author 41

4.2 Mosaic floor from Shellal, central part. Photo by author 42

4.3 Mosaic floor from Shellal, lower left corner. Photo by author 43

4.4 Mosaic floor from Shellal, upper left corner. Photo by author 45

5.1 Bible of St. Paul folio 231r (ninth century). The Morgan Library 51

5.2 The Arsenal Bible (thirteenth century). Paris, Bibliothèque de l’Arsenal, Ms. 5211, fol. 252r 53

5.3 Hortus Deliciarum folio 60r 55

5.4 Armenian Ms (seventeenth century). Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem, Ms. 1927, fol. 219b 57

5.5 Barberini Codex 1097. Vatican, Latin 587 58

5.6 Bible of Stephen Harding (twelfth century). Bibliothèque municipale de Dijon BM MS.14 59

5.7 From Chartres Cathedral (thirteenth century) 60

5.8 Speculum Virginum (twelfth century). British Library, Arundel 44, fol. 34v 61

5.9 Anastasis (twelfth century) 62

5.10 Donatello’s Judith and Holofernes, Bronze (1455–57) 64

5.11 The Prague Haggada (1526). The Israel Museum 66

5.12 Caravaggio’s Judith and Holofernes (1571–1610). Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Antica (GNAA)/National Gallery of Ancient Art (Rome). 67

5.13 Allori’s Judith and Holofernes (1609). Galleria Palatina (Palazzo Pitti), Florence. 68

5.14 L. Baskin, Chosen Days (1981). Schilman Collection. 69

6.1 Jonah swallowed by a huge Whale. British Library, ms. Add. 21160, folio 292, Pentateuch (Germany, early 14th c.) 73

6.2 Keran Gospel of 1272, Opening Page. Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem (MS. 1272) 75

6.3 Psalter of Humphrey de Bohn, c. 1370. Oxford, Exeter College, ms. 47 76

6.4 Lectionary of Mush, 1204. Matenadaran, ms. 7729 77

6.5 The Lives of the Desert Fathers, 1430. Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem (MS. 285) 79

6.6 The Kiev Psalter. Leningrad, The Saltykov-Shchedrin Library, MS. F6 80

6.7 The Massacre of the Innocents, Armenian, Gospel, 13th century. Matenadaran, ms. 7651 82

6.8 Lives of the Desert Fathers, Armenian 1430. Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem (MS. 285) 83

6.9 Lectionary of King Hethum II, 1286, Jonah Vomited by the Whale. Matenadaran, ms. 979, folio 200v 84

6.10 Lectionary of King Hethum II, 1286, The Descent from the Cross and The Entombment. Matenadaran, ms. 979, folio 193r 85

6.11 Lectionary of King Hethum II, 1286, The Presentation in the Temple. Matenadaran, ms. 979, folio 58v 87

6.12 The Entry into Jerusalem. Matenadaran, ms. 6288 of 1211 88

7.1 John and Prochorus. Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem MS. 2563 90

7.2 The Annunciation with the Jug. Matenadaran, MS. 6305 93

7.3 The Annunciation with the Jug (ms. M 7482, 1378 AD). 94

7.4 The Annunciation, with the Virgin starting to spin. Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem MS. 2563 95

7.5 The Transfiguration. Matenadaran, MS. 6201 98

7.6 The Dormition of the Virgin. Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem MS. 1973 100

7.7 The Dormition of the Virgin. Matenadaran, MS. 2743 101

7.8 The Entry into Jerusalem. Matenadaran, MS. 6305 103

7.9 The Baptism. Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem MS. 2568 104

8.1 Mary the Egyptian. Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem MS. 285, p. 420 109

8.2 Mary the Egyptian and Zosimus 110

8.3 Mary the Egyptian and Zosimus from the Theodore Psalter of 1066. British Library BL ADD. 19.352 fol. 158v 111

8.4 Mary the Egyptian and Zosimus 112

9.1 Crucifixion and Initial Page, Missal no. 1, fols. 2v–3r. Library of Congress, Armenian MS no. 1/number 1561 117

9.2 Marginal Illustration, Missal no. 1, fol. 10v. Library of Congress, Armenian MS no. 1/number 1561 121

9.3 Crucifixion and Initial Page, Missal no. 2, fols. 1v–2r. Library of Congress, Armenian MS no. 2/number 1560 125

9.4 Marginal Illumination, Missal no. 2, fol. 12v. Library of Congress, Armenian MS no. 2/number 1560 127

10.1 Annunciation to the Virgin, Etchmiadzin Gospels, 6th century. Matenadaran M2374. 133

10.2 Annunciation to Zechariah, Etchmiadzin Gospels, 6th century. Matenadaran M2374 133

10.3 Adoration of the Magi, Etchmiadzin Gospels, 6th century. Matenadaran M2374 134

10.4 Temptation of Christ, King Gagik Gospels, 11th century. Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem MS. J2556 135

10.5 Temptation of Christ 2, King Gagik Gospels, 11th century. Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem MS. J2556 136

10.6 Entry into Jerusalem, Awag Gospels. J212, fols. 68v–69r 137

10.7 Entry into Jerusalem (Ethiopian), 15th century. Dabra Amuna Marawi Krestos, Tegre, Ethiopia 138

10.8 Annunciation at the Well, Anonymous of Siwnik, 13th–14th century. Matenadaran 6305 139

10.9 Annunciation (Complex), T‘oros Taronec‘i, 13th–14th century. Glajor Gospel 140

10.10 Nativity. Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem J1920 141

10.11 Jonah cast overboard, Aghtamar, Church of the Holy Cross, 10th century. Photo by author 142

10.12 Jonah rests under the Gourd, Aghtamar, Church of the Holy Cross, 10th century. Photo by author 143

10.13 Jonah cast overboard, Lectionary of Het‘um II, 1286. Matenadaran 979 144

10.14 Jonah ejected by the Whale, Lectionary of Het‘um II, 1287. Matenadaran 979 144

10.15 Creation, Getty Bible, 1637–8. Getty Museum 145

10.16 Creation, Grandval Bible, Carolingian, 9th century (Ms. Add. 10546, 5v). British Library 147

11.1 Adam and Eve and the Serpent in the Garden of Eden, Woodcut by H. Schedel, 1493. Nuremberg Chronicle 149

11.2 The Six Monks in Search of Paradise. Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem, MS. 285 150

11.3 Creation. Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem, MS. 1927, fol. 9v 154

11.4 Biblical Chronology. NLI, MS. Or 155

11.5 The Six Monks in Search of Paradise. Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem, MS. 293 158

11.6 Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins, Rossano Gospel. Diocesan Museum, Rossano Cathedral 160

11.7 Mosaic, St. Vitale, Ravenna, sixth century 162

11.8 Mosaic, Sts. Cosmas and Damianus, Rome, fourth century 164

11.9 Fountain (Tübingen, Germany). Photo by author 166

11.10 Mosaic, Cupola of Atrium, San Marco, Venice, thirteenth century 167

11.11 Pluto and Perséphone. Bibliothèque nationale, Paris 168

11.12 Xačʽkʽar of 881, Armenia. Photo by author 170

11.13 Xačʽkʽar of 1651, Jerusalem. Photo by author 170

12.1 Transfiguration. Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem MS. J2563, fol. 69 174

12.2 Sarcophagus, The Louvre. Photographie Giraudon, Paris. 176

12.3 Transfiguration. Matenadaran, MS. M6201, fol. 62 177

12.4 Transfiguration. Matenadaran, MS. M974 179

12.5 Transfiguration. Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem MS. J1956 182

13.1 The Alexander Romance. Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem MS. J473 186

13.2 Fantastic Animal, Venice. Mekhitarist Library, V1434, fol. 2r; 2b. Bucephalus. Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem, J473, fol. 10v 188

13.3 Markos and Serapion. Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem MS. J285, p. 652 190

13.4 Lion and Satan in Physiologus. Matenadaran, M2890 194

13.5 Mosvēs Xorenacʽi. Matenadaran, M2865 195

13.6 Esayi Nčʽecʽi and his students. Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem MS. J365 196

13.7 Grigor Tat‘ewac‘i and his students. Matenadaran M1203 197

13.8 David the invincible philosopher. Matenadaran M1746 198

13.9 Battle of Avarayr. Matenadaran M1620 199

13.10 Gabriel guarding a soul. Matenadaran M1620 201

13.11 St. Sargis and his son Martiros. Mekhitarist Library, Venice V3041 203

13.12 Monastery of Armaš. Chester Beatty Library, Arm 635 204

13.13 Cathedral of Sts. James, Jerusalem. Chester Beatty Library, Arm 634 205

13.14 Nersēs Šnorhali instructs Mxitʽar Heracʽi. Matenadaran, M7047, fol. 196v 206

13.15 Horse. Private Collection, Los Angeles 207

13.16 The Constellation “Virgo”. Matenadaran, M3884 208

14.1 Jeselsohn page recto. Dr. David and Jemima Jeselsohn Private Collection, Switzerland 216

14.2 Jeselsohn page verso. Dr. David and Jemima Jeselsohn Private Collection, Switzerland 217

14.3 Ornamental Letters. Mekhitarist Library, Venice V623/3 220

15.1 Upper Part. Chester Beatty Library 634 225

15.2 The Cathedral of the Sts. James. Chester Beatty Library 634 227

15.3 17th century woodcut of the cathedral. Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem 229

15.4 The Initial. Chester Beatty Library 634 230

15.5 St. George. Chester Beatty Library 636 232

15.6 Decorated Page. Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem MS. J1933 234

16.1 The Musrara mosaic. Photo by Garo Nalbaldian 240

16.2 Mosaic floor from Shellal, central part. Photo by author 242