** - Lot 181

Lot 181
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** - Lot 181
** Calendar of liturgical feasts (Parzatomar) and diary of deacon Gaspar de Tatev Syunik (Siounie), village of Aghverdz, 1616-1630. Parzatomar-type composite manuscript, which also served as the diary of its patron and principal scribe, Gaspar sargavak Tatevetsi. The work brings together a variety of selected texts, reflecting practical, devotional and intellectual use. 164 leaves. 14.4 x 10.9 x 3.3 cm. On thick paper, in 18-line continuous text, in notrgir script, by two distinct hands: that of Gaspar sargavak, who also commissioned the work, and that of Ghoukas dpir, whose handwriting is distinguished by greater elegance and regularity. The decoration, sober but significant, includes chapter initials traced in red cinnabar, sometimes enhanced with green, as well as discreet title page frames, margins adorned with floral motifs, and ornate lettering in archaic style. The whole shows an attachment to decorative forms inherited from earlier traditions. The manuscript also contains astrological tables and circles, integrated into the functional framework of the Parzatomar. The original binding, in dark brown calf leather, features a cold-stamped decoration of circular motifs (rosettes or fleurettes) arranged freely on the boards. The calendar of liturgical feasts (Parzatomar) was designed to simplify complex calendar calculations, which originally required precise astronomical knowledge. The book provides practical, accessible information for everyday use. The text also includes weather forecasts, based on the observation of celestial phenomena. Stemming from a long tradition of studying the heavens, these indications were particularly useful for anticipating climatic conditions, such as the severity or mildness of winter. The manuscript also includes a section on body movements (Marmnakhaghats), in which certain physical phenomena - such as eyelid tremors - are interpreted as premonitory signs of coming events. The manuscript opens with a series of medieval fables, including that of the Fox and the Wolf (there is probably a gap at the beginning of the volume). It also includes hagiographic and liturgical texts, including : - the Vision of Saint Gregory the Illuminator (Տեսիլ սրբոյն Գրիգորի մերոյ լուսաւորչին), - the March 17 notice of the Armenian Synaxaries dedicated to Saint Alexis (Երանելի Ալեքսիանոս), - several canons from the Book of Machtots (Ritual), including the Lamentation by the Mouth of the Deceased (Ողբ ի բերանոյ մեռելոյն. Ով քահանայք եւ վարդապետք), the canon concerning children who died before the age of ten (Կանովն զամենայն վաղճանեայս տղայոց որ ի տասն տարուն ի վայր են առ Քրիստոս յուղարկել), and the rite of the blessing of water on Theophany Day (Կանովն ջուր աւրհնելոյ յաւուր Յայտնութեան)... Several colophons and autograph notes allow us to pinpoint the manuscript's production and use. Gaspar sargavak refers to himself as a native of Tatev and the village of Aghverdz, soliciting the memory and prayers of readers: - Զգծող սորա աներես Գասբարս աղ[ա]չեմ փոքր մի յիշել որէ ահել ամեն: Թվ. ՌՀԹ ամիս ապրիլ (The scribe of this, the unworthy Gaspar, who is old, I beg to be remembered a little. Amen. The year 1630 in the month of April). Գրեց թվիս ՌՀԸ ձեռամբ Գասբար սրգի (Written in the year 1629, in the hand of the scribe Gaspard) Main colophon: - ԶԳասբար ս[ա]րգ[ա]ւ[ա]գս թաթեւացի որէ գեղ չեն յղվերձու, յիշեայ միով Ա[ստւա]ծ ողորմայիս եւ ըստայնմ մե որով չափով չափեք չափեսցի ձեզ որէ ա[ւր]հ[ն]եալ Ամեն : Թվ ՌՀԳ: (I, Deacon Gaspar of Tatev, a native of the village of Yghverdzu, have commemorated you: remember me also before God for mercy, and according to that - by whose measure you measure, you shall be measured. Bless you all. Amen. The year 1624). The manuscript also preserves Ghoukas dpir's subscription, attesting to his participation in the copying as early as 1616, at the request of the venerable deacon Gaspar . The whole constitutes a particularly rich testimony to scribal practices, textual culture and individual piety in early 17th-century Syunik, in the
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