Exhibition Themes > Theology & Religion > 132. Hymnal
132. Hymnal. Manuscript on parchment, 399 leaves. Crimea, Kafay, 1646. Burke Library at Union Theological Seminary, Armenian MS 1
The binding on this hymnal is a fine example of traditional Armenian bookbinding techniques that were still being used in 17th-century Crimea, including a loop board attachment, cloth doublures, traditional endbands, blind-tooled leather fore-edge flaps, and a vertically ruled spine. What is particularly notable is that the illuminator and scribe, Nikoghayos, also bound the book. The text is an abbreviated version of the Armenian Hymnal (Sharaknots‘), with decorated headpieces at the major divisions of the book.
