To celebrate Christmas, here is a small selection of some exquisite illustrations from various Armenian manuscripts, depicting the Nativity scene.
The Nativity, by Evargis the priest, 1038, Gospel of Taron, ms6201 Matenadaran collection
The Nativity of the Lord and the Adoration of the shepherds, the Vekhamor Gospel, 9th century, Makenyats vank, ms10680 Matenadaran collection
The Nativity of our Lord and the Adoration of the shepherds, by Toros Roslin, 1262, W.539 Walters collection
The Nativity of oir Lord, by Tiranu Grigor, 1232, Targmanchats Gospels, ms2743 Matenadaran collection
The Nativity, by Melchizedek of Vaspurakan, 1338, ms4813 Matenadaran collection
The Nativity, by Vardan monk, 1319, Artskeh, Vaspurakan, ms7456 Matenadaran collection
The Nativity of our Lord, by Hovhannes Vardapet, 1455, Khizan monastery, W.543 Walters collection
The Nativity of our Lord, Karabakh Gospels, 14th century, ms316 Matenadaran collection
The Nativity, by Mesrop Khzanetsi, 1609, The Bodleian Library
The Nativity of our Lord and the Adoration of the Magi, artist Hovnatan Hovnatanian, 1760s, Echmiadzin Cathedral