Armenian Prayer Scrolls
A sample of pages from two Armenian prayer scrolls, which once acted as spiritual amulets for devout travelers.
Between the 15th and 19th centuries in Armenia, prayer scrolls, or hmayil, were a favorite item to carry or keep in the home. Especially popular among travelers, the scrolls were thought to offer spiritual protection to their bearers. Each scroll consisted of multiple pieces of illuminated paper, often about three dozen pages adding up to several meters in length. They could be beautifully decorated with both painted miniatures and calligraphy depicting scriptures, prayers, and spiritual wards. In this sense, they acted much like protective amulets also worn by Armenians and people of many other faiths and cultures.
These images are part of a single prayer scroll held and restored by the Library of Congress, known as “Hmayil (Armenian Prayer Scroll) Number 2.” They represent a fairly typical prayer scroll dated to the 1700s, with richly painted images from the Gospels.
A prayer scroll was usually a deeply personal item. The carrier would sign his or her name on the manuscript, which was only removed once the scroll changed hands.
Today, not many of these artifacts have survived for modern audiences to appreciate. Constant travel tended to wear down paper, leaving few in-tact specimens. The scroll held by the Library of Congress is remarkable not only for its elaborate illustrations, but also for its completeness.
The other scroll held by the Library of Congress, known as “Hmayil (Armenian prayer scroll) Number 1,” is of similar quality and showcases a different miniature style. This scroll is dated to 1725 and appears to have been created in Istanbul. Its pages, one of which is shown below, are longer and narrower, with a more vibrant color palette.
These two scrolls, part of a small number of survivors, are fragments of the past representing the wider tradition of Christian illumination in Armenia. We can appreciate them today not only for their beauty, but for their unique role as spiritual aid, protection, and comfort for people centuries ago.
References
The British Library. “Armenian Prayer Scroll.” The British Library, www.bl.uk/collection-items/armenian-prayer-scroll. Accessed 17 July 2020.
“Hmayil (Armenian Prayer Scroll) Number 1.” The Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/item/2014373044. Accessed 17 July 2020.
“Hmayil (Armenian Prayer Scroll) Number 2.” The Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/item/2014373043. Accessed 17 July 2020.
Maranci, Christina. The Art of Armenia: An Introduction. Oxford University Press, 2018.
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