Mar 30, 2025
Angel announcing to high priest Zacharias the imminent birth of his son, John the Baptist, Ms. 2374, fol. 228r, from the Echmiadzin Gospels (10th century), late 6th century, Matenadaran, Yerevan, Armenia.
This miniature belongs to a series of paintings which were added to the Echmiadzin Gospels when Yovhannes made the manuscript in the late 10th century in the Noravank Monastery near Tatev. They are much older than the Echmiadzin Gospels themselves, dating to the 6th century. All of them deal with Epiphanies of divine beings to mortals. Here we see Zacharias in his high priest attire standing in front of the temple of Jerusalem, with the angel appearing in front of him with conspicuous peacock wings.
