Manuscripts as Healing Objects and even ‘Sacred Bodies’ in Armenia

The Armenian tradition bears striking testimony to a unique reverence for manuscripts, particularly for so-called “magic gospels” (e.g., the Shurishkan Gospel, the ‘Anania’ Gospel, the “Red” Gospel, the ‘Tsughrut’ Gospel) and for healing books known as ‘Nareks’. These codices were not merely treasured texts but were often venerated as sacred objects imbued with divine presence, sometimes even treated as living beings—a practice that in certain communities persists to this day. Despite the large-scale loss of manuscripts during invasions—such as the burning of 10,000 codices in 1170 at Baghaberd—invaders gradually recognized their extraordinary value for Armenians. In some instances, ransom payments were made for manuscripts alongside, or even instead of, human captives, as illustrated by the case of Vanakan Vardapet and the Gospel of Khoranashat Monastery. This attitude reflects the deep symbolic and spiritual significance of the Armenian script itself. Invented by Mesrop Mashtots, the alphabet was regarded as a divine gift, bestowed through the inspiration and guidance of God. The very word Astvatsashunch, one of the Armenian terms for the Bible, literally means “breathed upon by God” or “inspired by God,” underscoring this theology of sacred language and text. A remarkable literary witness to this perception is found in the ten riddles attributed to David the Invincible, where the Armenian script is personified, speaking in the first person and revealing its own qualities. Such texts not only reflect the sacralization of writing in Armenian intellectual culture but also demonstrate the intertwining of theology, literature, and identity. This paper will examine the intertwining of manuscript veneration, the sacral status of the Armenian alphabet, and their lasting impact on Armenian theological and cultural imagination.