A Syriac Four Gospel Book in Diyarbakır

The present study deals with codicological, textual and art historical features of the Gospel Book (Tetraevangelium) from the Syrian Orthodox Church Meryem Ana, Diyarbakır (Turkey) that has not been sufficiently known either to scholars of Syriac Christianity or art historians. Due to the lack of the colophon we are bereft of any positive information concerning its provenance and therefore only through comparative study one can contextualize the evidence that it provides. Our preliminary study demonstrates that palaeographical and codicological features of the manuscript allow to ascribe it to the early Syriac manuscript production. Its text represents the standard Syriac Gospel text of the Peshitta version. The text is accompanied by a primitive lectionary system that covers only the principal liturgical commemorations; that was however enriched at a later stage when the manuscript was used in the Syriac Orthodox milieu. The manuscript contains a miniature of Christ as well as decorated Canon tables that are similar in style to those in Syriac Gospels from the sixth century and, in particular, with those of the Rabbula Gospels in Florence. Albeit most of the early Syriac Gospel books are not dated a recent new investigation of Rabbula codex cogently argued that its miniatures go back to 525–550 ce. Both authors agree that it is likely that the manuscript from the Church of Meryem Ana can be assigned to the same date of mid-sixth century.