Bible Cover

Front, brass with inlaid gemstones, 9” W x 12” H 1997

The front cover of the Bible is shown. In Armenia, Bibles and other important books are protected with metallic covers. Inlaid stones are often used for ornamentation and their use has a long history in our traditional art, perhaps because of the mountains. The design used here is from khachkars, elaborately carved stone crosses found throughout the mountains of our homeland. Many of these cross images have wing-like designs to denote holiness or “flying,” sacred words that fly to the heavens or fly to us from Heaven. You see the “wings” towards the bottom of the cross. There are many khachkars that are called healing crosses. People go to them to become healed. Khachkars in Armenia have their origins in ancient stone monoliths or monuments that were used in pre-Christian religious ceremonies. As mentioned earlier they now are used to commemorate important things. There are few khachkar masters still alive in Armenia and none live in the US. I want very much to go to Armenia and study with a master to bring this art here to Armenian-American communities.