The Miracle-working Gospel of Shuryshkin

In the history of Armenia there is a lot of evidence about the Gospels and other manuscripts that have gone a long way to salvation; Among them, the miraculous Gospel of Shurishkan should be mentioned.

Tradition says that the Gospel of Shurishkan, also known as “Grandfather”, “Red” was written in 1498, in the village of Aspisnak, Kajberunik province, Van region. The author is Turuand, the scribe is Priest Barseg.

During the deportation of Armenians in 1603-1604. The Gospel was transferred to the village of Shurishkan, province of Periya, to the village of Shurishkan, to the monastery of St. Basil of Caesarea. To protect it from possible dangers, the Gospel is hidden in the ground.

After some time, a spring begins to flow from the underground hiding place, forming a pond. The sacred book was taken out of there only seven years later, remaining almost undamaged by Divine thought.

Three and a half centuries later, in 1973, the Gospel of Shurishkan, having survived many vicissitudes, was presented to the Matenadaran by repatriates Nerses and Matteos Tsarukyan. Thus, the light and power emanating from the treasury of medieval culture are passed on from generation to generation. Even during the years of reconstruction of the Matenadaran (2002-2003), when the doors of the museum part were closed to researchers and tourists, they were opened whenever possible especially for pilgrims to the Gospel of Shurishkan.

According to tradition, the Gospel is solemnly transferred annually to the Church of St. George in Mughni on New Resurrection. It is possible to partake of the Gospel that listens to prayers and receive from its powers only in the Matenadaran named after Mashtots, where the holy book is kept in a special display case.