cant areas of early Armenian Christian Art. Although the Armenian alphabet was created in the 5 c. AD, the earliest surviving illustrated/painted manuscripts date only from the 9th c. AD. These 9th century manuscripts, such as the Etchmiadzin Gospel and the Queen Mlk’e Gospel give us insight into the early tradition of Armenian Manuscript painting. The “Final Four” miniatures, contained within the Etchmiadzin Gospel, are dated from the 6th c. AD, thus giving us insight into the earliest Armenian Christian art, and its relation to the Christian tradition in general. Prof. Der Mugrdechian will discuss the early Armenian mansucript tradition, utilizing examples from the early period. He will give an overview of these earliest manuscripts and how the general tradtions of this art form were established.