This Armenian lectionary is one reconstructed by Conybeare from lectionary manuscripts and from a commentary on the lectionary by (as Conybeare supposed) Gregory Asharuni. The information from the commentary is included below in italic font. The base manuscript of the lectionary used by Conybeare dates to the ninth century, and the commentary manuscript to the early 14th century. For more information on the Armenian lectionary, see the more complete presentation of the Armenian Lectionary of Renoux.
Source: Conybeare, Frederick Cornwallis. Rituale Armenorum. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1905: 507-527
| Date, Festival Name, Time, Place and other comments | Old Testament Readings | New Testament Readings (sometimes including Psalms) |
| THEOPHANY | ||
| 5 January: vigil of Epiphany | ||
| ninth hour, in Shepherd’s Hut: | Ps 23 (resp .1); Alleluiah, Ps 80; Luke 2.8-20; <? Mt 1.18-25> |
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| [night vigil:] | Gen 1.1-3.20; Isa 7.10-18; Ex 14.24-15.22; Mic 5.2-8; Pr 1.1-9; Isa 9.5-7; Isa 11.1-9; Isa 35.4-8; Isa 40.10-17; Isa 42.1-7; Dn 3.1-90; |
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| 6 January: Epiphany | Tt 2.11-15; Alleluiah Ps 110; Mt 2.1-12; Mt 1.18-25 |
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| 7 January: in Shrine of Stephen | Ps 110; Ac 6.8-8.2; Jn 12.24-46. |
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| 8 January: in Martyrion | Ps 110 (resp .3), Before the day star I begat thee; Heb 1.1-14; Ps 110; Mt 2.13-23. |
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| 9 January: Church of Holy Sion | Ps 110; Gal 4.1-7; Ps 132; Lk 1.26-38. |
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| 10 January: Mount of Olives | Ps 99; Heb 12.18-27; Ps 15; Lk 1.39-56. |
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| 11 January: Shrine of Lazarus, celebrating his raising | Ps 30; 1Th 4.12-14; Ps 40; Jn 11.1-46. |
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| 12 January: in Golgotha | Ps 98; Col 2.1-15; Alleluiah Ps 84; Lk 2.21 |
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| Here ends the canon of the holy Epiphany. By all the martyrs is this canon performed. [Bd: In all commemorations of the holy martyrs this canon is performed.] |
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| January 11: Commemoration of Peter and Abisolom. | Ps 116 (resp .15); Rom 8.28-39; Alleluiah Ps 116; Mt 10.16-22. |
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| January 17: Commemoration of Anthony the hermit. Anastasis: | Ps 116 (resp .15); Heb 11.32-40; Alleluiah Ps 116; Mt 10.37-42. |
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| January 19: Day of Theodosius the King. Anastasis: | Ps 132; 1Tim 2.1-7; Alleluiah Ps 21.1; Lk 7.1-10 |
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| GREAT LENT | ||
| February 15 is the Quadragesima of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. Martyrion: | Ps 98 resp: All the ends…; Gal 3.24-29; Alleluiah Ps 96.2; Lk 2.22-40 |
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| March 9 is the commemoration of the 40 saints. (same canon as other saints & then the acts of their martyrdom.) |
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| March 12: Commemoration of Cyril, bishop of Jerusalem | Ps 116 resp: Precious is the sight of the Lord; 2Tim 4.1-8; Prayer Ps 116; Jn 10.11-16 |
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| March 29: John, bishop of Jerusalem. same as for Cyril | ||
| For the holy quadragesima: | first lection: Isa 1.16-20 second: Ezk 18.20-23 third: Rom 6.3-14 fourth: Col 2.8 ff fifth: Heb 11.1-31 sixth: Isa 45.17-26 seventh: Eph 3.14-4.13 eighth: Jer 32.19-44 ninth: Job 38.2-39.35 tenth: 1Cor 8.5-9.23 eleventh: Heb 1.1-12 twelfth: Isa 7.11-8.10 thirteenth: Isa 53.1-54.5 fourteenth: 1Cor 12.8-27 fifteenth: Dan 7.13-27 sixteenth: 1Cor 12.1-7 seventeenth: 1Cor 12.8-27 eighteenth: Ezk 37.1-14 nineteenth: 1Tim 3.14-16 Here ends the canon of them that are going to be baptized. |
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| First week of Lent: | ||
| Wednesday, Tenth hour, at Holy Sion: | Ex 1.1-2.10; Joel 1.14-20; Ps 51 (resp .5) |
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| Friday, Tenth hour, at Holy Sion: | Dt 6.4-7.10; Job 6.2-7.13; Isa 40.1-8; Ps 41 (resp .4) |
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| Second week of Lent: | ||
| Monday, Tenth hour, Anastasis | 1Sam 1.1-23; Hos 1.2-33; Jer 1.1-10; Ps 130 (resp .2) |
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| Tuesday, Tenth hour, Anastasis | 1Sam 1.23-2.26; Prov 2.1-3.10; Jer 1.11-2.3; Ps 27 (resp. 7) |
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| Wednesday, Tenth hour, Holy Sion | Ex 2.11-22; Joel 2.1-11; Mic 4.1-7; Ps 57(resp .1) |
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| Thursday, Tenth hour, Anastasis | 1Sam 3.21-4.18(LXX); Pr 3.11-4.13; Jer 2.31-3.16; Ps 39 (resp .12) |
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| Friday, Tenth hour, Holy Sion | Dt 7.11-8.1; Job 9.2-10.2; Isa 40.9-17; Ps 65 (resp .5) |
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| Third week of Lent: | ||
| Wednesday, Tenth hour, Holy Sion | Ex 2.13-3.15; Joel 2.21-32; Ps 31 (resp .1) |
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| Friday, Tenth hour, Holy Sion | Dt 8.11-9.10; Job 12.1-13.6; Isa 42.1-6; Ps 75 (resp .11) |
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| Fourth week of Lent | ||
| Wednesday, Tenth hour, Holy Sion | Ex 3.16-22; Joel 3.1-8; Ps 77 (resp .1) |
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| Friday, Tenth hour, Holy Sion | Dt 9.11-24; Job 16.2-17.16; Isa 43.22-44.8; Ps 83 (resp .18) |
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| Fifth week of Lent | ||
| Wednesday, Tenth hour, Holy Sion | Ex 4.1-21; Joel 3.9-22; Ps 84 (resp .4) |
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| Friday, Tenth hour, Holy Sion | Dt 10.1-15; Job 19.2-29; Isa 45.1-13; Ps 85 (resp .7) |
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| Sixth week of Lent | ||
| Wednesday, Tenth hour, Holy Sion | Ex 4.21-5.3; Zech 9.9-16; Ps 86 (resp .15) |
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| Friday, Tenth hour, Holy Sion | Dt 11.10-25; Job 21.1-34; Isa 46.3-47.4; Ps 88 (resp .2) |
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| Saturday before Holy Week, Shrine of Lazarus |
Ps 30 (resp .3); 1Th 4.12-17; Alleluiah Ps 40; Jn 11.55-12.11 |
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| GREAT WEEK | ||
| Palm Sunday, Martyrion | ||
| Dawn?: | Ps 98 (resp .8); Eph 1.3-10; Alleluiah Ps 99; Mt 21.1-11 |
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| Ninth hour, procession to Mt of Olives with palm branches; praying and singing there until tenth hour,when they descend to the Anastasis, | chanting Ps 118 (resp .26) | |
| Monday, Martyrion | Gen 1.1-3.20; Pr 1.1-9; Isa 40.1-8; Ps 65 (resp .5) |
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| Tuesday, Tenth hour, Mt of Olives | Gen 6.9-9.17; Pr 9.1-11; Isa 40.9-17; Ps 25 (resp .1) |
Mt 24.3-26.3 |
| Wednesday, Tenth hour, Martyrion | Gn 18.1-19.30; Pr 1.10-19; Zech 11.11-14; Ps 41 (resp .4) |
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| After the psalm, in Anastasis: | Mt 26.14-16 | |
| Thursday, Seventh hour, Martyrion | Gen 22.1-18; Isa 61.1-6 |
Ac 1.15-26; Ps 55 resp .22 “Their words” |
| Then the catechumens are dismissed. | ||
| Then | Ps 23 (resp .5); 1Cor 11.23.-.32; Mt 26.20-39 |
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| Sacrifice offered in Martyrion, before the Cross | ||
| Then: Proceed to Holy Sion | Ps 23 (resp .5); 1Cor 11.23-32; Mk 14.12-26 |
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| Then: Proceed to Mt of Olives for evening service and vigil: | Ps 2 (resp .2); Ps 41 (resp .5); Ps 59 (resp .1); Ps 88 resp .5 “They are cut off from thy hand”; Ps 109 resp .2 “They spake of me, and with deceitful tongue” |
Jn 13.31-18.1 |
| Same evening: ascend the hillock (Mt Sion? Mt Olivet?) | Ps 109 (resp .4); Lk 22.39-46 |
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| Then assemble in the Room of the Disciples: | Mk 14.33-42 | |
| Then to Gethsemane, in the Mt of Olives: | Mt 26.36-56 | |
| Then to Golgotha, | singing Ps 118 (resp .1); | there: Mt 26.57-27.2 |
| Then to Palace of the Judge: | Jn 18.28-19.16 | |
| Then to Golgotha, | singing psalms; | there: Lk 23.24-31 |
| Friday | ||
| Dawn: adoration of True Cross before Golgotha | ||
| Sixth hour: assemble in Golgotha: 8 psalms and 5 gospel lections [sic]: | ||
| Ps 35 (resp .11) | ||
| Zech 11.11-14 | Gal 6.14-18 | |
| Ps 38 (resp .17) | ||
| Isa 3.9-15 | Php 2.5-11 | |
| Ps 41 (resp .6) | ||
| Isa 50.4-9 | Rom 5.6-11 | |
| Alleluiah Ps 22 (resp .18) | ||
| Amos 8.9-12 | 1Cor 1.18-31 | |
| Ps 31 (resp .5) | ||
| Isa 52.13-53.12 | Heb 2.11-18; Mt 27.3-53 |
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| Ps 69 (resp .22); | ||
| Isa 63.1-3 | Heb 9.11-28; Mk 15.16-41 |
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| Ps 88 (resp .4) | ||
| Jer 11.18-21 | Heb 10.19-31; Lk 23.32-49 |
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| Ps 102 (resp .1) | ||
| Zech 14.6-11 | 1Tim 6.13-16; Jn 19.25-37 |
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| They enter the church at the tenth hour | ||
| Saturday, dawn, Anastasis | ||
| Light torch in Anastasis: | Ps 113 (resp .2) | |
| Bishop then lights three candles, then all others do. | ||
| Then to the Martyrion, with these as the vigil readings: | Ps 188 (resp .24) Gen 1.1-3.24 Gen 22.1-18 Ex 12.1-24 Jon 1.1-4.11 Ex 14.24-15.21 Isa 60.1-13 resp “Behold there is come the king of glory of light, illumining all creatures” Job 38.1-28 4Ki/2Ki 2.1-22 Jer 31.31-34 Jos 1.1-9 Ezk 37.1-14 Dan 3.1-90 |
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| Midnight: | Ps 65 (resp .1); 1Cor 15.1-11; Alleluiah: Ps 30 (resp .1); Mt 28.1-20 |
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| Then sacrifice is offered. The catechumens are dismissed. | ||
| Then bishop offers in Anastasis before Golgotha, and instantly reads: | Jn 20.1-18 | |
| PASCHA | ||
| Easter Sunday Dawn, Martyrion |
Ac 1.1-14; Alleluiah Ps 147 (resp .12); Mk 16.2-8 |
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| Ninth hour, ascend Mt of Olives, sing a song, and descend to Anastasis | ||
| At evening go to Holy Sion: | Ps 149 (resp .1); Jn 20.19-25 |
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| Monday, Martyrion | Ps 65 (resp .1); Ac 2.22-41; Alleluiah Ps 147 (resp .12); Lk 14.1-12 |
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| Administration of the mystery, in Martyrion: | 1Pt 5.8-14 | |
| Tuesday, Shrine of Stephen | Ps 65 (resp .1); Ac 2.42-3.21; Ps 21 (resp .1); Lk 24.13-35 |
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| Wednesday, Holy Sion | Ps 147 (resp .12); Ac 3.22-4.12; James 1.1-12; Alleluiah Ps 65 (resp .1); Lk 24.36-40 |
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| Thursday, Mt of Olives | Ps 99 (resp .5); Ac 13.31; Jas 1.13-27; Alleluiah Ps 15; Mt 5.1-12 |
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| Friday, Golgotha | Ps 98 (resp .3); Ac 4.32-5.11; Jas 2.1-13; Alleluiah Ps 93; Jn 21.1-14 |
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| Administration of the mystery: | 1Jn 2.20-27 | |
| Saturday, Anastasis | Ps 67 (resp .1); Ac 5.12-33; Jas 2.14-26; Alleluiah; Jn 21.15-25 |
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| Administration of the mystery: | 1Cor 11.23-32 | |
| Sunday | ||
| Morning?, Martyrion: | Ps 65; Ac 5.34-6.7; Jas 3.1-13; Ps 147.12; Jn 1.1-11 |
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| Ninth hour, Mt of Olives: | sing psalms for a time | |
| Then descend to Anastasis: | Ps 149 (resp .1); Jn 20.26-31 |
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| Administration of the mystery in the Anastasis: | 1Pt 2.1-10 | |
| VARIOUS | ||
| 1 May: Commemoration of Jeremiah the Prophet in Anathoth | Ps 40 (resp .2); Jer 1.1-10; Jer 38.1-28; |
2Pt 2.9-24; Alleluiah Ps 30; Mt 2.16-18 |
| 7 May: Golgotha: Day of the Apparition of the Cross | Ps 97.6; Epistle of Cyril to Constantius; Gal 6.14-18; Alleluiah Ps 98; Mt 24.30-35 |
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| 18 May, in Bethlehem: The children slain by Herod. | Ps 8 (resp .2); Ac 12.1-24; Heb 2.11-18; Alleluiah Ps 103; Mt 2.16-18; Alleluiah Ps 24 (resp .1); Lk 14.41-53 |
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| Sunday of Pentecost Sunrise, Martyrion: |
Ps 143 (resp .10); Ac 2.1-21; Alleluiah Ps “How lovely are thy courts”; Jn 14.15-24 |
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| Third hour, go to Holy Sion: | Ps 143 (resp .10); Ac 2.1-21; Jn 14.25-29 |
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| Tenth hour, Mt of Olives: | Ps 143 (resp .10); Ac 2.1-21; Jn 16.5-15 |
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| Then to Holy Sion: | Ps 143 (resp .10); Jn 14.15-24 |
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| 27 June: Deposition of Zechariah the Prophet | Ps 26 (resp .8); Zech 3.7-4.9 |
1Cor 12.26-13.10; Alleluiah Ps 116; Mt 23.34-24.1 |
| 14 June: Elisha the Prophet | 4Ki/2Ki 13.14-21 | Heb 11.32-40; Alleluiah Ps 116; Lk 4.25-42 |
| 2 July: The Tabernacle which was in Kiriath-Jearim | Ps 132 (resp .7); 1Ki/1Sam 6.18-72; 4Ki/2Ki 6.12-19 |
Heb 9.1-10; Ps 36; Mt 5.17-20 |
| 6 July: Deposition of Isaiah the Prophet | Ps 116 (resp .15); Isa 6.1-10 |
Eph 4.7-13 |
| The Martyrdom of Eleazar | 2Mac 6.18-7.41 | Mt 5.17-20 |
| 15 August: Day of Mariam Theotokos At third milestone from Jerusalem. |
Ps 132 (resp .8); Isa 7.10-15 |
Gal 3.29-4.7; Alleluiah Ps 110; Lk 2.1-7 |
| 24 August: Thomas the Apostle | Ps 19 (resp .4); Ac 1.12-14; 1Cor 12.26-13.10; Alleluiah Ps 47 (resp .1); Jn 20.26-31 |
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| 29 August (ms: January): John the Baptist | Ps 116 (resp .15); Ac 13.17-42; Alleluiah Ps 116; Mt 14.1-12 |
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| 23 September: Dedication of the Holy Places | ||
| First day, Anastasis: | Ps 65 (resp .1); #?Tim 3.14-16; Alleluiah Ps 147 (resp .12); Jn 10.22-42 |
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| [second day, Golgotha: | Ps 65 (resp. 1); [readings lost] |
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| 15 November: Philip the Apostle | Ps 116.15; Ac 8.26-40; Alleluiah Ps 47 (resp .1); Jn 1.43-51 |
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| 30 November: Andrew the Apostle | Ps 19 (resp .4); 2Cor 11.24-32; Jn 1.35-44 |
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| Dedications of new altars | Ps 43 (resp .4); Heb 13.10-16; Alleluiah Ps 26 (resp .1); Mt 23.12-22 |
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| 25 December: David and Jacobus (brother of the Lord), Holy Sion | Ps 132 (resp .1); 2Ki/2Sam 5.1-10; |
Ac 15.1-29; Mt 22.41-46 |
| 26 or 27 December: Stephen | Ps 110; Ac 6.8-8.2, Alleluiah Ps 21 (resp .1); Jn 12.24-26 |
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| 28 December: Peter and Paul | Ps 19 (resp .4); 2Pt 1.12-19; 2Tim 4.1-8; Alleluiah Ps 47 (resp .1); Jn 21.15-19 |
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| 29 December: Jacob the Apostle and John the Evangelist | Ps 96 (resp .2); Ac 12.1-23 |