Los Angeles - May 23, 2026: A seminal new work in the fields of art history and theology, The Iconography of Catholios's Vestments in the Armenian Medieval Miniature Painting by Dr. Sofi Khachmanyan, is soon to be released, offering the first comprehensive analysis of the ceremonial attire of the Armenian Apostolic Church's supreme leadership. 

The publication explores the evolution of the Catholicos's vestments from the 13th to the 18th centuries, utilizing medieval miniature paintings and rare museum artifacts as primary evidence. The author’s research identifies a unique visual language embedded in the canonical patterns, shapes, and decorative embellishments of vestments. She argues that, through those patterns and decorations, as symbols, they not only identify the wearer’s status, position, and responsibilities but also present the cosmic soul and divine order. 

The study provides a rigorous historical framework, tracing the origins of Christian liturgical dress back to ancient ritual clothing from the Urartian Kingdom and the broader Mesopotamian and Greco-Roman worlds. By examining how these influences were synthesized, the book shows the development of a distinct Armenian identity in ecclesiastical vestments. Moreover, the book also talks about the following aspects:

• Deciphering Symbolism: The work analyzes the use of sacred geometry and color, explaining how specific shades and shapes, such as the circle and square, represent divine and earthly intersections.

• The Ritual of Change: Dr. Khachmanyan documents the dressing ritual, wherein the recitation of specific prayers during the vesting process symbolizes the transition of the individual into a vicar of Christ.

• Iconographic Analysis: The text features in-depth evaluations of works by master miniature painters, such as Sargis Pitsak, revealing how they preserved historical protocol through their artistic depictions of the clergy.

• Structural Breakdown: The book details the multi-layered hierarchy of the vestments from the tunic to the epigonation, a ritual accessory exclusive to the Catholicos. 

The Iconography of Catholios's Vestments in the Armenian Medieval Miniature Painting will soon be available in print and digital formats for scholars, historians, and the public. It stands as a vital contribution to the preservation of the Armenian spiritual and artistic legacy. 

About the Author

Dr. Sofi Khachmanyan is an established researcher and educator specializing in Garment Construction, Embroidery arts and Textiles, and History of Fashion. As an Art Philosopher, she researches Armenian medieval art and iconography. Her interdisciplinary approach combines religious vestments, their history, decorative symbols, and the fine arts to recover lost aspects of Armenian cultural heritage.