Visions and Symbolism of the Cross in Some Early Armenian Texts.

In his voluminous scholarly production, Fr. Boghos Levon Zekiyan has laid the groundwork for exploring numerous research questions within Armenian studies. His contributions to our understanding of medieval Armenian spirituality, theology, and ecclesiology are milestones in the field. The present article builds on his work and intuitions and seeks to look into the theology and symbolism of the cross in three late antique Armenian sources as a way of celebrating Fr. Levon’s rich legacy in the field of Armenology and his unique stature as a spiritual leader. The present work will explore the multiplicity of experiences and narratives on the cross in late antique Armenia by focusing on the Life of Maštoc‘, the so-called Oft-Repeated Discourses (Yačaxapatum Čaṙk‘), and Agat‘angełos History of the Armenians, highlighting their shared themes, but also differences in their approaches to the multiple realities associated with the cross.