Underside of the Crucifixion plate.
Note the tracery marks on the three arms of the cross, above Christ.

Back cover. The Crucifixion.
Within a floral frame, the skull of Golghota lies at the foot of the Cross, crowned by the sun and the moon.
Note the precision of Christ’s features, the delicacy of his hair and beard.
Beside him are St John and the Virgin, both of whom are distraught.”

On the back: In memory/Of the Armaghou convent of/The Holy Mother of God/who hinders demons/By Archbishop Ter Stepannos/1825.
Here the date is indicated in numerals, according to the Western Gregorian calendar.

The Virgin and Child.
On the front cover, the crowned Virgin sits on a throne with a young Jesus on her lap. She can be likened to a Hodiguitra Virgin, the one who shows the way.
Jesus gives a blessing with his right hand and holds the book in his left hand.
The Virgin holds a fleur-de-lis in her hand, her emblem.
The composition is impressively dignified and reminiscent of late medieval Italian sculptures. The plant frame decoration, although rich, emphasises the central scene.

Reverse side of front cover