Revising the Date of the Armenian Lectionary of Jerusalem

This article challenges the current consensus dating of Armenian Lectionary (AL), earliest record feasts and liturgical readings church Jerusalem. For over fifty years, most studies have followed Athanase Renoux in assigning Greek Vorlagen AL to early fifth century c.e., or more precisely, years intervening between 417 439. paper highlights severe problems Renoux's arguments, however, produces new evidence supporting a later dating. It concludes that reflects city's ritual practices following (a) dedication Eudocia's Church St. Stephen (439), (b) collapse bishop Juvenal's efforts integrate 25 December Christmas feast into local calendar (after 439), (c) construction Ikelia's Mary Theotokos (Kathisma) near Bethlehem (c. 456). In turn, through close comparison AL's for 15 August with homilies by two preachers—Hesychius Chrysippus—the can date no than 479. this analysis, represents Jerusalem at beginning its patriarchal period—that is, after Councils Ephesus Chalcedon, roughly during episcopacy Anastasius I (458–478).