Constantine and Helen
Artist - Anonymous Painter of Syuniq
Gospel, XIV - XV centures.

Plate 34. Constantine and Helen.
The Byzantine emperor Constantine and his mother Helen are presented here. According to legend, Helen found the Holy Cross on her way to Jerusalem. This episode served as the basis for this stable iconographic type. Usually Constantine and Helen are shown to the right and left of the Cross. The painter of manuscript 6305 in all probability replaced the Cross with the Tree of Knowledge, which in some respects is identical with the cross. The miniature is unfinished.