ՄԱՐԻԱՄ ԱՍՏՎԱԾԱԾՆԻ ՀՐԱՇՔՆԵՐԻ ՀԱՅԵՐԵՆ ԺՈՂՈՎԱԾՈՒՆԵՐԸ ԵՒ ԴՐԱՆՑ ՏԱՐԱԾՈՒՄԸ ՈՒՇ ՄԻՋՆԱԴԱՐՈՒՄ (ՎԱՂ ԱՐԴԻ/ՆՈՐ ՇՐՋԱՆ)

<jats:p>SUMMARY This article examinesthe social and religious context of the formation ofArmenian versions of the miracles of the Virgin Mary, their structural features, the confessional environment, and the functions through which these miracles spread in the Armenian milieu. The study focuses on the formation and circulation of Armenian collections of Marian miracles in the early modern period, within the context of the cultural and religious processes of that time. Despite the wide dissemination of Marian miracle narratives across the Christian world, including the Latin, Byzantine, Arabic, Slavic, Ethiopian, and other traditions, the Armenian material often displays a distinctive form of adaptation, shaped by confessional particularities. The spread of the miracles is considered against the social and political conditions of the Ottoman and Safavid empires, as well as the increased activity of Catholic missionaries. An analysis of the manuscripts stored at the Matenadaran reveals various editorial strategies, including, in some cases, the selective removal of Catholic elements and the reinforcement of moralizing and eschatological motifs. The article emphasizes the special significance of the Virgin Mary as intercessor and patroness. In addition to their doctrinal and moral value, miracles also reflect the processes through which Armenian Christian selfawareness was formed and expressed under the significant influence of Catholic ideas.</jats:p>