The skills of Armenian masters have been improved through the centuries. Masters reached perfection in cultivating the stone, the clay, the wood and other natural materials. The architects', the sculptors', the miniaturists' art have passed through the centuries in spite of the wars, massacres and disasters.

Khachkar.
Khachkar or Cross Stone is the unique manifestation of Christian Armenian national art which in its Christian form and type has no other equivalent in the world. Khachkars constitute an integral dimension of Armenian sculptural art; with their high artistic standards and strong national character, they also occupy their worthy position in the treasury of international art. Khachkars are also an expression of the Christian faith and high esthetics taste of the Armenian nation, nation that was first to officially adopt the Christian faith in the year 301 of Our Lord Savior. Recently in the deep respect and commemoration of the Khachkar by the International community, a Khachkar was placed in the front entrance of the Main Hall of the United Nations in New York.

Miniature.
About a century ago, Armenian illuminated manuscripts attracted the attention of scholars and lovers of art. Since that time intensive studies of medieval Armenian art have been conducted. A unique historical panorama of the art of illumination in Armenia, embracing more than thirteen centuries has been given (the first surviving miniatures date from the VI - VII centuries, while the latest ones were created in the XIX century). The heritage of a number of miniature schools and their outstanding representatives have been studied; the significance of medieval Armenian painting in the history of world art has been revealed.

Although a considerable number of studies have been made, from the 25 thousand surviving Armenian manuscripts, most of them illuminated, many have not yet been published. Such masterpieces as the Etchmiadzin Gospel (Matenadaran, cod. 2374, dated 989), the Gospel of Queen Mlke (Mekhitarians of Venice, cod. 1144/86, dated 862), the Targmanchatz Gospel (Matenadaran, cod. 2743, dated 1232), the Hetum lectionary (Matenadaran, cod. 979, dated 1286) and others which require special monographic study, are presented by separate miniatures only in works more general in nature.

Miniature is one of those essential forms of medieval thinking in art, for which canons were elaborated for many centuries, which had absolute, universal value. The ability to express his own thoughts through this absolute value raises the medieval master to the level of individuality.

There were such individualities in Armenian miniature painting. Among them may be mentioned Grigor Tatevatsi and the Anonymous Painter of Syuniq, whose sincere, talented art arouses admiration up to the present.