Brussels (AINA) -- A well known Assyrian church manuscripts is the topic of a new book by Dr. Ayda Kaplan, a Belgian born Assyrian researcher.

The Dioscoros Theodoros lectionary is one of the most famous illuminated Assyrian manuscripts. The lectionary is stored in the Assyrian monastery in Mardin, Turkey, and is dated to the 12th and 13th centuries.

The new book by Dr Kaplan, Le lectionnaire de Dioscoros Theodoros (Mardin Syr. 41/2). Calligraphie, ornementation et iconographie figuree, Bruxelles, 2013 (editions d'Antioche), is a of the calligraphy, ornamental shapes and figurative miniatures which make the lectionary a work of art. The book offers detailed and systematic descriptions of all the illuminations.

Monks, priests and bishops from the Assyrian churches have produced great volumes of literature throughout the centuries. Many of these ancient texts were lost as a result of the recurring plunders and massacres of Assyrians from the time of the Mongol invasions to today.