Then the king of the Huns wanted to look at Juanshir's face. Thus he sent his brothers to beg him to come and see him and to establish brotherly love between them. It did not even occur to the brave and valiant Lord [Juanshir] to be afraid or to consider which of the kings of Persia had ever been able to behold the king of Turkestan in person [g311]. [Juanshir], fearlessly prostrating himself before the Cross of Salvation, said: "Though I walk through the shadows of death, I will fear no evil, for You, O Lord, are with me" [Ps. 22. 4 = A.V. 23. 4]. [Juanshir] went to them with his royal retinue. The king of the Huns came to meet him in a boat, and proceeding to this side of the river, he stopped at the river bank beside the deep and gently-flowing water. They concluded a peace treaty to put an end to disagreement between them and above all that they might be bound together as two like-minded brothers. Sealing the dawil, each returned to his own place.
But what did my stout-hearted lord do on the very next day? With seventeen men he crossed to the far side of the river to the camp of the Huns. There he married the king's daughter. [Moreover, he] brought back a herd of 120,000 sheep, 7,000 horses and oxen from the Huns' booty, and no less than 1,200 prisoners. He returned home in peace with a joyous heart. Then he wept before the Lord, calling upon him and saying: "I have not trusted in my bow, but You, O Lord, have saved us, and in You I boast, Lord" [Ps. 43, 6, 7, 8 = A.V. 44. 6, 7, 8]. Then he ordered trustworthy men to distribute that which he had retrieved of the plunder, to each according to his share [g312]. This was done. And lo, [this transpired] two years before his thirtieth year as ruler and sparapet. Three quarters of this period, [that is,] from his youth to the middle of his manhood he performed praiseworthy, world-famous, intrepid feats of valor, first among the Persians and then at the gates of the Huns until he and his bravery became known to East and West, North and South, to Aryans and non-Aryans [i.e., those within and those without the Iranian culture-world]. And now I shall undertake to describe how that grace-giving Cross caused light to shine on him from darkness and let him pluck flowers from fire.
Now, however, the lofty power of that throne had sunk so low that the forests of men in its control were caught in the shadow of that which choked like Gideon's thorns and which the descendants of the tyrants, stifled among them, could not shift even slightly. When the ram of the West [the Byzantine emperor (Heraclius, 659-681)] saw that the Lord had withdrawn His aid from his sword and that the savage wild boar grew fierce and ground his horn [g314], he interpreted this to be the fulfilment of the time foretold by the prophecy and promise to Abraham: "the hands of Ishmael will be against all men, and the hand of all men against him" [Gen. 16. 12], and "before him, a devouring flame, and behind him, a burning flame" [Joel 2. 3].
Then the emperor of the Byzantines took the remnants of his army and hurried across sea and land and passed within the borders of the distant islands of the West. This was the sixth year of the transferral to the land of Syria of the [seat of the] kingdom of the Southerners. For after they had left the land of the handmaid [Hagar] they established their seat of government in Damascus. And then [the caliph, (Mu'awiya, 661-680)] he who sat there, began to suck the marrow of the country around him. Given to him [the caliph] were strong and extensive powers, political wisdom, lenient authority, and human kindness, and with these four qualities he ruled the four corners of the earth. [Juanshir] observed how the emperor of Byzantium had been rendered powerless and weak by the king of the South, who had consumed [the latter's] populous markets and cities like a flame.
[Seeing these developments] the great prince of the East, Juanshir, was greatly worried about the fate of his realm. He had a feeling that the multitude from the South might capture his land and trample it underfoot. Although he was able to summon the numberless forces of Turkestanis to his aid [g315], he nonetheless took the initiative to submit to the yoke of vassalage of the king of the South. When the tyrant of the South heard of the goodwill and reverence in which the emperor of the Byzantines held our prince and that—by reason of his physical marriage ties with the peoples of Turkestan—he could call them or restrain them as he wished, an uncontrollable envy was kindled in the mind of the proud conqueror of the world. [The caliph] sent reliable messengers with mighty oaths and promises of countless gifts if only [Juanshir] would go to him.
[90] Then [Juanshir], putting his faith in the virtues of the Cross of Christ, prepared magnificent presents and took them to salute the conqueror of the world. First he entered the house of the Lord which he had built in the fortress of Gardman as his refuge. There, with profound sighs, he sought the visitation of the knower of secrets in the words of the great David: "O creator of justice and righteousness, deliver me not into the hands of my oppressors" [Ps. 118. 121 = A.V. 119. 121]. He armed himself with such thoughts and took leave of the all-conquering light. And thus he set out for the distant land. The Armenian general and all the lords came out to meet him and received him with pleasure and joy and sent him on his way in great honor. Now when [Juanshir] descended into the country of the Asorestanis [g316], he observed that, lo, at the command of the caliph ("king"), the chiefs of the districts and the wealthy folk of the cities honored him, each in their particular borders. Horses and lodging places were readied [for him en route] up to the caliph's court, where he arrived in great splendor.
Then [Juanshir] ordered the grandees of his retinue to go before him and lead the horses on [one of] which the king himself was mounted. Thus in glorious pomp did they enter the camp where many troops were assembled. The multitude, hearing his illustrious name, thronged to see him on the road. The king of the South gladly rose from his sleep at dawn before his usual hour to receive and warmly greet the prince of the East. [The caliph was] greatly pleased at his arrival. [Juanshir] enjoyed a fully prepared reception. Indeed, [the caliph] did not accord such royal honors to any of the governors of the country. This was especially the case when he had tested [Juanshir's] intelligence and reason; for though lords and leaders of many peoples were there in his service, in none of them had he such sure confidence as in Juanshir, on whom, and on those with him, he bestowed very great gifts. After this the prince of the East asked [g317] to be allowed to take his leave in peace. The ruler of the South set his seal to a treaty of sincere and perpetual friendship and gave him his right hand, although it had never been the custom of the haughty lord of the earth to give it to any other foreigner.
After these events [Juanshir] was sent on his way with high honors from the [court] encampment (marzaran). He arrived in the district of Ayrarat where he was received by the brave Grigor of the Mamikonean clan and all the nobles. Grigor took him to his town of Aruch. Anastas [I, Akor'ets'i, 661-667], the great patriarch of Armenia and the pure dove and pillar of the Church, also went there. When the prince, a man of great faith, saw [Anastas] he was filled with spiritual joy and delight, and he humbled himself and was blessed by him as by a holy angel. In the same magnificence he descended into the district of Gardman. There he immediately entered under the roof of his refuge [i.e., the church he had built there] and began to use all sorts of precious materials for the ornamentation of the wondrous beauty of its ineffable light. He appointed decorators to work on it and had it painted from dome to doorpost, embellishing it with gold and silks, and the door of the chamber containing the Light of the World [the fragment of the Cross] he commanded to be covered in silver work. After this [g318] the illustrious prince Juanshir remained completely faithful to the king of the South for three years.
After this, the king of the South ordered the prince of the East to be honored even more greatly, like a crowned monarch. [The caliph] presented [Juanshir] with that proud, well-trained, gigantic beast from India, the elephant, with which the courts of kings are adorned in awe-inspiring magnificence. From the beginning of time down to the present day [the elephant] has never been known to have been given as a gift to minor dignitaries. Then [the caliph] gave [Juanshir] a parrot, the most honored of all birds, and one which in former times was seen outside the wild only in the kingdom of the Byzantines [g320]. [The caliph] also gave other gifts along with these: a steel, gold-plated sword studded with many pearls, gorgeous robes embroidered with gold thread, silks, brocades, true purple dyes, beautiful purple robes, all the wonderful dyes known of old and still known at the present time, and fifty-two fast horses which the king himself had ridden.
He also ordered the first of his wives to send to the lady of the East some marvellously beautiful adornments fit for queens, [including] silken and gold-embroidered clothing. [The caliph also] commanded that each member of [Juanshir's] entourage be given enough brocades and feathers for fifty men. He placed under [Juanshir's] rule the principality of Siwnestan [Siwnik'], and also pressured him to rule over the people of Atrpatakan beyond the river. However, [Juanshir] would not agree to rule with absolute power over these regions of the world. He renounced this additional honor, and in his natural constructive virtue, which benefited his land, [Juanshir] preferred to devote his thoughts to the task of helping his own land.
[Juanshir] then began to request that the tribute, which weighed heavily on his realm, be lessened. The king of the South granted this request with pleasure, and ordered the yoke of tribute to be reduced by [g321] one-third.
[92] [The caliph,] after granting these magnificent favors whereby he honored him more than all the other princes, again gave him his right hand and dismissed him with honor. [Juanshir] arrived in his own land and hurried to the house of the Lord. There he prostrated himself and praised the ineffable gifts of God, saying: "From God is my power and my glory." From there he descended into the capital (ostan) where he dwelled during the cold of winter. And it was there that he convened a national assembly at which we saw him—not merely with his usual measure of glory, but beautifully dressed in even greater royal magnificence. We also saw the royal bird [the parrot] which was of a most desirable type. In its yellow feathers a faint green hue mingled and shimmered, and the reddish color of its breast was interspersed here and there around its neck by colors which harmonized with each other like dew-drops hanging like pearls from the golden ears of corn in the fields on a morning in spring. So too were the pupils of its eyes. Its thick beak curved over its mouth, and in this the sharp tip of its tongue, jutting up like a tooth, spoke continually in a voice much like a human [g322] voice. As [parrots] in former times had sung the praises of a certain emperor Nero in his chamber, so in these latter days we saw [this parrot] glorify our most fortunate prince. Although the astonishment [the parrot] generated was great, it was not so great as that caused by what I am now about to describe. For we saw, among the attractions of the feast, the elephant—that malicious, clumsy animal which was as big as an enormous boulder—ambling along towards the end of the royal procession outside the wall on the road to the entrance gate, as though [it had come] to pay homage to the king. Its beam-like legs supported what seemed like a mountain, and its trunk, hanging down from its forehead, was like a vicious snake. [The elephant] would swirl [its trunk] along the ground, turn it this way and that, and point up in the air, or it would nuzzle itself with it, and then expel its breath with a terrifying roaring sound through the nostrils. Truly I say that a horrible fear and trembling seized a man's soul at the sight of that behemoth-like head turning this way and that. We saw horses ride by, superb and splendidly adorned, walking, trotting, galloping, and executing charges swift as the wind, caparisoned in saddles worked with gold and [protected by] shining armor [g323].
Now what shall I describe, what shall I narrate? It was through divine providence that [Juanshir] was destined for glory and greatness from his very birth. Furthermore, to the present day the Lord has exalted him to be most glorious in everything. For this reason we regarded him as no less than a king, enjoying all manner of riches—much gold, silver, precious purple robes and beautiful clothes, valuable jewels, and glowing pearls. And everything was full to overflowing. During these thirty-three years the Lord gave great honor to the victorious prince of Aghuania, and he was also greatly respected and exalted by the kings who ruled the four [major] nations [of the world]. These tyrants regarded [Juanshir] as no less than they. In all things he was noble and great. No one childishly or foolishly thought to slight his rule because he did not wear on his head a crown, that supreme symbol of royal grandeur.
For us, his most humble servants, [Juanshir] will be great, not like an Augustus or Tiberius Caesar, but because of the wonderful excellence of his most gracious benevolence. [He resembled] the blessed Constantine who was glorified and honored with a heavenly crown [g324]. Yes, truly it was for you, most exalted prince of the East, that we, who have gathered together, will do whatever our Lord Jesus Christ, who made you our Lord Theodorus, might ask of you—renouncing sins, loving God, fearing Him and walking in His paths, that He may be good to you and to your sons from generation to generation for ever.
Now on the following day he recalled the words from Scripture which say: "Woe to him who negligently performs the work of the Lord" [Jer. 48. 10]. Consequently, he hurried and descended the mountain. Taking his servant along with him, [Israyel] he quickly arrived at [the settlement] where the bishop was located. He explained to the bishop with great caution and in detail what he had seen in the mysterious vision. [Israyel] said: "My lord, let us not delay [g326] in performing God's commands, lest we be judged like those who deny Him. Let us quickly and zealously carry out this task and bring the divine treasures to light." Bishop Dawit', overseer of [the area called] Mets Koghmank', listened to all this and deliberated for an hour. He decided to take with him certain of the pious chorepiscopi and accompanied by them he went to the patriarch of the Aghuans, Uxtane's, and narrated to him what had transpired. When [Uxtane's] heard this he joyously praised the Lord and asked: "How did he become worthy of this mystery?" Therefore the kat'oghikos [Uxtane's] ordered that a great assembly be convened. However the kat'oghikos and the bishop Dawit' were reproached by one of the attendees, the bold man named Yove'l, who was bishop of the Artsakh area known as Mets Irank'. [Yove'l demanded to know:] "Why have you heeded such idle words about a fantastic vision which the Scriptures teach us to disbelieve? For after the teachings of the Apostles and the evangelists, such things have not been seen. They cannot have been seen now." [This man] was full of profound knowledge and well versed in Biblical writings.
[94] The saintly patriarch responded to him as follows [g327]:
"What you say may be understood from the Bible, but since the account of this vision is something new and unusual, it is also possible that it comes from God. It could be, then, that those of us who fight against it may be judged with those who deny Him. We must not oppose it lest we be regarded as people who oppose God. It is improper to reject the appearance after the Apostles' [era] of all [such] holy things, including the Blessed Cross, together with the divine hidden treasures which in these latter times have been revealed by men's visions. [Such phenomena] have occurred in diverse places—in the holy city of Jerusalem, in many cities with which the universe is now filled, and the churches made glorious. Indeed, here in this very land of Aghuania relics of the saints have come to light in various places. Nor is this any new wonder which has been discovered, for there is not a single one of the treasures of God which He will forever conceal in the earth. It is in no way proper to reject truth along with falsehood and deceit, and to consider the work of God the temptations of Satan. Instead one needs to examine the matter properly and interpret it correctly, as the holy Apostle, says: "Test everything; hold fast what is good" [I Thess. 5. 21]. And again in the General Epistle it says: "Believe not every spirit, but choose the spirit which is of God" [I John 4. 1].The two bishops Dawit' and Yove'l willingly accepted the patriarch's command. Taking their leave, they went guided by the Holy Spirit to R'ostak in the district of Mets Koghmank', to the field in Ch'ghax valley shaped like a racecourse, on the banks of the Trtu (Terter) River in the diocese of Mets Irank'. They went and pitched camp in the noteworthy grove on the little elevation in that hilly place. There stood a chapel made of wood and reinforced with brick, its walls adorned with crosses and shining studs. When news of this spread, honorable folk—chorepiscopi, priests, deacons, district chiefs of hundreds (hariwraworats' gawar'apetk'), chiefs and grandee officials (glxawork' ew metsamets gortsakalk'), and a multitude of men and women of the people—arrived immediately in haste and gathered together that they might all participate in beholding the wonders of God [g329].Go now, you bishops who have inherited these regions, and let each of you undertake to supervise the search [g328]. Beseech God even more to find out whether this vision comes from Him or whether it is some pagan foolishness. For the temptations of Satan and the deception of men are evident, but the grace of God is still more so. Inform us daily how the Lord God reveals the mystery to you in that place."
[95] The bishops then ordered this solemn assembly to observe fasting and praying for three days, for there was not a small amount of dissension among them [about this undertaking]. Half of them believed [in Israye'l's vision] while the other half did not. Indeed, even the chief bishop Yove'l thought [the vision] had been delusional. At the end of the three-day fast, the abbot Israye'l took the spade in hand. Everyone fell on their knees while [Israye'l] looked fixedly at the designated spot. He ordered them to dig there without delay. Participating in this work were many people who scooped out the earth with articles of clothing. However, they grew exhausted from their labor and did not find the great and desirable treasure. Then from the eastern side they began excavating the wooden chapel where the altar for the sin-remitting mass to the Lord was located. Applying themselves to the search, they dug under the altar to a depth of about three cubits. And then, lo! an extremely sweet smell of the most marvellous fragrance wafted forth from that place and filled the air with its rich and pleasant odor. This fell sweetly on the senses of the multitude for it resembled the rare perfume of thousands of incenses and flowers. Everyone was astounded. When they had dug down to a depth of ten spans, they came upon two [g330] silver caskets with lead seals on them. There was a solid gold tablet attached [to this find], and on the tablet was Syrian and Armenian writing. Since this miracle of God had occurred publicly and in the presence of many people, great amazement spread through all the people. They crowded together to see the reliquaries of the saints, for [the people were] aflame with faith and love for the saints.
The faces of those who had witnessed these things reflected their sincere joy and delight. Similarly those blessed Christ-loving men, the bishops, were astonished at the divine miracles and, with many blessings and thanksgivings, they praised these ineffable gifts of God. As a result, that man of God, Israye'l, was greatly revered by the bishops and the people because of his holy merit.
Then the bishops, with Israye'l and the honored priests, withdrew from the others. They broke the signet seal on the blessed caskets and discovered a relic of the Cross of Salvation. The archdeacon of the chorepiscopus read the inscription on the gold tablet. The writing said: "These are part of the relics of the Jerusalem saints [g331]." And when Yove'l, bishop of Mets Irank', saw this holy sign, his wisdom budded and flowered abundantly. He praised and thanked the Lord with all his heart and acknowledged the truth of the abbot [Israye'l']s vision, and exalted him in the presence of all. And thus [Yove'l] now supported what he formerly opposed and sought to destroy. For in this matter he considered himself sinful and guilty because of his previous hostility. Now because the place where the life-giving light was concealed had been predestined to be in his state, [Yove'l] would not permit it to be given to one who comes and passes on again [, a mere visitor such as Israye'l]. Instead, he made himself its administrator and guardian as though it were his own personal treasure. Revering one of the caskets, he took it off to his bishopric. However [Israye'l], the man of God, was extremely displeased at this, for it was proper that the holy things of God which had been entrusted to him by God and which he himself had found should be under his care. But in keeping with his humility, he consented for a time and complained to no one. Instead, he took the remaining casket with the consent of the bishop Dawit' and the chorepiscopi and the priests and ministers of the Lord and the whole people, and they carried it to his dwelling [g332]. Then with psalms and hymns of praise they laid the holy things of the Lord to rest in the holy church of Glxoy Vank' (Monastery of the Head) amid shining lanterns and burning candles. And exchanging sincere farewells, they returned to their homes [g333].
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