In this period the chiefs of Aghuania contaminated their lines by contracting wicked liasons. And thus they became abominable. First was the House of the lord of Koght', which was of royal blood. This [same practise] was adopted by three Houses in the district of Arshakashe'n, of Dastaker, Chnshmi, and Mamshegh. Beyond the Kur [River] [it was adopted] by the House of Hejeri; in Gis in the district of Uti by the House of Varaz Peroz which held the honor of ghak'nar [? court steward]; [it was also adopted by] the spasatu [? a court functionary of some type] Varazhan who sat at Arazhakan; and by the House of Tuerak. The venerable patriarch Uxtane's cursed them for such wicked lasciviousness and impious marriages. Since they would not turn back from their evil ways, all of them were exterminated from the face of the earth. After this the blessed patriarch [Uxtane's] was translated to Christ and was succeeded on his throne by Eghiazar, a pious and noble man. He was the bishop of Shak'i, and had been present at the assembly of bishops which was called upon the death of Uxtane's. As [Eghiazar] went into the assembly, certain vicious folk maliciously slandered him. After the morning service, [those opposed to Eghiazar] chose a certain monk [g339] who was abbot of the monastery in the city of Peroz Kawad, with the intention of making him the kat'oghikos. However an evil spirit knocked him to the ground, condemning him in the sight of everyone. Then they cast lots as was once done for Matthias [Acts I. 26]. [This time] the humble Eghiazar received the apostolic dignity from that assembly. Meanwhile, in this unstable [secular] life, the fortunate Juanshir held lordship of the land, in accordance with God's will.

The holy man of God Israye'l becomes a priest; a narrative account of the discovery of the Holy Cross.

This venerable man was a source of light who gave his sweet [spiritual] waters to many folk to drink. He waged a constant battle against the enemy Enebay (?) which is the custom of virtuous, brave, and select champions [of the faith]. He too, since he was greatly renowned [g340] for his justice in the land, released the sweet perfume of the Holy of Holies on the senses of many folk. As a result, the bishop Dawit', being directed by the Holy Spirit, bestowed the priesthood on him and ordained him. This was so that he might have authority to save lost souls like the great Peter had done and to offer up the immaculate sacrifice like Aaron, and that those near and far might rejoice with him and receive the blessing of his holy right hand. Indeed, this was such a wonderful and marvellous happenstance that it seemed incredible to many. Day by day such things were fulfilled in him in accordance with divine providence. These words of the Apostle applied to [Israye'l]: "And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified" [Rom. 8. 30].

[98] A month after this the holy priest, at the inspiration of a providential command from On High, conceived a fervent desire to find the desirable cross which Saint Mastots' had hidden in the village called Gis in the district of Uti. Because [Israye'l] was the first of the good brothers to receive this loving command, out of consideration for all men he bore the divine truth in secret. Furthermore, considering the good of all [g341], he did not publicly disclose his secret plan, but tried to flee from the praise of men and to shun ambitious and vainglorious passions.

Now [Israye'l] asked only one of the reverend priests nursed in holiness to follow him in his search, since he did not want to travel with a crowd of people. He arrived with him in the aforementioned place, that is, at the old church. However, he was not able to discover the exact site [of the relics]. Then, immediately, over the cypresses which surrounded the church on all sides, an astonishing sign appeared. It shone in the shape of a fiery arch. When this approached the dome of the church it completely covered it like a cloud and then gleamed brightly over the tops of the cypresses, like a rainbow. Then [the light] began to flash like lightning. And so [the light] illuminated the solid stone and brick-lined top [of the church's dome] where the Cross of Christ lay. The saintly man of God then realized that indeed, the treasure lay there undisturbed. [Israye'l] took a spade in his hand, and stripped to his shirt like the brave Abraham, and with his companion he began to dig in the place indicated. When the hole was about five hands deep, a silver chest came to light [g342], mildewed and tarnished and bearing an inscription in Armenian, Greek (hor'om, "Roman/Latin" ), and Syriac to the effect that a fragment of the life-giving Cross lay inside. And inside, plated in silver embellished with gold but now dull, was found a cross made of the immortal Cross of Christ.

Then this man of God was overjoyed. He burned much incense and rejoiced with spiritual joy, and he sang songs, associating himself with David the living harp: "I shall bless the Lord at all times" [Ps. 33. 2 = A.V. 34. 1]; [he did this] because God granted him His awe-inspiring Cross which will save us from the enemy forever. Reverently he carried the Cross of salvation to his church. In those days the appearance of the Cross and its arrival at its [final] resting place generated much wonder and amazement, and thus it was impossible to keep silent about the awesome, great glory of God. As Cyril, who was patriarch of Jerusalem, says when writing to Constantine concerning the appearance of the Cross: "the rays of light shining down upon the Mount of Olives did not appear to one or two alone, but were clearly visible to the eyes of all the inhabitants of the city" [g343]. This is how it was with the appearance of the Cross of light to this land of the East. For one and all saw the intense light shining in all its brilliance among the clouds in the sky. Everyone saw the coming, ascent and descent of grace on the most holy Cross. Sometimes it assumed the form of fire, sometimes of light, sometimes it was in the shape of the morning star. Not one person only but the entire land observed its radiance. Moreover, it was seen not only from the city, but in all the surrounding widespread villages and towns by men and women, by shepherds in the hills and in the fields and those grazing their flocks in the lowlands, by the farmers in the plains who gathered their fruits for the benefit of the land, and by many travellers out in the open air. It was in the fifth hour of the night that everyone witnessed the shining miracle, and many hastened in awe and with quick steps to watch the display and stood around in many groups. They satisfied their innermost desire and kissed the holy Cross of Christ, thereby receiving grace and mercy from the beloved instrument [of torture]. Thus did they receive the gifts of [Christ's] splendid victory. Many of the chiefs of the various districts of the land had come for the Feast of the Lord's Cross [g344], and on account of these mighty and astounding signs which appeared over the Cross no one dared enter under his roof that night, or stay anywhere in the city. Instead, they all went up into the hilly places and prayed throughout the night until morning. When the sun rose, they entered the church portico and stood before the Cross in fear and awe, and then celebrated the eve of the Feast of the Cross with a sacrificial offering on the altar.

[99] After the appearance of these marvels, the powerful Cross, this great tower which had received the body of God blossomed and flowered again. It was this [same] Cross with which God deemed us worthy to believe and which encompasses us, the provident work of His creation, for our protection, the staff and rod of salvation given us by God which for us drew aside the veil of knowledge of God. The hosts of scribes and the ranks of children of the covenant [the Jews] remained without this knowledge since the mystery was concealed from them.

When the servitor learned from God that the Cross was in the old church, he quickly and eagerly went to the church of Glxoy vank' (Monastery of the Head) in the district of Mets Kuenits'. There he saw the blessed Israye'l [g345]. He fell down at his feet and related to him the entirety of the vision [which he had seen], and begged him to interpret its meaning for him. [Israye'l], however, would not agree to explain the mystery, and so the man returned to his own place. Now it happened that on the next day, the same vision was repeated to this man, and this time a manuscript was used as a [visible] sign [that it was indeed a vision]. Taking [the manuscript], the man went and gave it to the man of God [Israye'l]. Now when the Saint saw this he realized that indeed this [phenomenon] was inspired from On High, and so he explained its meaning to the man and even showed him [a fragment] of the life-giving Cross. [Israye'l] made him swear not to reveal this to anyone. Even though he had sworn such an oath, in a few days he broke his word. He went and told his story to the kat'oghikos and to many others, for it is not fitting to conceal the truth. At this the patriarch Eghiazar was astonished at the glad tidings which came to him as if it was a gift. Meanwhile Prince Juanshir sent a letter to Israye'l ordering him to imediately bring the miraculously rediscovered Cross of Christ to him.

[Israye'l] obeyed the command of the patriarch and quickly went to the holy church. The great prince and the holy patriarch also arrived there accompanied by all [g346] the grandees. They clearly saw the Cross of Christ shining anew, the Cross which the blessed Mashtots' had placed in the reliquary with his own hands and with which he converted the land of the Aghuans from its erring idol-worship by illumination from the font of grace. Worshipping the holy Cross they returned again, praising the giver of such a desirable gift with the greatest joy.

After this Israye'l, the priest of God, was exalted before the kat'oghikos, the prince, and the grandees. He received an order from them to perform everything [that was to be done] boldly. After a few days [Israye'l] desired [to memorialize] those cypress trees over which such great marvels and wonders had appeared many times by consecrating [a monument celebrating their role in the discovery] the Lord's Cross. He summoned skilled craftsmen and bade them fashion [from some of the trees] a cross with carved reliefs depicting the acts of the Lord.

[100] Now when the chief bishop and Juanshir heard about this they wrote immediately to the man of God, Israye'l, asking to participate in the service for the dedication and consecration of the Cross. The priest of the Lord happily agreed to this and made preparations [g347] for the consecration of the glorious image of the Cross. [The kat'oghikos and Juanshir], however, idled and were travelling too slowly, whereupon God sent a vision to the blessed patriarch Eghiazar exhorting him not to delay and be late for the consecration of the Cross of Christ. Eghiazar got up early in the morning and made haste to the appointed church in the diocese of the state (nahang) of Gisawan.

At this time the great prince [Juanshir] was travelling to the southern areas, to the district of the Sisawanats'. And the patriarch Eghiazar was like the Apostles in word and deed. He vengefully expelled new [doctrinal] delusions and caused truth to flourish, and he became worthy of the crown of glory as protector of all seeking virtue in orthodoxy, teaching them always to worhip the Trinity in three distinct Persons. He later made known to the fortunate man Israye'l that it was through his piety that the marvellous vision had been revealed to him. And thus he received him as a servant of God. With [Israyel's] consent, [Eghiazar] took a fragment from Mashtots' holy Cross and placed it inside the newly fashioned wooden Cross. Then he anointed the Cross with chrism and erected it in [g348] the middle of the church, consecrating it in a joyous ceremony full of pomp and splendor in the presence of the clergy and the congregation of believers.

At that time [ca. 680] the great prince Juanshir set out for the mountain regions for recreation during the annual celebrations, and he was happily surveying the land. With the skilled minstrels (gusans) let us lament the much-lauded and beloved Juanshir, the acclaimed general who in his versatile wisdom subjected all men to his authority, being blessed with all the good things of this world, [a man who] was proud of his intellectual prowess. Afterwards, however, the beloved and glorious man became vain and empty and was stripped of these glories by the snares of vice [g349], for he transgressed the commandments of the Lord. And then, behold, everything turned into a spider's web [cf. Job 8, 14], and the wonderful splendor quickly disappeared. In the swelteringly hot days the remarkable leader took his retinue of nobles and his Namesakan brigade into the valleys between the high mountains. There they walked among the beautiful flower covered meadows enjoying themselves in peace, and spending the days in happiness and luxury.

When the scorchingly hot days of summer had passed and the time of the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross arrived, [Juanshir] arose from these places and came to the city of Partaw in the district of Uti. There he entered his own beautifully decorated temple to worship God with offerings and adoration in solemn service. Now while the renowned Juanshir was resting happily, a certain evil and malicious man, who was tainted with the sin of Cain and had fallen into evil temptations and had similarly corrupted his comrades, did not remember [Juanshir's] love or the honors and gifts he had bestowed on his father's House. Instead, [this assassin] evilly plotted his death. He enticed him into lascivious behavior and persuaded him with deceitful words to abandon himself to obscene pleasures [g350]. In the first hour of night when the prince emerged from his palace along the path through the flowerbeds of the garden, armed only with a sword and without a shield, the troop of fully-armed guards stood at the gates of the palace, unconcerned, fearing nothing and [some] even sleeping.

[101] The evil Enibay [?], the treacherous Varazoy, disguised as a guard, took the royal mace, the steel sword, and the gold-bossed shield and slyly went on in front. This vicious traitor had secretly protected himself by wearing his armor underneath his robe. When they reached the middle of the garden and were close to the wall which surrounded the grounds of the royal park, the mighty Juanshir, being wise in all things, became aware of the treachery of the assassin, and alarmed by the clink of the armor worn by the other. The prince was heartbroken, imagining that it was everyone's intention to kill him. He silently made to return to the palace. But the impious murderer, who had been holding his sword loose in its scabbard, struck the brave prince a sudden blow from behind severely wounding him, since he was not wearing armor [g351]. But [Varazoy] was not able to quickly kill him with the sword. For [Juanshir], roaring like a lion, began to fight back with his own sword. But because the power of the Most High had abandoned him, [It] delivered him into the hands of the favorite he himself had reared.

When [Juanshir] approached him, the assassin held up his shield and stood his ground, and Juanshir plunged his sword into the solid shield. But then he could not withdraw it. The other, filled with bestial cruelty, furiously stabbed him again and again all over his body, spitefully, like a poisonous snake. Wounding him with merciless blows of sabre and dagger, he threw his lord to the ground. Now the murderer stealthily departed and went home, thinking that Juanshir was dead—even though he was but half dead—and cunningly arranging things not to arouse suspicion [by making it appear] that he had been asleep at home at the time, ignorant of what had happened. Meanwhile someone found out what had occurred and announced the bad tidings of the treason. A crowd gathered and grew. Then one of the criminal's brothers warned him of the enormity of his deeds, and he hastily mounted his horse and fled.

There was a certain patrician, the prince's sister's son [g352], who took a group of fifty men from his Namesakan legion and went after the murderer. But they knew that they would never catch the fugitive. So, in revenge for what had happened, they went up into the hills of the district of Artsakhunik' where they pillaged and destroyed his father's house and burned it down. They looted the silk, taffeta, brocade, and linens of many colors, the gold and silver, and the fine furniture and utensils. Then they returned in tears, uttering cries of compassion and weeping and mourning for the prince. [Prince Juanshir] was still breathing and lived on for a few additional days. He made known the treasure and titles given to each of his sons, and confirmed them in their [patrimonial land] portions. And then, weakened by his terrible wounds, he died.

At that time there was no small amount of disturbance in our land of Aghuania, for the mob banded together and armed itself. The grandee lords and the whole country assembled and mourned the prince with much lamentation and plaintive and sorrowful voices. Thus unbearable grief and mourning visited the land. It happened that there was an orator by the name of Dawt'ak, a man skilled in the artist's craft, expert in creative composition, advanced [g353] in declamatory poetry, a man who spoke extremely well with rich and eloquent oratory and whose tongue was like the pen of an able writer. [Dawt'ak] had spent a long time at the royal court after his arrival there. When the bad tidings of the sudden murder of the great general spread throughout our eastern land, he began to sing this elegy in acrostic form about the worthy Juanshir [g354]:

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