When sorrow and grief had abated somewhat, and when the calamitous disaster had been somewhat forgotten [g359], the lords of the clans (tear'k' tohmits'), the governors (kusakalk'), administrators (koghmnakalk'), grandees (metsametsk'), lords (naxarars) and all the princes of this land assembled in the presence of the great archbishop Eghiazar and conferred about the peace and prosperity of the land of Aghuania. They occupied themselves with diligent thoughts about the governance of the land. They decided to elect a certain senior naxarar who had been honored with the imperial title of ex-consul (apuhiwpat) and had acquired the rank of patrician. His name was Varaz Trdat, son of Juanshir's brother Varaz P'eroz. Readily and with sincere willingness the princes of the land and the kat'oghikos greatly hurried to expedite this election. All the grandees, with their banners showing animal emblems hoisted, and to the sound of trumpets, placed him on the golden shield and raised him up three times, shouting words of praise.
And thus with great rejoicing was the dignity of the supreme power of his patrimonial throne bestowed upon him [ca. A. D. 681], and they brought gifts and offerings in honor of his new reign. Before this the brave Varaz Trdat in his great wisdom [g360] and understanding had displayed to everyone his loving kindness and goodwill. When he came to sit on the throne of the prince, some of his jealous clansmen behaved coldly towards him, but he soothed them with wise and friendly words and won the hearts of all. In accordance with his customary authority and using patience and kindness, [Varaz Trdat] induced the land to obey him. Immediately after this he hurried to the renowned capital city of Partaw and assumed control of it.
At that time Alp' Ilit'uer, the general and great prince of the Huns, assembled a multitude of his troops and those who came to join him from many places, the barbarous peoples of the land of Gog. They were all armed and equipped, with military chiefs with their banners and troops bearing halberds, and archers, and well-armed, armored and helmeted cavalry. And then [Alp' Ilit'uer] invaded Aghuania as if to avenge Juanshir's blood. He began raiding close to the foot of the great Mount Caucasus and spread through the villages of the awan of Kapaghak. He himself, with his auxiliary brigade, poured through the valleys into the plains, passing along the Kur River into the district of Uti. There he captured an enormous number of people and animals of that land taking everything as booty and enslaving everyone. Then they turned from there and encamped [g361] in the plains area near the border of the Lp'ink'.
Now when Varaz Trdat, prince of the Aghuans, saw the great multitude of the army and the way it had invaded and taken many prisoners and devastated everything, he was greatly troubled and concerned. He sent the great chief bishop Eghiazar as an envoy to the prince of the Huns, expressing through him his sincere faithfullness and the friendship he truly felt for him as for a beloved brother. "We had no part in the murder of Juanshir", he told him. "This abominable and wicked crime was committed by a base and infamous man." The kat'oghikos of Aghuania narrated all this to the chief of the Huns. He also said other godly and prudent words, through which he brought [Alp' Ilit'uer] to fear and love God and inclined his mind to peace and unbreakable friendship. [Eghiazar] persuaded the prince of the Huns to help and support his prince. Then [Alp' Ilit'uer] returned to his own land [g362].
[And so, finally, Israye'l] raised up his voice and said "May God's will be done." The prince sent senior lords to him as quickly as possible. They arrived in the district of Mijnartsakh and found him in his retreat at Glxoy Vank'. A meeting of the diocesan priests was held there. Accompanying [Israye'l] they went to the kat'oghikos and to the prince of the Aghuans bearing edicts, and they presented Israye'l to them, [Israye'l, this man] nursed in holiness, dressed in his monk's habit [g364]. All of them took the letter of praise, including the general and the lords, and they affixed their seals to a deed on behalf of all districts. The kat'oghikos consecrated him bishop of the district of Mets Koghmank', and sent him back to his own district accompanied by a large crowd and the necessary documents. They came to the old episcopal palace named Taghdzank. [Israye'l] was greatly honored by his co-adjutors and the chiefs and the people, and he excelled all of them doctrinally. He prayed to God for his land, cross in hand and arms outstretched. With priestly deportment he made great progress, and travelled through all the districts in his diocese. He fortified them by the grace of his teaching in accordance with the true orthodox faith, and thus he demonstrated his learning and shone with the love of Christ [g365].
Then [Bishop Israye'l] sought the aid of Lady Heghine', first lady (tikin, or "queen") of Greater Armenia, who was also from the state of Aghuania. She helped him in this matter. She went with her retinue to the kat'oghikos and beseeched him to grant this request for the relics. She also persuaded her lord, the general of Armenia, to bestow the relics, saying: "Give my land and the House of my father a share of the relics of the great Gregory. Accede to the request of the bishop sent from my land that his wishes may be fulfilled and that he depart from us with a joyful mind." And humane God influenced him, and he agreed to give part of the jawbone of the great martyr and law-giver Gregory. Thus he presented the bishop with this desirable treasure. [Israye'l] then left the court, honored with great ceremony, and trusting in the grace of God, set off for home. After a few days' journey they arrived in their own land safely, in luminous glory, and exultant spirituality. [Israye'l] took the relics and laid them to rest in his monastery of Glxoy Vank' [g367].
After the princes and the lords had thought this matter over, they immediately decided to send a summons with many entreaties to the bishop of Mets Koghmants', Israyel [g368]. This man was truly admired by everyone because he glowed with modest virtue and spiritual wisdom and was always improving his soul with humility. He obeyed the commandment to love [his neighbor] and immediately undertook to travel to the distant land of the Huns. Presents and gifts and rations for the long journey were prepared for him and those with him. They departed on the eighteenth day of the month of Mehekan [December 23, 681]. They were peacefully escorted out of the city of Peroz Kawat, and then crossed the Kur River. They crossed the Aghuanian border and arrived at the city of the Lp'ink after twelve days. All the residents of this city came out to meet [Israye'l] and joyfully received him in a manner befitting a bishop, especially since the divine Feast of Epiphany was approaching. Entering the city they lodged there for three days and then celebrated the Feast [of Christmas, January 6, 682]. Then they departed again, crossing through the lands of the Chighbk' at the foot of the great mountain.
Then the winter winds of the North raised terrible snowstorms near the summit of Mount Caucasus, and they held back for three days since they could not look up or find their way [g369]. They were completely exhausted and filled with fear by the satanic battle [against the elements], and kept awake by terror and the noise. Yet [Israye'l], the man of God, was not frightened. He took his Cross in his hand and commanded everyone to fall on their knees [and pray]. After that they ascended the mountain called Varde'druak. Through the power of the Holy Cross and the prayers of the great bishop the winds died down and their fury abated. And so they fearlessly crossed the huge and gigantic summit. After this neither sun nor stars was seen for many days and the bitter weather continued. Reluctantly they continued their journey until, forlorn and exhausted, they arrived after many days at the site of the ancient royal residence where Saint Grigoris, the grandson of the great Gregory and the kat'oghikos of the Aghuans, was martyred. After some days they reached the gate of Ch'oray which is near Darband.
[107] There they received aid and great respect from the citizens. Then, loaded with honors, they resumed their journey and came to the splendid city of Varach'an at the beginning of the forty-day fast [of Lent]. Now when the great prince of the Huns heard about [Israye'l's] arrival he went out to greet him [g370]. He received him with great gladness and humbled himself before him, honoring him and paying great respect to his patriarchal holiness. The days of Lent dawned in glory and holiness as the citizens received him with great friendship. They were made happy and were honored by everyone, especially by the solicitous prince and the grandee nobility. When the bishop observed this glorious reception and the kiss of blessed peace he was overjoyed and gave thanks for the ineffable gifts of Christ. He rested here for many days after his fatiguing labors [during which time] he heard about and observed the imprudent and self-indulgent religion of this wretched people. He was saddened by and lamented the great wickedness and dubious faith of these folk who styled themselves pious worshippers of God. For they had apostasized His power and found another one.
These people were practising [a religion including] tree-worship [g371], deluded into this fanaticism by satan. In accordance with their dull[cold]-witted Northern understanding, they thought that this filthy pagan practise—this delusional, fictitious, and false faith—was a great religion. If a person or an object happened to be hit by the thundering fiery lightning and heavenly fire, then they considered that person or thing a kind of sacrifice dedicated to the god K'uar. They also worship a gigantic wild monster whom they call T'angri Xan God, and whom the Persians call Aspandiat. [They worship him] using horses as a burnt offering. Since they have completely undisciplined minds, they practise every kind of error: beating drums, whistling over corpses, bloodying [themselves] by cutting their cheeks and limbs with swords and daggers, and holding naked swordfights. It was a diabolical sight, [to see] there at the graves man against man and detachment against detachment prepared for battle, naked. Many groups wrestled with each other and engaged in horse races riding this way and that in the orgy. Some spent their time weeping and moaning, while others played demonic games. They played their games and danced their dances with lewd acts, mired in benighted filth and deprived of the sight of the light of the Creator [g372]. They made sacrifice to fire and water, to some gods of the road, to the moon and to all the created things which they considered somehow wondrous.
Moreover, they were sexually incontinent and in accordance with their savage pagan customs, they married their father's wife, shared one wife between two brothers, and had several women. They had numerous irreligious laws and impious rites, as a consequence of which they were unable to comprehend or grasp the [doctrine of the] Sun of Righteousness.
[108] When [Bishop Israye'l] heard about and saw this obsession with evil and idolatrous customs, he begged God night and day for the salvation of the land, praying that he might find some means of converting them. At his command an hour was set aside for God, and all the lords and common folk of the land of the Huns came to worship the religion of the Holy Church and to hear the divine message. The prince and whoever else in the camp wanted to hear the words of the bishop assembled in the house of the Lord. And they said to each other: "Come, let us hear his words of comfort, for he is a chief in the holy Christian religion, which transmits to the world the message of the Holy Spirit."
When [Israel'l] saw their enthusiasm and the attention they were paying, he began to speak to them about the teachings found in the Holy Bible. And he said [g374]: [We omit the translation of Israye'l sermon (g374-g380). Charles Dowsett's excellent translation of this passage is available here.]
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