The Huns believe in Christ through the efforts of Bishop Israyel; the sacrificial altars are destroyed and the Cross of Christ is erected.

Greatly enthused by listening to the words of the man of God, the benevolent and exalted prince Alp' Ilit'uer with all his grandees and his army listened to [Israyel's] preaching which was so adorned with flowers and they heard his sweet-tongued counsel with pleasure. Then they glorified God, saying: "Now we truly believe that the Lord has through this man sent us the comfort of His grace, in order that [Bishop Israye'l] may deliver us from black deeds and all [our] other satanic acts."

Thereafter they submitted to the yoke of service to Christ, observing Lent in purity and modesty, fasting and praying night and day with spiritual zeal. Each man vied with his neighbor in the worship of the Holy Church and forgot his previous gluttonous error. Thus the mind was purged of these things through the enlightening counsel of the blessed bishop [g380]. Quickly submitting to the command of the blessed bishop, the God-loving prince, together with those closest to him, undertook to observe annually the seven weeks of fasting. For [Prince Alp' Ilit'uer] was a very sincere man. Meanwhile, now that he himself had accepted God's commandment, he become pious and began to persecute the sons of darkness.

[Prince Alp' Ilit'uer] thus believed in His radiant doctrine and day by day became more glorious for love of Christ. He became a dwelling place for the coveted holy faith. This son of earthly parentage became a son of the grace of God and a kinsman of the life-giving Life. He was mighty and determined, valiant and renowned in battle and—like the Greeks at Olympus—appeared strong to all men. Moreover he won a reputation for outstanding bravery by performing many feats of valor in Turkestan with the Khazar Qaqan (ar' Xazr xak'anin). As a consequence of this, [the Qaqan], motivated by his affection, gave his daughter in marriage to him. He also received the rank of il-ituer. [Prince Alp' Ilit'uer] became renowned in three lands for accepting like a crown of glory the counsel and radiant teaching of the bishop. Gradually he began to obstruct the [practise of] excessive mourning for the dead [g381] and the diabolical sword fights. For he now regarded the religion of his fathers as abominable and unclean. [He began] to destroy the altars of Aspandiat and to prevent [folk from] making sacrifices to other false gods in favor of the worship of the living God, the creator of heaven and earth, the only-begotten Son, and the coequal Spirit. He rejected all other evil things from his thoughts, and like a newborn babe sought ceaselessly for pure milk. He constructed churches in various places and exalted the dignity of the priests of God. Now it happened that [the pagan Huns] worshipped tall leafy oak trees. These were dedicated to the loathsome Aspandiat. Horses were sacrificed to them and their blood was poured over the tree['s trunks] while the heads and skins were thrown over the branches. The bishop ordered that one of these trees—the principal one, the mother, and the tallest of them—be cut down. [This tree] had been dedicated in the name of their false gods, but many in the land of the Huns revered it, as did the prince and all the nobles since they regarded it as the divine savior and life-giver and bestower of all good things. Now when they heard that he had ordered the huge tree dedicated to the giant to be cut down, [a proposal] which greatly upset them and threatened to destroy them, they raised a clamor. The witches (kaxardk'), sorcerers (k'awdeayk'), wizards (vhukk') pagan priests (k'rmapetk') [g382], and the common folk tore their garments and loudly shouted their protest to the prince of the Huns and to the grandees of the land. They cried: "How could you knowingly support and consider doing what our opponent and the enemy of our gods tells you to do, that is, to cut down that tree? Why did you ever listen to him and agree to demolish, wreck and ruin the altars of our temples which your fathers, kings and princes, built? To the present our entire land has worshipped them and received good gifts from the gods of these temples and from the sacred trees, [including] the increase of our people and power and victory in battles against your enemies. And now that you have such great regard for him, will you listen to what he says and give him the authority to remove and ruin and demolish the temples of your gods? Indeed, did you not receive good things and whatever else you asked for when you worshipped and offered sacrifices and gifts to the tree in the name of the brave giant Aspandiat? He made the sick well, he enriched the poor and needy. Furthermore it was through his power that we brought you rain during periods of scorching droughts and burning heatwaves, rain which cooled the great heat, made the plants and shrubs green, and ripened the fruit for your happy nourishment. And for you we appeased the thunderous roar of ethereal lightning from the clouds, and the heavy rains [g383].

[110] Will you now believe [Israye'l's] mistaken words, and worship the god he is preaching to you about? You must not forsake and abandon your native gods which you and your ancestors worshipped and be betrayed into the hands of someone who will throw you down and grind you underfoot. Worship [our native gods] so that they do not become enraged and punish our land with great and wicked blows. Whoever would dare to approach the place where temples to the giant Aspandiat and altars were built and established or [touch] that beautifully flourishing tree which is the guardian and savior of this land? Is it not true that [even] folk who unknowingly take fallen leaves or wood from that tree for whatever purpose are punished with horrible lesions, insanity, death and the house and line [of such transgressors] is destroyed? And now, can he approach it, touch it, cut it down and destroy the temples of our gods? We know that if he stubbornly insists on it and approaches them, he will suffer grievous ailments and even death" [g384].

Then the prince of the Huns responded to the sorcerers, witches, wizards, to the servitors of the altars and the trees, saying: "We have become convinced and believe this man and [now] worship and serve the God he has preached about to us. We shall not stop him from ruining and demolishing the temples, nor from uprooting and cutting down the tree and burning it in the fire. If you can terrify him through your altars, temples, and sacred trees or plunge him into the agonies of dire disease or cause his death, we shall believe in you. Moreover, we shall resume the building and worship of temples, altars, and graven images. We shall revere the trees and offer them sacrifices and gifts as we did up till now. However, if you cannot resist or frighten him and he destroys and demolishes the altars and temples and cuts down this tree and burns it, and he neither sickens nor dies, then, similarly, we shall be convinced that he was sent to us by God, and we shall worship the one God who created heaven and earth and the sun and the moon and the stars. Then I shall bind you hand and foot and turn you over to him, so that he may burn you in the fire with the trees and temples" [g385].

Then the sorcerers, witches, and wizards using their fanatical aphrodisiacal witchcraft started to perform incantations/magic (diwt'ut'iwn), false geomancy (getnkoch'ut'eamb), and to utter spells and chants (ut'ut's ew barbajmuns imn yo'rine'in). But they were unable to achieve anything with their false and mistaken arts. For it had happened previously that sometimes they were able to bind people with invisible bonds, cause grave sufferings, or direct spirits against them. Then [the priests] would make deceitful statements to them, saying: "You must offer sacrifices and gifts to the temples and the trees. What has befallen you is punishment from our great gods for not doing these things. But if you now offer the sacrifices and gifts before the trees and the temples, you will be delivered from your sufferings and afflictions." Because of the awe inspired [by the priests], [the afflicted] would do as they said and do satan's will. Furthermore, sometimes [the priests] would make heavy rains appear, both visibly and in visions, and then dry the ground up again through their diabolical and satanic practises. In such ways did they harm and destroy their land, for they themselves erred and they caused the dim-witted to err as well.

But now they were unable to effect any of these things, nor did they manage to frighten [g386] or defeat that man of God [Bishop Israye'l], because the Holy Cross blocked and checked all their powers.

[111] The bishop, the legislator of the Holy [Spirit], then began to speak to the prince of the Huns and to the grandees, saying: "I am not at all frightened or terrified by their vain words. Those who aim to cow me with their diabolical witchcraft as they have scared other dull-witted folk are without any hope of the true life of God. I do not fear the tall trees or the altars arrayed before me in their diverse types. I shall act openly in the presence of you all, trusting fearlessly in the grace of the Holy Cross of Christ. I shall dispel the erroneous ideas and tree-worshipping which you hold in your hearts. [I shall correct your] error concerning things which are nothing in themselves and can do neither good nor evil, and cannot resist their enemies. Now watch with your own eyes how at my hands these dumb idols will fall and be cast down, pulverized in my hands, and trampled on in the roads of the land."

Then the bishop ordered the priests to take axes in their hands and to kneel and pray, calling on God with this psalm: "Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered; let them that hate Him flee before him!" [Ps. 67. 2 = A.V. 68. 1] [g387]. And then [the bishop] made the sign of the Cross over the same lofty tree which had been dedicated in the name of the loathesome Aspandiat. All the priests then entered [the area] and cut the tree down. [Bishop Israye'l] immediately ordered that it be taken to the city of Varach'an. He summoned skilled woodworkers in the city and ordered them to make it into a beautifully balanced well-finished cross with painted ornaments. He made different kinds of images and glued them to it, covering it with accurately painted pictures, adorning it from top to bottom with similar beautiful things. He also fastened shining crosses to it, beautifully arranging them in a row from one end to the other along the right side with strong nails. At the base [of the former tree] [Israye'l] made a small square door which could be opened from both sides. On this [door] a lily was carved, while inside it was a silver cross containing a fragment of the Lord's Cross.

After so arranging and decorating [the tree] with various marvellous ornaments, [Israye'l] erected it as a place of pilgrimage and prayers in the royal court facing the east. Then he said: "Worship the Lord your creator in front of this symbol which brings salvation to all. In this way, those of you who were accustomed to worship that tree of yours in the error of your minds, might still worship this cross in accordance with your habit and custom [g388] and the invisible image of the Divinity. Since you eat and drink the flesh and blood of your sacrificial animals which you offer to the demons in front of the tree, He has erected His Cross in place of the sacred trees in this land. In place of the blood of the sacrifices He has given His blood for the redemption of us all. I realize that what you did [before] was done out of ignorance. From now on, however, come before the throne of the grace of God, cast out all the diseased sins of your impiety, and become worthy of clothing yourselves in the robes of the light of glory."

[112] Now when the pious prince of the Huns and his grandees heard this, they were inflamed with the love and fear of God. [Prince Alp' Ilit'uer] observed that not a single one of the evils which the sorcerers claimed the trees of the temples would use to punish the bishop—making him fall down in grievous sufferings and bringing him to death's door—was visited upon him. Quite the contrary, he became more glorious than ever, rejoicing and growing stronger in the service of Christ. Thus they were even further strengthened in the faith and listened to his preaching. Then, in his stern authority, [the prince] gave an order to arrest and bind hand and foot the diabolically deluded, demoniacal band of witches [g389], sorcerers, wizards and the principal chief priests. He had them brought before the man of God and delivered into his hands. He ordered that some of them should be thrown into the fire at the crossroads on the highways so that [people] might see what the fake power of the witches amounted to, and he had others thrown into jail in order to rid the land of vain religious cults and to place [the people] more easily under the yoke of service to Christ. He ordered that the pagan golden images which some of them had fastened on themselves be taken away. In the presence of everyone [Bishop Israye'l], with his own hands, crushed them into the shape of the Lord's Cross. In this manner he showed his piety to all.

All these arrangements were made during the holy forty days of Lent in the many royal camps in the land of the Huns (Honastan). They were carried out by the will of the Lord God through the bishop with the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, by which the grace of the gifts of the ineffable glories of Christ were disseminated. Now many of the chief pagan priests and principal witchcraft-loving sorcerers were still in painful fetters when the sun-like radiance of Holy Easter dawned. However, with the consent of Prince Ilit'uer [g390] all the citizens were assembled and he ordered that a tribunal be held in public. Each side was disputing before the crowded assembly. Then the bishop, with holy scriptures in hand, began to preach. He sternly refuted them and put them to shame. These wretched priests of this false religion were disgraced by the Lord's Cross which the bishop always held in his hand. They were discouraged and disheartened, and even accused themselves. They confessed their sins and were converted to the true faith. They gave their destructive lots (or, dice) of divination (hmayits') into the hands of the bishop who burned them. Then they themselves became worthy of rebirth through the holy [baptimal] font.

Seeing this, the prince of the Huns together with the entire multitude was still more strengthened in the love of the Christian faith. [At the same time he became further] estranged from the vain diabolical worship of abominations. Indeed, the prince and all the grandees offered sacrifices on the day of the consecration of the newly decorated image of the Cross which the bishop had erected in the royal court. Now when the priests wanted to sing blessings over the gifts before the Cross, the bishop said to the prince: "Behold [g391] the promise of your love for God. Today repay the Lord in order to reconcile yourselves with Him, that hereafter by eliminating impiety from your midst He might no longer hinder and obstruct you. Furthermore, the Holy Spirit tests you pagan priests in this way so that you also may become perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Now, agree to this: let the graves of the thunder-ch'op'ayk' [which are called] Dark'unand [or, let the royal graves of the thunder-ch'op'ayk'] be burned on this great day by those chief priests who profess that faith. Let them curse them with curses and burn them. Then let them be baptized and eat food."

When the pious prince of the Huns heard this, he quickly gave him permission to demolish the temples. Then the bishop and the prince sent Movse's, a man skilled in the arts, and other priests to demolish and burn the temples, with the collaboration of the ranks of the pagan chief priests. And together they burned down the abominable temples of their heroes (zmeheansn...zdiwts'azneay). The bishop himself went up onto an elevated place across from the idols. When he kneeled down there and made the sign of the Cross, a ferocious wind blew, further stoking the flames on the lofty temples and the loathsome ch'op'ayk' with its skins and sacrifices. Then, in great joy, they returned to the city [g392] and became clothed in light by baptism. And on that day the prince and the grandees held the assembly of assemblies, and the feast of feasts.

The discussion held by the great prince of the Huns Ilit'uer with his lords about getting Bishop Israye'l to remain among them and to establish a patriarchal see there.

The great prince of the Huns entered into a good discussion with all the grandees and lords of his realm. He said:

"Formerly we were mired in ignorant darkness, the obscurer of the soul, and we were unable to see the light of righteousness of the whole world. Now our Lord Jesus Christ in His sweetness has sent us this bishop to lead us to Life. With both word and deed he has reprimanded and punished our impiety, and has led us to know God the creator of all things and His wondrous power. My mind fully and truly believes and bears witness [to this power]. Lo, we have come to believe in one God, creator of heaven and earth. Let us take as our example all the lands accepting this faith, and the great kingdom of the Romans [g393]. They say that there was once a king Constantine who built Constantinople and that he was the first Christian of that kingdom and such a faithful man that the angel of God waited on him. [They say] that with this faith he destroyed all his enemies in a mighty triumph. If one may be so glorious and triumphant through belief in Christianity, why should we hesitate to believe in the living God? Behold, here is this man, the bishop Israye'l, a teacher of God's commandments. Let us go to him and beg him to stay in our land and enlighten us."

The bishop replied, saying: "I do not have the authority to do that without [the permission of] the great patriarch of the Aghuans, the blessed Eghiazar. In this matter, he has the authority. Furthermore, I already have a well regulated diocese. How could I abandon my flock when it was God Who gave it to me to shepherd. But may Christ the Lord in His humanity take care of you, prosper you, and bless you, and give you because of your faith a shepherd to watch over you with the Gospel of Christ." The messengers came back a second and a third time always saying the same thing. The bishop responded: "For now, with God's grace, give me leave to return to my own land to my pious son Varaz Trdat, prince of Aghuania, and to the blessed kat'oghikos. Should it be agreeable to God and to them, God will bring it about. The honor which you promise me [by remaining here now] means nothing to me. Should I meet a painful death from being tortured by you, however, I shall consider this a glory and honor for myself and shall rejoice in the Lord [g395]. Now you must inform the whole land of Aghuania of your decision in writing, and also the patriarch Eghiazar. For from the time of Saint Eghishe' until now [the kat'oghikos] alone has been granted the Apostolic see of the Northeast by the city of Jerusalem where God dwelt and which was consecrated by Saint James, the brother of the Lord. You are located at the edge of that diocese. How can I comply with your wishes when I lack the consent of all the fathers and brothers and my fellow bishops? The question [you raise] is a new one, and consultation is important." When they heard all this from the bishop, they gave the command and sent him back to his own land with honor.

The return from the Huns of Israye'l, bishop of Mets Koghmank', accompanied by two [Hun] chiefs requesting that he be made their leader.

"We have seen and received Bishop Israye'l, the man of God sent by you [g396], and through him we greet you, the blessed Lord Eghiazar, great patriarch of Aghuania, and our beloved brother Varaz Trdat, presiding prince of Aghuania (ashxarhakal ishxan Aghuanits'). You requested physical peace from us, and we saw him come with his spiritual greeting like an image of God. Through his saintly conduct and the wonderful miracles revealed by the Most High, we recognized our creator and acquired spiritual peace. Now we ask you to grant us this very Bishop Israye'l—through whom many of us have found eternal salvaton—to serve as our overseer and leader, so that unbreakable friendship may be established between us. Be well in the Lord."

The letter of the prince of the Huns to the land of the Armenians, written with the same intention.

"To Sahak, the great chief bishop of Greater Armenia, and to the praiseworthy Prince Grigor, general of the Armenians: greetings.

Our fathers have been asleep from the beginning of time, benighted by ignorance, darkness and fog. But Salvation came to the world. God the Most High came to earth as Christ [g397]. We [Northerners] heard this with our own ears, but just faintly. It was during our raids into your land and into the House of the Aghuans, which is near[er] to us—for you and the entire world have one faith—that a virtuous spirit of emulation planted itself in our hearts as well. Thus the Word of Christ our God was fulfilled, and at the northernmost end of the world His Gospel was preached. We learned all of its contents from one excellent man Israye'l, bishop of Mets Koghmank'.

By now you have heard from those who have come to you about the miracles that took place among us. Grant our request and have the kindness to send us this same man as our overseer. We have also requested him from the blessed patriarch of the Aghuans, Eghiazar, whom we know to be your colleague and co-religionist. We beg both of you to grant our spiritual request, so that through his presence among us and our sharing one faith raids by the troops of barbarian peoples may be averted from your land. Farewell."

From Sahak, kat'oghikos of the Armenians and all the clergy,
From Grigor, prince of the Armenians, and the entire congregation of the laity,

Greetings in the Lord. It is with pure joy that we give thanks for the ungrudging gift of Christ, that the life-giving salvation of God was given to you as a gift. [All that has happened there] was related to us. We have seen the letter which you, newly consecrated servants of God, have written to us. We have learned from it that the goodness of the Creator has caused the light of the knowledge of God to shine in your land as in all lands. We have further glorified God, who loves humanity, for not abandoning you to the vain forms of worship of your forefathers. Rather, He has made known to you His holy name, and you have become true worshippers of God your creator.

And now, lo, we have learned that His name has spread to the ends of the earth. For from your letter and from your envoys we have learned how you were converted whole-heartedly by the venerable Bishop Israye'l. It seems to us that although we and our land are physically distant from you, through the love in our hearts it is as though you were just across from us. As regards your request for Bishop Israye'l, your opinion that a flock without a shepherd is an impossibility is profound [g399]. Consequently, it is difficult and painful for us not to grant your request. But it happens that he is not appointed by our see, but by the House of the Aghuans. Our wish and inclination is that he should always stay among you, but an order to this effect comes [not from us but] from the authority of our patriarchal colleague Eghiazar, patriarch of Aghuania. It is for him to decide. Acknowledge the living God, who gives life to men, and causes them to die and live again. May the same grace of the Holy Spirit strengthen you in fear of the Lord and in keeping His commandments. We, following our heart's desire, shall never fail to remember you in our churches. Be well.

When the princes heard all this, they were alarmed and troubled by these decisions. But they unwillingly assented, saying: "Let him not delay in travelling back and forth to us lest the foundation of the faith he established be destroyed and we be orphaned. For we will not accept any other vardapet nor submit to anyone else.

And the venerable bishop, in accordance with his gentle disposition, made both sides flourish. He willingly undertook to journey to the Huns, to tend the newly converted flock of Christ, and to abide firmly by the oath and the conditions of the treaty. Persuaded by the words of the gracious bishop, they were filled with joy and returned home in peace, glorifying the most-blessed Trinity [g401].

[We omit the translation of chapters 46-49 (g401-g417) which deal with doctrinal matters. Charles Dowsett's excellent translation of these chapters is available here.]

Return to Historical Sources Menu
Return to History Workshop Menu