5. But King Pap always derived pleasure from wanton and lewd acts for which the blessed Nerses continually chided and admonished him. 6. Deeply resenting this and not daring to do anything out in the open, Pap served Nerses a deadly drink in the village of Xagh and deprived him of this life, [acting] as if he were innocent. His body was taken to the village of T'il and was buried there. Nerses occupied the patriarchal see for thirty-four years. 7. After him they placed on the throne Shahak, a descendant of Aghbianos and a praiseworthy man endowed with virtue and religious instruction. Contrary to the former tradition they did not send him to Caesarea, but abandoning the earlier practice they adopted the rule applicable to patriarchs whereby the synod of bishops did the ordaining as in Antioch, Alexandria, Rome, Ephesus, Constantinople and Jerusalem, so that the patriarchate [of Armenia] with its independent status would not become subordinate to certain others.
8. Subsequently, the Emperor Theodosius had King Pap seized and put to death, and instead he set up Varazdat, a descendant of the Arshakuni house, as king. In his second year the patriarch Shahak died, [87] having occupied the patriarchal see for six years. 9. On his throne they placed his brother Zawen who distinguished himself by the same virtuous life. 10. Then Theodosius the Great also banished Varazdat to the island of Thule [T'ulis] in the Ocean and crowned the two sons of Pap, Arshak and Vagharshak. 11. In the second year of Arshak, Zawen died after a pontificate of three years and his brother Aspurakes, who excelled in the virtues of his predecessors, succeeded him. 12. But Shapuh king of Persia made Xosrov, a certain Arshakuni, king in his part [of Armenia], since Arshak wished to rule over the western [or] Greek section. 13. If you wish to know about the conduct, disposition, bravery, lack of bravery and warfare of these two [kings], the History of Movses Xorenac'i will give you the full details.
14. After the death of Arshak Mesrop from Hac'ekac' in Taron, a pupil of Nerses the Great and a clerk at the royal court, abandoned the worldly honors and turning to solitary life followed the path of the Celestial One. You will find sufficient [information] about the ascent of his life and the miracles that God revealed through him [in the works] of those who narrated before us.
7. At that time Mesrop returned, bringing with him the characters of our language, which were presumably given to him by the providence of God's grace. At the order of Sahak the Great, he immediately summoned sober-minded, sagacious, intelligent children with soft voices, and founded schools in several districts so that he might most effectively enlighten [the people]. 8. After this he went to Iberia and invented an alphabet suitable for their language. There also he set up teachers and schools. 9. Then descending to the region of the Albanians, he created for them an alphabet that would suit their highly consonantal and harsh tongue, and there also founded schools. 10. Then he returned to Armenia and found the blessed Sahak ceaselessly occupied with translations. 11. But after the death of Vramshapuh, the king of Armenia, Sahak the Great went to Yazkert, the king of Persia, and begged him to release Xosrov, who was in bondage, and send him to Armenia in place of Vramshapuh. 12. Yazkert immediately complied with the wishes of the blessed man, and gave Xosrov the sovereignty of Armenia. 13. But upon his rule for the second time, the latter lived no longer than one year, and died.
14. But after the death of Yazkert, the second Vram ruled instead in Persia. 15. He instigated numerous cruel atrocities against the people of Armenia and disrupted all good order and caused much destruction and corruption. Seeing the adversities of the evil, the blessed Sahak went to the side of the Greeks, for Armenia had been divided into two parts between the Emperor and the Persians. 16. Although at first Theodosius the Great looked scornfully at him with a mind not to accept him, after he had learned from several people that Sahak was filled with the divine grace, and that his life was entirely adorned with virtue, he received him with great honor and favor, as if he were an apostle of Christ. Moreover, he gave orders to instruct immediately the alphabet that had been granted by God through them [Sahak and Mesrop], and decreed that the expenditure for the schools come from the royal court.
17. Then the blessed Sahak immediately sent his grandson Vardan to Vram king of Persia to seek peace. The king honored the wishes of the blessed man and set up Artashir son of Vramshapuh as king of Armenia. 18. The latter was always wantonly engaged in lascivious licentiousness, which provided the naxarars with the excuse to bring accusations against him and to show their annoyance at him. They complained to the blessed Sahak, and sought to make him an accomplice in defaming Artashir before the king of Persia so that he would either bind the king of Armenia with fetters, or dethrone him. 19. Although Sahak could not demonstrate the falsehood of their slanders, he would not take upon [89] himself [the responsibility of] betraying his king into the hands of a heathen monarch, because he hoped to see the restitution of the fallen, and not the prostration. 20. "Far be it from me," he said, "to betray my sheep that has gone astray to the wolves. Although he is prodigal, he is confirmed with holy baptism; he is a prostitute, but a Christian; he is debauched in body, but not an infidel in spirit; he is wanton in conduct, but not a fire-worshipper." 21. And thus he would not exchange his diseased sheep for a healthy beast. 22. Although the blessed Sahak was thus equitable in his judgement, Vram heeded those who had wicked thoughts, especially Surmak who had made a murderous sword out of his tongue, and expected to occupy the [patriarchal] throne in place of the blessed Sahak. 23. Subsequently, the king confined Artashir in prison, and placed a Persian marzpan in charge of Armenia. In place of Saint Sahak he set the wicked-tongued Surmak who could not persevere for more than one year, since the same naxarars persecuted him.
24. After him Vram set up a certain Syrian by the name of Brgishoy, an impudent and a rapacious man, who managed his household through housewives. 25. And since the naxarars also hated him, Vram appointed another Syrian by the name of Shmuel, who was a follower of Brgishoy's conduct, especially in avarice. He ordered Sahak the Great only to teach and ordain those whom Shmuel had designated. 26. Subsequently, the naxarars approached Sahak the Great with supplications, but he did not consent to become their prelate for the second time. Nevertheless, he never ceased nursing the children of the church with the spiritual rnilk. 27. After the death of Vram, his son Yazkert succeeded him. Then the blessed Sahak became severely ill and he was translated to Christ in the district of Bagrawan, in the village called Blur. In a mortal frame he displayed the behavior of incorporeal beings, and leaving behind the immortal memory of his goodness, he joined the angelic hosts, and sat in eternal bliss on the right side of Christ's throne. 28. His venerable body was taken to Taron and buried in the village of Astishat.
29. Only six months later the blessed Mesrop also departed from this life in the city of Vagharshapat. He seemed to everyone to be entirely adorned with the ornament of the celestial powers. Over him a wonderful sign flashed, a crosslike radiance of light, which remained for a long time, until they carried his holy body to the village of Oshakan. The same crosslike luminous portent accompanied the coffin, and became invisible only after they had put him in his resting place.
30. The presbyter Yovsep from the village of Hoghoc'imanc' in Vayoc' Dzor occupied the patriarchal see as locum tenens. 31. However, at the order of Yazkert Surmak did the ordination for six years until he died. Then [Yazkert ordered] the blessed Yovsep' [to do] the ordinations in Armenia.
6. After this the blessed katholikos Yovsep' was martyred. He had occupied the patriarchal see for a period of eight years. With him were also other blessed bishops and the Ghewondian priests and their deacons [who were executed] in Persia by the impious Peroz, and who placed on their heads the crown of martyrdom that was wrought by the most holy hands of God.
5. Vagharsh succeeded him as king of Persia. As he was a man who heeded people with good advice, he entrusted our land to Vahan. 6. The great patriarch Yovhan Mandakuni was united with Christ, after having occupied the patriarchal throne for six years. 7. Then Babgen, who was his pupil, occupied the patriarchal throne. During his pontificate Peroz, who ruled over Persia, summoned Vahan to the royal court and giving him the marzpanate of Armenia sent him back to Armenia. 8. At about this time Zenon, the blessed king of the Greeks who pleased God with his life and his devotion to the faith, died. During his reign he had repudiated the misty, airy, boastful and wicked heresy of the Chalcedonians and made the glistening brilliant and radiant apostolic faith flourish in the church of God. 9. After him the highly renowned Anastas ascended the throne of the kingdom of the Greeks. With a similar or perhaps even greater love of truth and a life pleasing to God he established the pious tradition of the Holy Fathers and by means of edicts anathematized all the heretics and the Council of Chalcedon.
10. At this time when piety prevailed in the land of the Greeks, Babgen, the great patriarch of Armenia, held a council of the Armenian, Iberian and Albanian bishops in the New City [ = Vagharshapat], in the Holy Cathedral of Armenia. They [i.e., the Iberians and the Albanians] [92] likewise anathematized and repudiated the Council of Chalcedon, since they had not yet accepted the doctrine that condemned their lands, and stood firmly on the very same foundation of Saint Grigor. 11. And thus at this time there was unity of faith in the lands of the Greeks, the Armenians and the Albanians who had severally anathematized and rejected the Council of Chalcedon. 12. But after thirty-five years of Orthodoxy had elapsed, the impious Justin succeeded Anastasius. Becoming full of wickedness he restored the Chalcedonian heterodoxy which had been extirpated, erased and eradicated, and renewed the unbearable threats of vexatious toils against holy and orthodox men and once again smeared the floor of the Holy Church with blood. 13. The great patriarch Babgen died after he had occupied the patriarchal throne for five years.
14. Subsequently they set on the patriarchal throne Samuel who was from the village of Arcke. During his time, Vard, the brother of Vahan, ruled over the Armenians. Having occupied the patriarchal throne for ten years, he also died. 15. After him they set on the patriarchal throne Mushe who was from the village of Aylaberic' in the province of Kotayk'. During his time Persian marzpans ruled over the Armenians. Having occupied the holy see for eight years he died.
16. After him they set on the patriarchal throne Sahak who was from the village of Ughk in the district of Hark'. During his pontificate as well Persian marzpans ruled over the Armenians at the order of King Kawat. 17. Having occupied the patriarchal throne for about five years he also died. Then they set on the patriarchal throne K'ristap'or who was from the village of Tirarich in the district of Bagrewan. 18. He occupied the office of prelate for six years. 19. After him they set on the holy see Ghewond who was from Lesser Erast [p'ok'r Erast]. During his time Xosrov ruled over Persia instead of his father Kawat and subsequently Vardan Mamikonean rose against him, killing the marzpan Suren in the city of Dvin, and entered the service of the Greeks together with the other naxarars. 20. Ghewond died after having occupied the patriarchal throne for three years. 21. After him they summoned Nerses, who was from the village of Ashtarak in the district of Bagrewan, and set him on the holy see. 22. At this time Xosrov, the king of Persia, gathered numerous forces and sent them against Vardan. A fierce battle was fought in the plain of Xaghamax and because of the assiduous prayers of the blessed Nerses, the troops of Vardan wore out the Persians with heavy blows. [93] 23. In the days of Nerses, Maxozh of the village of K'unarastan in the district of Beshapuh, a magian by race who at the time of his baptism was named Yiztbuzit, which means "God has redeemed", suffered numerous torments at the hands of the marzpan Vshnasn Vahram and received Christ's crown of martyrdom in the city of Dvin. The great patriarch Nerses, accompanied by all the bishops and the clerics of the church, brought the blessed body of the holy martyr and buried him near the east side of the holy church of the katholikos' residence and built a holy martyrium with polished stones. 24. After he had occupied the patriarchal see for nine years, Nerses died. 25. After him they set as patriarch of Armenia a certain Yovhannes of the Gabeghean [feudal family] who was from the village of Snceghuan. He occupied the patriarchal throne for seventeen years and died. 26. After him they placed on the throne of Saint Grigor Movses, a man of God, who was from the village of Eghivard and had been nourished and educated in the holy patriarchate. 27. In the tenth year of his pontificate, and in the thirty-first year of Xosrov son of Kawat, king of Persia, the [calendrical] cycle of five hundred thirty-two years was completed. 28. Consequently, at the order of the great Movses scholars and those who were learned in that art set up the sequence of the Armenian era which is a perpetual cycle and the foundation for the different branches of the art. Thus, being endowed with a calendar of the annual feasts in the Armenian language, thenceforth they were relieved of the need to borrow from foreign nations the composition of useful [calendrical] models.
29. In accordance with former practice, this Movses ordained Kiwrion, the elder of the rectory of the Holy Cathedral [of Dvin], as archbishop over the province of Iberia, Gugark' and Egrisi. 30. But shortly before Movses's death Kiwrion repudiated the right path of true order and religion that [the people of] those regions had learned from our orthodox fathers and, allured by his presumptuous ambition, he adhered to the impious Council of Chalcedon, betraying the forefathers of the land. 31. Immediately thereafter, however, the treachery that he had devised came to naught. 32. Movses greatly disputed and admonished him with graceful words of advice familiar to God so that he would abandon the heterodox Hebraic aberration and turn to the true knowledge in accordance with the doctrine of the holy fathers. 33. But he did not wish to receive [medication] from the wise physician. Soon thereafter the life of the great patriarch Movses was terminated after he had occupied the patriarchal see for thirty years.
34. While the blessed patriarch Movses was still alive, Xosrov, the son of Kawat king of Persia, after numerous valiant and dauntless contests and the subjugation of many nations believed in the true God, the [94] Only-Begotten-Son and the Holy Spirit of God because of the rising glimmer of the Divine light in his heart at the time of his death. Dishonoring and repudiating idolatrous impiety, he confessed that there was no other God than the One Whom the Christians worshipped. 35. Then, through the enlightenment of his second birth from the Holy Fount, he partook of the life-giving body and blood of the Lord and having embraced the Holy Gospel of Christ died three days later in extreme old age. 36. The Christians took his body and with the order of priests chanting sacred psalms they buried him in the cemetery of the kings.
37. His son Ormizd ruled instead. His relatives and certain other naxarars plotted against and killed him in his own chamber and in his place his son Xosrov became king. 38. However, since a certain prince Vahram plotted against him and declared himself king, he took refuge with Maurice the emperor of the Greeks. 39. The emperor helped out Xosrov, giving him many troops and Vahram was all at once killed by them in Ray [Herat].
40. Xosrov, the grandson of the Christian Xosrov, was once again established on the royal throne of Persia and since he was under obligation, Maurice asked him to concede Mesopotamia along with Dara and Nisibis and the part of Armenia which was called the Tanutirakan Gundn, with the exception of Ostan, [i.e.] the city of Dvin, and two other districts, namely Maseac'otn and the region of Aragac. 41. Besides these Xosrov left to Maurice all the other places [that extend] from the mountain called Encak'isar to the village [awan] of Arest and Hac'iwn. 42. Then the Emperor Maurice arrogantly changed the nomenclature of those provinces which our own Aram had sucessively demarcated. 43. First of all, Maurice renamed the country whose metropolis is Sebastia, and which was known as "First Armenia", "Second Armenia". 44. He renamed Cappadocia, whose metropolis is Caesarea and which was formerly known as "Second Armenia", "Third Armenia" and turned it into an eparchy. 45. He renamed Melitene, which has districts of the same name and is known as "Third Armenia", "First Armenia". 47. He annexed Pontus, whose metropolis is Trebizond, to Greater Armenia. 46. He registered in the imperial archives the so-called "Fourth Armenia", whose metropolis is Martyropolis—that is Np'rkert, as Yustinianunist ['Seat of Justinian']. 48. Turning to the province of Karin whose metropolis is Theodosiopolis, he annexed it to Greater Armenia. 49. And he renamed that part of Greater Armenia which extended from the region of Basean to the borders of Assyria [Asorestan] and had remained in the hands of the Greeks "Greater Armenia". 50. He named the region of Tayk' with her boundaries "Inner Armenia" [ = Armenia Profunda], and the region around the city of Dvin "Innermost Armenia" [ = Armenia Interior]. 57. Thus Maurice introduced all these changes and registered them in the royal archives.
[95] 52. This is the second time that I have written about the same subject. Lest you think that what I have previously described as the "First," "Second," "Third," and "Fourth" Armenias reflect on my ignorance, [be aware] that the former names were given by our own valiant Aram, whereas the latter were assigned by Maurice, the emperor of the Greeks. 54. Having satisfied your curiosity about these matters I shall again turn to the sequence of my narrative.
7. After Xosrov had given very desirable gifts and high honors to Smbat who had courageously subdued in combat all of his enemies, he ordered him to visit the land of his birth. 8. On his departure the latter sought Xosrov's order to rebuild the church in the city of Dvin which was named after Saint Grigor. 9. The king trustfully complied with his wishes. Thus having received his authorization, Smbat departed and arriving at his own land, he found Armenia without a prelate, since the great patriarch Movses had died. Then he set up Abraham, the bishop of Rshtunik' who was from the village of Aghbat'ank', as patriarch of Armenia and personally laid the foundation of the holy church, which is a [96] beautiful structure built with polished stones that are cemented with lime mortar. For the former edifice, which had been erected by the blessed Vardan, was built with bricks and wood. 10. The commander of the citadel [of Dvin], however, complained to the king that the church would be a menace to the fortress, but immediately received [the following] order: "Let the fortress be demolished and let the church be built on its site." 11. But the great patriarch Abraham through rules that were given by Christ and wonderfully virtuous works endeavored to find a way to convert Kiwrion and his adherents from their way of aberration. But instead of honoring the truth they only multiplied the sprouting shoots of avarice and ambitious demeanor. 12. Thus they exchanged the apostolic traditions of the thrice blessed Holy Enlightener Grigor, who had opened before them the luminous gate of the true knowledge of God, for the Tome of Leo which professes the manhood of Christ. 13. Thereupon, at the order of the valiant Smbat and the other naxarars, the great patriarch Abraham held a council of many bishops in the city of Dvin. Applying their minds to the Divine Scriptures through flawless [divine] visitation that leads one to God and comprehending with a thorough understanding the true profession of faith of the holy fathers, they anathematized Kiwrion who had disunited the church of Christ and all of the followers and adherents of his wicked heresy. They also threatened our orthodox believers [living] in that province with painful curses so that they would not congregate, communicate, have business negotiations and establish marital ties with those who had gone astray by following Kiwrion the heterodox lest through such relationships they might meet each other and consequently the flawless and orthodox profession of our doctrine might be contaminated and the apostolic bastion might be torn down.
14. After this, at the order of the Emperor Maurice they set up a certain Yovhan, who was from the village of Bagaran in the district of Kog, as katholikos of the Greek section [of Armenia] and made him reside in the komopolis of Awan. There Yovhan built a holy church with a superb structure and around it he established his residence. 15. But the great patriarch Abraham, as it was previously mentioned, lived in the city of Dvin which was located in the Persian section, since the river Azat set the borderline between the two sides. 16. Although Yovhan was an upright man, righteous and virtuous in his ways, and had never gone astray after the Chalcedonian heresy, yet, since he was an anti-katholikos, the homogeneous unity of the patriarchal see was split into two parts and subsequently both sides experienced excessive adversities. 17. After dauntless deeds of valor, virtuous accomplishments and the twin combats with Ep't'aghe king of the K'ushans and his slaying the latter, [97] Smbat died in extreme old age in the city of Ctesiphon. 18. They brought his body to Armenia and buried him in Daroynk', which is in the district of Kog.
19. But the forces of Maurice rebelled against him, killed him in the palace and set up Phocas instead. 20. The latter marched with a great many forces to Basean in order to subdue the Armenians. But a certain Ashot who came to Armenia at the order of Xosrov marched upon the forces of the Greeks and defeated them so that one could not count the numbers of the dead in the battlefield. He also laid siege to the city of Karin, which he captured. 21. Two years later he transported the inhabitants of the city to Ahmatan. 22. Since the aged katholikos Yovhan had taken refuge in the city [of Karin], he also was seized along with the rest and taken to captivity where he died and his body was brought to Awan and was buried near the church that he built. He occupied the patriarchal throne for twenty-six years. 23. In the same year the blessed patriarch Abraham completed the course of his life [after a pontificate of] twenty-three years and departed from this world. He was succeeded by Komitas who was from the village of Aghc'k'. He had been the sacristan of the martyrium of the blessed Hrip'simeank' and subsequently had become the bishop of Mamikonean Taron.
24. After killing Phocas, Heraclius crowned his son instead and with numerous forces advanced on Asorestan [= Assyria]. 25. But Xorem who seized Jerusalem at the order of Xosrov annihilated all the male population with a horrible massacre and took many captives 26. among whom were their patriarch Zak'aria and the Holy Cross which had borne Christ.
27. At about this time the great patriarch Komitas adorned the martyrium of the blessed Hrip'simeank' which formerly had been a dark and small building, with a more wonderful befitting respectable and splendid structure. There he chanced upon the [relics of the] blessed lady Hrip'sime that became a source of much spiritual consolation for all the Armenians. 28. [The coffin] bore the seal of Saint Grigor and Saint Sahak. Subsequently the great patriarch Komitas as well stamped his seal on it, not taking the liberty to open it. The height of the blessed lady was nine spans [t'iz] four inches, [matuns], 29. After the completion of the holy church, he placed the relics of the blessed lady in the repository that he had prepared. 30. Then he ordered to dismount the wooden roof of the dome of the Holy Cathedral which is in the city of Vagharshapat and rebuilt it with proportioned and beautiful polished stones.
32. But Kutas,* the son of the first Xosrov, killed the second Xosrov, the king of Persia, and ruled instead. 32. Then Kawat gave the [98] marzpanate of Armenia to Varaztiroc', the son of the brave Smbat, and sent him to his land. 33. Upon his arrival, the latter found the great patriarch Komitas gone from this life. He had occupied the patriarchal throne for eight years. 34. Thereupon, with the consent of T'eodoros the Lord of Rshtunik' he set on the patriarchal throne a certain K'ristap'or from the Abrahamean house. 35. They say that the latter possessed a slanderous tongue which instigated the aspet Varaztiroc' to bear malice against his brothers. 36. When this became known, slanderous villifiers from his own household rose against him and fabricated indecent reports. Subsequently they passed the verdict to discharge him from his office not according to any of the laws of the upright but spontaneously at their own discretion. 37. Willingly escaping from the evil [the katholikos] went away and built a hermitage near the village of Ughik' in Maseac'otn. He gathered many monks and with his virtuous deeds and laborious toils distinguished himself in strict fasting and observance of prayers and nightly vigils. He occupied the patriarchal see for three years.
38. Subsequently they set instead Ezr who was from the village of P'araznakert in the district of Nig. He had been the sacristan of Saint Grigor [cathedral in Dvin].
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