Heraclius, on the other hand, brought back to Jerusalem the cross which had borne Christ and put it in its place. 6. Moreover, he [99] appointed Mazhezh Gnuni strategos and sent him to Armenia. The latter ordered the Patriarch Ezr to go and associate with the emperor and enter into communion with him concerning the profession of faith. 7. He warned him: "should you not agree to go and unite, we would set up another katholikos." 8. And since Ezr did not wish to be separated from his faithful flock, he consented to go to the emperor. 9. And upon his departure he did not take with him Yovhan, the sacristan of St. Grigor, who was the most accomplished theologian of his time and was renowned for his knowledge of the Divine Scriptures; he went with another person, his sister's son who was not well educated, to carry out the undertaking. 10. When they met the emperor, they sought from him a signed statement of faith. 11. He immediately wrote and gave them [a document wherein] he had anathematized all the heresies except for the Council of Chalcedon. 12. But both Ezr and those with him, as if they were ignorant of the Divine Scriptures, could not perceive the crafty subtlety of the heresy which the imperial signature concealed like a bushel. They were betrayed and deceived with those who adhere to the Tome of Leo. 13. Then Ezr received honors from the emperor and, accepting as a gift one third of the komopolis of Koghb with all of its salt [mines], he returned to his place with great pomp. 14. Upon his arrival the clergy of his church made haste [to greet him] in the customary procedure. 15. But the philosopher Yovhan, whom we mentioned earlier, did not go with the others to fulfill the demands of protocol. 16. And when the patriarch Ezr entered the church, he inquired about Yovhan. 17. Subsequently Yovhan was told of this by some who reproached him [thus]: "Why did you not come to bow down before him?" 18. He gave them the following answer: "Why should I consider greeting or bowing down before a man who has undone the canonical articles of faith of our orthodox fathers and has thought of making us conform to the wicked Chalcedonian heresy."* 19. Thereupon Ezr gave strict orders [to fetch him] and much against his will Yovhan was brought to his [Ezr's] chamber. 20. When he was in his presence, the katholikos said, "You seem to have become presumptuously arrogant because of which you, who are suffering from distemper in your heart, did not come to greet and visit us." 21. Yovhan answered, "Audacity and boldness are not in my nature, but I claim to be an advocate of the truth. 22. You were deservedly called Ezr,* [*Ezr is the biblical name Ezra, but there is also the word ezr in Armenian meaning 'verge', 'edge', 'border', etc'..] because you have brought the Armenians to the verge [of destruction] by undoing the articles of faith of our orthodox fathers and by tearing down the apostolic bastion and destroying it for the man worshipping Tome of Leo." 23. Then Ezr ordered to box (with the fist) [100] his chest and chin. 24. Thereat Yovhan raised his arms and said: "Behold I am leaving this tribunal rejoicing that I have become worthy to suffer indignity for the sake of the name of the Lord." 25. After having uttered these words he departed and set his residence in the Mayroy Monastery which is situated in the glens of the mountain of the fortress of Bjni. And since Yovhan lived there, Ezr changed the name of the place from Mayroy Monastery to Mayregom and gave Yovhan the surname Mayregomec'i.
27. Nevertheless, since Ezr had given orders to persecute Yovhan there as well, the latter went to the district of Gardman where he set for himself an austere course of life and pursued an entirely virtuous way of life under pressing and trying circumstances. 28. A slanderous rumor about him holds that he allegedly tried to introduce a wicked heresy into the holy church. On my part, however, I cannot agree that such a man could in any way have thought of destroying the structure of the true faith. 29. It is my opinion that this rumor was the work of some of his opponents and archenemies. 30. But should one attribute the sprouting of such a wicked heresy to his disciple Sargis, I also would not disagree with him concerning this, since I have personally read his harmful writing. But since Yovhan had disattached himself from Sargis, I maintain that his [Sargis's] heresy was beyond Yovhan's control.
31. Subsequently the Patriarch Ezr had the martyrium of Saint Gayiane, the structure of which was formerly gloomy and dark, torn down and had a larger and more magnificent edifice built with polished stones and lime mortar. Outside [the church] he arranged for a place of habitation for the priests who served the divine altar.
5. At about this time there appeared Muhammad [Mahmet], the progeny of the maid Agar who according to Paul had come from Mount Sinai or the desert and had borne [children] into slavery. Treating with arrogance the nations that were confirmed in the name of Christ and were adherents of the true faith, he subsequently satiated the destructive abyss of his thoughts by never giving fill to his thirsty sword which he always nourished with the blood of the wounded heads of the enslaved princes of the enemy, namely the faithful whom he had attacked. Although he pretended that he was the adversary who was exalted by the order of God to become the herald of the truth of Abraham's faith and Moses' laws, yet, his godless religion deceived only the ignorant minds. For his judgment was unjust, his honor was worthless, his vows were untrustworthy, his offerings were not real and his mercy was merciless. 6. For as the Lord certainly did not concede to the son of the servant girl [the right] to become an heir along with the son of the azat, so also He did not enjoin the believer to share his lot with the non-believer.
7. Now, when the Hagarites became a large force they completely vanquished the armies of the Emperor Heraclius in Arabia. Then all the nations were struck with fear and capitulated in submission. 8. The Jerusalemites, however, immediately sent by ship the holy cross which had borne Christ to Constantinople so that it might not be seized again by the enemy and they themselves capitulated in submission to the Hagarites.
9. Then the Emperor Heraclius died and his son Constans ruled instead. 10. And because the naxarars of our land were disunited and there was no general commanding the armies, the infectious forces of Agar took the liberty of making inroads into Armenia from the region of Asorestan. Like the consuming flames of a blazing fire they quickly reached the district of Ayrarat, spoiled the entire plain and laid siege to the city of Dvin which they took. They inebriated their swords with the blood of the city, where the numbers of the dead were beyond count. They took thirty-five thousand captives to be sold as slaves and returned to Asorestan from whence they had come.
11. Immediately thereafter the Patriarch Ezr died, having occupied the patriarchal throne for ten years. 12. Then, T'eodoros lord of Rshtunik' and the remaining naxarars of Armenia made ready to set up [102] Nerses, the bishop of Tayk', in place of Ezr. The latter, however, dumbfounded by the great numbers of the massacred among the captives of the city [of Dvin], thought of secretly slipping away, arguing that he lacked the ability to administer such a high office. 13. Nevertheless, heeding the entreaty and admonishment of the naxarars, he was enthroned. 14. After ascending the patriarchal throne, he had the numerous bodies of those who had fallen gathered and rebuilt the burnt martyrium of the great martyr Serge [Sergios] on its original site. 15. After this, he built a sanctuary over the pit where Saint Grigor, the dedicated apostle of God, had been entombed amidst poisonous insects and had crushed the head of the perverse monster, thus transferring the Armenian people from the deadly depths of idolatry to the glorious light of the Son of God. 16. Again he trusted the Lord and not taking into consideration the repeated incursions of the enemy forces, he laid with wonderful enthusiasm the foundations of a large beautiful and most magnificent house of God which he named after Saint Grigor, and whose completion he entrusted to the wisdom of Christ the Builder. 17. At the founding of the God-built fold of the reasonable flock of Christ, he divided the relics of Saint Grigor and placed them under the four well-fastened pillars so that the celestial treasure might remain safe from the hands of the destructive enslavers and become the pride of Christian faith. 18. But he placed [Grigor's] venerable skull, which bore the seal of Christ, not in a niche but out in the open in a cabinet in the divine treasury so that it might give hope for the best to those who sought it and cure the sick. 19. The great patriarch Nerses requested the authorization of the Emperor Constantine and set up T'eodoros, the lord of Rshtunik', as strategos of Armenia.
20. Until now the Hagarite caliph had never personally gone to war against anyone, but only sent forces to raid the ends of the world. 21. At this time, however, the caliph personally set out from the desert of Sin and crossing the sea with a large multitude proceeded in a southeasterly direction to Persia, Sagastan, Sind, Moran, Taran, Makuran and India, all of which he conquered and devastated. He overthrew the kingdoms of all the nations except that of the Ghitanac'ik' who are the Romans. 22. Soon the Emperor Constantine was betrayed and killed by his stepmother Mardine, who set up her own son Eraklak instead. 23. However, the general Vaghentin, who arrived in a short time, put both Mardine and Eraklak to death, and crowned Constans, the son of Constantine. 24. Then, since the aspet Varaztiroc' had taken flight and returned from among the Greeks, the great patriarch Nerses asked the Emperor to be reconciled with him, and succeeded in having him appointed as curopalate and strategos of Armenia. 25. Soon after he had taken over the authority of office, he passed away; they buried him in Daron beside his father, the valiant Smbat. 26. Then Nerses requested that his [103] [Varaztiroc'] son Smbat be assigned to his father's office, and also T'eodoros, the lord of Rshtunik' be [reinstated as strategos. Thus our land was given a ruler and became temporarily secure from the wicked brigands of Agar.
27. Subsequently, after the universal downfall of the domains of all the nations, the ancient veil of the South was torn, and a new south gale, the death-bearing xorshak [simoon], blew on us, and having burned the seedlings of our spiritual orchards, severely wounded us with her sting. Thereafter, in a few years' time, the swift nations of the south stormed and dominated all the world. Seeing this, T'eodoros and the other naxarars, terrified by the advent of the invaders, capitulated in submission to the Hagarites, seeking truce in exchange for death and concluding an alliance in exchange for hell. 28. And thus, they seceded from the Emperor. 29. The Emperor, however, gathered a large force and came to Armenia in order to take possession of the country. With the exception of Iberia, he found no other [land] that had remained obedient to him. 30. Then, greatly distressed by this, the Emperor Constantine thought of reducing the country to naught. 31. But he changed his mind after the patriarch Nerses had pleaded with him. 32. And then, he gently came to the city of Dvin, and made his quarters at the katholikosate, where he ordered the Greek clergy to celebrate the Divine Liturgy in the holy church, and there he professed the Council of Chalcedon. The Emperor, our patriarch Nerses and the other bishops who had gathered* received the sacraments in communion. 33. Thus, whether willingly or unwillingly, they provided a cause for outrage among many. The faith which had been received from Saint Grigor and had remained constant until then was shaken. 34. One of the bishops, however, descended down the steps of the bema and quietly disappeared among the people. 35. When the action of the bishop was revealed, he was taken before the emperor who questioned him [as follows]: "Why did you not receive communion either with me or your patriarch?" 36. The bishop offered the [following] arguments: "I acted thus because of fear in my heart since while looking at the colorful painted images of your imperial majesties, which are imprinted on boards, we tremble, much less beholding your face in person and sharing the sacraments with you." 37. The emperor asked: "Now, will you receive the sacraments with your patriarch?" 38. The bishop answered: "[I shall,] as if with Saint Grigor. Nevertheless, he was responsible for my not sharing the sacraments with him. 39. Two years prior to this he ordered a council of bishops, who being of one mind with him signed a document anathematizing all the heretics and especially the Council of Chalcedon. I also was among them." 40. The emperor became furious at this and admonished Nerses [104] for his deceitful tongue. Subsequently that bishop also received the sacraments with them; he blessed the king [emperor] and the king blessed him.
41. Then, upon the entreaty of envoys from Constantinople, the emperor departed in haste, 42. and the Patriarch Nerses, fearing the severe wrath of the lord of Rshtunik', retired to Tayk'. 43. After the first and second incursions into Armenia and the total subjugation of the country, the Ishmaelites took hostages from all the magnates of the land their wives, daughters and sons. 44. T'eodoros, the lord of Rshtunik', however, with his family went to Asorestan with the Ishmaelite army. He died there and his body was brought back and buried in the cemetery of his ancestors. 45. After six years of persecution, when Nerses the patriarch of Armenia was informed of the death of T'eodoros and the cessation of the Ishmaelite invasions, he returned to his see. He and the naxarars being of the same mind set up as prince of Armenia Hamazasp Mamikonean who was a studious person fond of learning and well versed in all the branches of knowledge; he always tried to live up to the standard of the valiancy of his ancestors through the discipline of the arena. 47. But the Patriarch Nerses, who found spare time for himself, surrounded the exterior of the magnificent church he had built with walls, within [the perimeter of] which he constructed his own residence that was built with well-fastened polished stones. 48. Moreover, he populated the place with a great many serfs [erdumardac'] in accordance with the standards of city dwellers and, bringing water from the K'asagh River, cultivated the sandy and rocky plain, planting orchards and gardens.
49. At this time once again the Armenians seceded from the Ishmaelite tyrants because of the extremely burdensome bondage and submitted to the service of the emperor. 50. And the great Nerses asked the emperor to make Hamazasp curopalate and strategos of Armenia. When the caliph learned of this, he executed all the Armenian hostages, about 1775 souls. 51. From that day a spirit of discord was sent by God throughout all the Ishmaelite armies; friend rose against friend; holding their swords at their flanks they cut down one another in a terrible carnage. They also killed their caliph and set up someone else instead. 52. Then, the Ishmaelite forces in Egypt joined the Emperor Constantine and believed in Christ. As many as 16,000 people were baptized. 53. Subsequently, Mawi [Mu'awiyah] ascended to power and having also killed that particular caliph ruled over all the Hagarites and established peace throughout the entire land.
II. The great katholikos Anastas built the magnificent church in the monastery of the dastakert of Akori, his native place of residence, and set it as a domicile for the congregation of priests and other clerics of the church so that they serve the divine altar and tend to the welfare of guests, the needy and the poor.
[106] 12. At this time Dawit', who was of Persian origin and of royal blood, came to the great prince Grigor and begged him so that he would be given Christian confirmation. 13. Grigor accepted him with joy and ordered the katholikos Anastas to give him the confirmation of the holy baptism. And since Dawit' was formerly called Surhan, the great prince who had stood as his godfather during the baptism [lit. who had received him from the water of the holy font], renamed him Dawit' after his own father and gave him as his residence the village of Dzag in the province [nahang] of Kotayk'. After a number of years he received the crown of martyrdom in the city of Dvin. 14. They say that the battle in the komopolis of Erevan took place at that time. Those who have written before us will give you sufficient information about the events of that battle.
15. The patriarch Anastas also took measures concerning the Armenian calendar, hoping that he could somehow make it immovable like the calendars of other nations so that the annual feasts or the times of the changing seasons might be stationary. For this purpose he summoned Anania of Ani, who was well versed in this science, and ordered him to design what he had wanted. 16. Anania undertook the task and according to the way of all nations devised with certainty the cycle of the Armenian era. He compared ours with certain more suitable systems so that we would not be required to have ours run parallel with [the calendar of the] Romans. 17. And while Anastas was thinking of setting the reforms in operation by a council of bishops, the end of his life came about, after he had occupied the patriarchal throne for six years. His successors neglected this matter and maintained the former eternally movable and unstationary system. 18. Subsequently, Israyel, who was from the village of Ot'mus, succeeded him on the patriarchal throne. 19. In his days Nerses, the prince of Iberia, massacred [the troops] of a certain Barabay, the commander of the Arab army in Armenia and drove him away. 20. Israyel occupied the patriarchal throne for ten years and died. 21. He was succeeded by Sahak who was on his father's side from the village of Ark'unashen in Dzorap'or and on his mother's side from the village of Berdkac' in the district of Mazaz. 22. He had been formerly appointed bishop of Rotakk' before being summoned to the see of Saint Grigor. 23. In the seventh year of his pontificate the hostilities from the region of the Khazars increased against the great prince Grigor who was killed and was buried with his ancestors. Thenceforth peace was disturbed and a severe tremor jolted the people of Armenia.
After Grigor, Smbat Bagratuni, the son of Smbat, ruled over the princedom of Armenia. 25. At this time a certain Mruan [Marwan], an Ishmaelite by race, came to Armenia as governor and launched attacks on all the fortresses in Armenia. And whatever he took possession of, he completely tore down and destroyed. 26. Although at first the isle of [107] Sewan in the lake of Gegham had not fallen into his hands, he conquered it after two years. 27. He took captive whatever people that lived in the fortress and, taking the spoils, completely devastated the fortress. 28. After Mahmet, another governor [ostikan] was sent to Armenia by the name of Abdllah ['Abdullah], a wicked, insolent and an impudent man, extremely malicious by nature; he implanted within himself the seeds of hypocrisy like the venom of a serpent and tortured the princes and the azats of Armenia with bonds and plundered the property and the possessions of many people. 29. Then he also put the great Sahak in fetters and sent him to Damascus. Along with him he also sent the prince of Armenia, Smbat son of Smbat. He plundered the entire ornaments of the churches of Christ and made the old and the young wail, mourn and grieve. 30. This was the Abdllah who seized the neophyte Dawit' whom we mentioned above; he tormented him with severe blows, fetters and imprisonment because of his belief in Christ and tried to persuade him to fall into his own abyss of perdition. 31. Since the blessed old man did not consent to this and bravely revealed his indignation, Abdllah had him nailed to a wooden board and shot an arrow through the heart of the saint, who gave up his ghost to Christ. The bishops and the priests took his body and buried it near the martyrium of Saint Yiztbuzit.
Eghia, who was from the village of Archesh in Agheovit, succeeded him on the patriarchal throne. 16. At this time, after the eighty-fifth year of their era [-anno Hegirae], 'Abd-al-Malik became the Ishmaelite caliph. 17. Soon thereafter his troops that were in Armenia burned a fire in our midst, since the satan had blown its wrath into them. Subsequently, by deceit, fraud, vain hopes and heartening promises they gathered in one place everyone, both the azats and the cavalry forces, and registered their names in the archives, as if to give them their annual wages. Then, depriving them of their arms, they imprisoned them in the temple of [109] God in the city of Naxjawan, and shutting on them the gates with bricks, enclosed all the exits. 18. But when they [the Armenians] learned of the treachery, they chanted aloud the words of the children in the furnace. 19. Then the wicked prosecutors tore down the roof of the church, filled it with fire, and through incendiary material raised the flames higher than those of Babylon. Thus, the ceiling of the wooden church burned, and hot bricks mixed with smoke and fire fell from above, and killed all of them. Their ceaseless thanksgiving did not stop until they had exhausted their last breath. 20. The avenging foreigners, however, being secure from the fear of the brave troops, took captive the surviving families of those who had been burnt, and brought them to the city of Dvin, from whence they were sent to Damascus.
21. Thus, our land became a sea of tears, and was full of much lamentation. After 'Abd-al-Malik, his son Walild became caliph, and after Walid his brother Sulayman ruled for a short time, and after him, 'Umar ruled, in whose time, Vahan, the lord of Goght'n, was put to the torture by the same ('Umar), and suffering a great deal in the name of Christ, was adorned by Christ with the unfading crown in the city of Rucap' in Sham.
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