History of Armenia
7. While we suffered such afflictions at the hands of the foreign invaders, we had our eyes fixed on our kings, as well as the princes, lords and naxarars of our land, and raised our hopes high, thinking that the latter would not succumb to the contest and fall, but make the attempt to find a solution to this misfortune, and befittingly unite in a common brotherhood with one spirit, and like David hurl the sling at the carnal pyramid of the new Goliath, or like Gideon and the cake of barley bread that tumbled and put to flight the forces of the enemy with the sword of [186] the Lord, or like Jael smite the nail into the temples of Sisera after making him drink the milk, or like Maccabee rescue themselves from the siege. 8. Thus [we expected] [them to liberate the catholic church, and liberate the necks of the faithful from the sway [of the enemy], as well as save the children of those that were killed. 9. However, this is not what we witnessed; on the contrary it was the exact opposite. For the poor tried to surpass the rich, and the servants, in accordance with Solomon, maneuvered to make their masters crawl on the ground, and mount the fiery steeds of the latter. They defied those who trampled them under foot and became arrogant in a great rebellion.
10. On the other hand, our kings, lords and princes tried to break up and take away the homes of each one of the original naxarardoms, and in accord with their whims, created new payazats and spasalars of their own. 11. Brother rose against brother, and kinsman against kinsman, because jealousy, malevolence, agitation and absolute hatred turned them against one another. 12. Thus, falling on one another en masse, they fought as enemies, and having always their swords ready at their sides, shed more of their own blood than that of the enemy. 13. They tore down with their own hands all of their cities, villages, awans, agaraks and houses. These crimes which they committed out of enmity were the cause of the invasions of the brigands against us, in accordance with the words of Solomon: "Hatred stirs up strife". 14. With us the other prophesy also came to its fulfilment: "Man shall fall upon man, and neighbor upon neighbor; the child shall strike the old man and the base shall [insult] the honorable."
15. Thus, every virtue, uprightness, prosperity, and peace crumbled, and erosion and desolation came in their place. 16. In view of these the prophet joins us lamenting the former affluence and the present disorder: "Before him is a garden of delight, and behind him a plain of desolation."
11. Thereupon, because of the ransacking of the enemy and the fruitless barenness, severe famine also prevailed. 12. For the blazing fire that came upon us, and the merciless sword of the warriors that always poured on us the stench of death, continued [to scourge us] for a period of seven years. For this reason, those of us that survived migrated to the tents of Kedar, and were deprived of our possessions, allowances of supplies, and food. 13. Then the destructive famine began, and all the inhabitants of the province of Ayrarat in the cities, villages and agaraks were distressed. Discolored like corpses and in despair, they trembled. 14. Some who were rich, spent their possessions little by little for their daily subsistence, and ultimately reached the final stage of penury and destitution. 15. Others were forced to turn to herbs for food because of hunger, and accidentally having eaten either hemlock or certain other harmful plants, perished. For the menace of starvation forced them all to eat everything out of need. 16. Because of their fear of the danger, some sold their beloved children to the enemy for a small amount of allowance, and did not remember the heartrending duties of parents.
17. Due to the requirements of their needs, venerable women stripped their heads of veils and their bodies of clothing, and coming out in the open shamelessly, walked about begging. 18. Some, weakened, debilitated, and devitalized by the horrible famine, trembled like dead images and stumbled from side to side. Because of their languor, they collided into one another and fell down. 19. Others who had fallen on [188] the squares like great piles of corpses, and had been abandoned, while they were about to breathe their last, begged the passers-by to extend them a piece of bread, and perished thus. 20. But whenever rich men gave alms to the beggars, afterwards they turned against them in a merciless and harsh manner, because they felt sorry for themselves thinking that they themselves might become like the latter. 21. They all had ceased to set tables. Because of their state of utmost destitution, some of them ate the wheat before it was crushed and kneaded, while others snatched away the half-baked dough from the oven. 22. If they found any food, it was through labor, and the wretched nourishment which they acquired through toil was worthy of tears. 23. At this point, I tremble and shudder with horror at the account I am about to give. For trustworthy people verified the authenticity of this report, that certain mothers prepared meals for themselves out of the corpses of their famine-stricken children. 24. Others killed their friends treacherously in the likeness of sheep taken to be slaughtered and prepared meals for themselves. 25. These afflictions [that came upon us] should be mourned much more than the vengeance exacted on Jerusalem. For merciful women cooked their children with their own hands, and provided food for themselves. The babes that were wont to be fondled and caressed were thrown into the trash, in which they tumbled, and which they ate in place of food. 26. The tongues of suckling babes cleaved to the roofs of their mouths, because of thirst, as they were not suckled by their mothers. Children begged for a piece of dry bread and tears came down their cheeks. There was no one who would give them anything. In this way, they withered away and breathed their last in the bosoms of their mothers; children as well as parents in the cities were thus dispersed and lost. 27. Thus the children of our people were condemned to perdition because of our wickedness, and they were destroyed in the twinkling of an eye. 28. On top of all of these, the torments inflicted by the seditious elements brought destruction upon them. For those who had been captured by them were subjected to the agony of unbearable torments, with the expectation that possibly they might have some food in their possession. 29. If they found anything in the possession of anyone, they inflicted on him twice as many diabolic tortures. They inserted rods into the sexual organs of some, while they pierced the posterior of others with pieces of sharp wood, and poured ashes taken from furnaces hot with fire down their bosoms and heads. 30. They tied the privy parts of some with thongs, and suspended them from tall balconies until their parts were torn off. Very few people could survive this, and one could witness such things [done by them] not only to their enemies, but also to their kinsmen, friends and acquaintances.
31. Such was the disorder that prevailed over the cities, and the deathly night that covered the villages as well as the estates [gerdastan]. [189] Nude corpses remained tossed on the streets and the squares. The sight was so horrible and disgraceful that no one could bury them in a grave. 32. In this manner, they became prey to dogs, carnivorous beasts and the birds in the sky. Subsequently, the rapacious beasts became accustomed to it and the numbers of the devouring wolves grew immensely. Thereafter, in place of corpses they began to devour the living by tearing them to pieces with their teeth, as if they were brutes. Both the venerable and the meek were cut down together by the claws of these beasts. The torpor about our sins also spread its mist over the innocent, and weakened them, for departure from this life is the common lot of all men, whereas honor and punishment are reserved for the designated day of retribution. 33. Thus death spread in a matter of few days, and devoured the people of Ashkenaz. Mishaps caused by wicked tempests struck every one, and because of our sins the shadow of death covered us. As we did not keep the covenant of the Lord, He abandoned us.
34. At the time of these afflictions I was an expatriate dwelling in Gugark' and Iberia, with the wise king Atrnerseh, who was staying in that province. Although he honored me greatly as his guest and arranged for a generous allowance, yet, as my stay there was prolonged like that of Israel in the tent of Kedar, I was tormented by great grief and expected to be delivered by the Lord.
2. "To the most holy, God-loving, spiritual Father, and our very dear brother Lord Yovhannes, Katholikos of Greater Armenia, 3. from Nikolaos, by the mercy of God Archbishop of Constantinople, and servant of the servants of God; greetings in the name of the Lord."
4. "I think that your God-loving lordship is not unaware of the deep sorrow and ceaseless grief of our heart on behalf of the Armenians, the [190] Iberians, and the Albanians, who collectively comprise your faithful flock upon whom the Ishmaelite Saracen tyrants have inflicted severe travail and afflictions. 5. Although we could not witness with our own eyes the visitation of danger upon your flock, as we are physically beyond range, yet, hearing of the trouble that your land is suffering at the hands of the wicked, we deplore it with deep personal grief, and mourn with great sorrow. 6. If those of us, who are at a great distance from you, have received these tidings through hearsay with such personal grief, then how much severer all these must have affected you, who partook of the torments together with your flock, and were persecuted as well as clubbed and beaten by the impious and wicked rebels. What could be done that might have been proper and fit? What could be said in consolation for such a wickedness? How could righteousness follow this in order to dispel the scandal which is close at hand?"
7. "Now, if it seems proper to your Holiness, first of all, it is necessary to call upon the divine Providence and succour at all times, and lifting up your arms, ask the Lord God with all your heart to have mercy on your flock, namely the Armenians, the Iberians, and the Albanians. Think of the public welfare, and never again tolerate its loss. Take upon yourself the task of admonishing all of them at all times in the knowledge of God, as well as that of binding and absolving them with the Christ-given authority, with which you were invested [to perform matters] in heaven and on earth. At least, stop the wicked hostilities that prevail among them. 8. Do not let them remain in their wild, beastly state, whereby they fall upon one another in rage in order to kill. Let them return to human rationality and Christian serenity, wherewith salvation will be granted to the rest of the people in the lands of Armenia, Iberia, and Albania."
9. "My Humility made haste to write to you first and give this brief friendly advice. 10. We sent another letter like this to your curopalate, and to the chief [prince] of Abasgia, whom we advised to listen to you, to forget their animosities, to seek friendship, unity and peaceful coexistence with one another as well as with the Armenian and Albanian princes, to come together unanimously and fight against the children of the ungodly enemy Apusich so that you might not all perish, and the kindred races that are under your sway might not be shaken. 11. Now, your Holiness must try to extirpate the wicked animosities among them by talking to them face to face, or by means of letters, and encyclicals, as well as with [the help of] bishops, priests and holy men, and see to it that they attend to the supervision of such matters without any negligence. You must encourage them to turn to better things such as the redemptive mysteries and salutary works. For if you are thus of one accord [191] and unified, the destructive evil will be unable to bring any kind of affliction upon your land. 12. And while you yourselves carry out these matters, our Emperor who is crowned by God, will send large forces to your aid in accordance with the demands of the times, so that your curopalate as well as the chief [prince] of Abasgia, together with the princes and the nobility of Armenia might join our forces, and with the help of God and through your priestly intercession having fought against the enemy, the so called accomplice of the devil, might vanquish them."
13. "Only then, both you and we shall grant them remission for their sinful animosity, which they iniquitously allowed to prevail among themselves. 14. And as it befits your Holiness, you may grant each one his rights so that every individual may be led to restore himself in his former pious mode of life. 15. Hereafter, let there be the peace of Christ among you and let your prayers, which shine with holiness, be with our Humility."
16. Having read this, and having embraced it with the love of Christ, I was able to persuade the king of Iberia to these very same thoughts and ideas, so that he promised to pursue peace, friendship and equable harmony with all the princes as well as the lords of the lands of Armenia and Iberia, by making a solemn oath in regard to the above matter. 17. Subsequently, having heard of the grave afflictions caused by the tempests that befell the people of the Lord, I mourned greatly, and tears coursed down my eyes in the likeness of streams of water. 18. For I saw beauty departed from the house of the Lord, and His sanctuary seduced by the heathens. I also was a witness to the wailing, lamenting and moaning of His priests. Remembering the days of my misery, which were spread over my heart like a net, and having recovered by some degree my withered energy, I went to the land of Taron, where in return for the agonies that I suffered I received consolation from my kinsmen, as well as from the princes and the people, so that the soul within my body was stimulated.
19. However, our adversary who had trampled under foot the sanctuary of the Lord, still remained in the capital city of Dvin, and roaring bitterly, tried to see whom he could swallow. 20. He sent his armies to all the corners of our land, and also tried to carry out the wicked schemes that he conceived against king Gagik than against anyone else. When the latter became aware of Yusuf 's insidious complicity with the devil, and noticed that the invaders had reached the threshold [of his realm], taking with him his family, his treasures, as well as all the many people living in his domain, he went to the mountainous fastnesses of Mokk' and Korduk', where he sheltered the above. 21. He himself as well as his brother and the armed spasalar forces remained in Mijerkrayk', [192] where they took precautions against the uncaged beast, by keeping themselves always on the alert. The great prince of Siwnik', Smbat, had also joined them and waited for God to send peace. 22. However, Ashot, the sparapet of Armenia still remained stationed in the torrents of wickedness, and as he could not sever his ties with Yusuf, for this reason they [Gagik and his allies] carefully kept him under secret surveillance. 23. But the sparapet by means of a clever declaration succumbed in every way to the will of the ostikan, and secured only the safety of his own skin. 24. On the other hand, Ashot, the son of Smbat, whom the king of Iberia and his forces had set up as king over the Armenians, went from one stronghold of his domain to the other. He was victorious in many a contest and displayed heroic valor in battle against all of his enemies, not only the Saracens, but also the Iberians and the people of Gugark', who thought of doing evil to him. But while I was still in the district of Taron, I saw the tempestuous and ceaseless incursions of the brigands, and wrote a letter to the Emperor Constantine of the Romans in the following words:
26. "Sublime Autocrat and Emperor of the Romans, Augustus Constantine, who are crowned and glorified by God, Great and Victorious Kings of the universe, who are God-loving and pious, overseers of the public enlightenment during the course of this life, true peace-makers for all of us that exist, Images of the nine heavenly orders [of angels], Breeders of spiritual instruction, Genuine Leaders of so many nations and races, and indeed Godly Palm Trees planted in the house of the Lord. Greetings to you, peace, and much rejoicing as well as love from this catholic church, even though she is made captive by the enemy, and turned barren like a waterless desert, in the manner of a mother deprived of her children. Yet, She exists and remains for the love of the glory of God. 28. Greetings also from me, Yovhannes, the humble katholikos of Greater Armenia. 29. Let the grace and peace of God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ abound."
30. "We ourselves, and the bishops with us, as well as the entire congregation of the holy church were clubbed, beaten, tormented and persecuted by the deathly and insidious breath of Amalek, who emitted the wicked envy of the carnivorous devil, and in accord with his wild frenzy, brought on us the tempest of bitterness and the wrathful exasperation of unbearable revenge. 31. Nevertheless, we preserved within ourselves the grace of joy and love of the Lord. Like Paul supplicating, first let us offer ceaseless prayers, beseeching implorations, and conciliatory solicitations as well as express our gratitude, which is due to you, who are the invincible, majestic, God-crowned kings. May you live many years in accordance with the righteous fruition of this life, and the true peace of the heavenly king in the worthy and beautiful imperial palace which is the dwelling place of multitudes of men. 32. May you approach [193] readily and calmly the life-bearing mystery, which brings one closer to God, and in all piety, graceful sanctity, genuine joy and great exaltation may the termination of your lives bloom in repose befitting God. Accordingly, you have received for your benevolence a gift which is worthy of your heroic glory and virtuous lives, whereby you are pious and beloved, and have taken arms to exact vengeance on the gentiles. 33. O servant of God, our benefactor, autocrat, and Christ-crowned Emperor of the Romans, at this point I am forced to speak in an unusual manner concerning the afflictions that came upon us. It is about us who are in despair, that I am speaking. 34. We who are serving as spoksman have directed our thoughts your way with joyful expectation. We are doing this softly and gently, in accordance with what we were taught, namely "Let no one hear his voice in the streets." Your ears, which are familiar with the voice of God, do not need articulate sounds in order to comprehend, but rather, you recognize what is being sought of you through the operation of the divine wisdom, which is implanted in you.
35. And now I am grateful to Him, Who gave strength to your august imperial highnesses to come to our rescue. 36. For this reason, with the permission of your pious majesties let me make you aware of the report of the atrocious afflictions that we suffered. 37. For the covert envy of the enemy of righteousness rose against us with all of its might, and like an adulterer with dissolute passion, it dared to fall upon the immaculate nuptial chamber of the bride [of Christ], the church, in order to desecrate the inheritance of the Lord, and to violate his holy temple, as well as to subject the people of the Lord to harrassment, destruction, subjugation and annihilation, and grinding with its teeth, devour the new Israel and molest the place of the Glory of His name. 38. As long as all the nations acknowledged fear of you as a protective bastion against the enemies, and as long as we lived safely under the auspices of your imperial majesties, as if in a beautiful city, the nuptial veil of the bride [of Christ], the church, was never contaminated by the inhabitant of Kedar, who hated the kiss of holiness, and the tyranny of the accomplice of Beliar could not force the departure of the peaceful bridegroom.
39. "But as soon as we became negligent of our duties to you, the venom of the insidious serpent of Dan defied your righteous majesty, and there was no one to seek vengeance from our slanderer. Once again the accursed serpent began to crawl and stealing through the spiritual palisade, penetrated into the vineyards of the Lord of Hosts. 40. The fire, which was at one time extinguished, once again began to blaze, and cause extensive fiery conflagrations. 41. Those who had forsaken their belief in Christ raised persecutions against the holy church, and turned her into an orchard-guard's hut; like a forest, they hewed down her gates with axes and burned down the sanctuary of the Lord, and desecrated [194] the altar in His name. They offered impious sacrifices and impure victims in the house of the righteous. Those who had entrusted themselves to the Lord God they despised, and cast the bodies of the blessed of the Lord on high before the beasts and the birds in the sky. In vain was the blood of the clerics of the church shed, like the water poured around Jerusalem. 42. They also broke the strength of those hands that were engaged in war, and repelled them by means of extensive carnage and bloodshed. They scattered the naxarar houses of the race of Togarmah, and banished the city dwellers as well as the peasants under severe hardships. Some were confined in prison, and bound with fetters, or shut in unbearable torture chambers. Others were destroyed by the thirsty sword, or taken captive and sold with sadistic subtlety. Those that survived the evil servitude of the wicked, whether they were leaders or people of lesser rank, were all scattered throughout the face of the earth, and took refuge on mountains, in caves and crevices without any clothing, hungry daunted and terrified. As their lives were in danger, they perspired because of their fear of death. Like a twig that is shaken by the wind, they were forced to vacillate at the menace of afflictions, as if they were half dead. 43. In all this carnage, the hand of Amalek did not succeed in quenching with blood the thirst of the sword that slaughters multitudes. For it brought death to all through its insidious breath; for some it lay snares in secret by making them drink destructive and deadly drugs, and it consumed the rest with blazing fire. There were others that were suffocated, or cut down relentlessly by the slaughtering sword, until the foundations of our land were filled with the corpses of the dead. 44. At this time, what could I say concerning Smbat Bagratuni, the chief of all those in the East, and your servant, who spiritually became worthy of being called "my son" by you? For the wicked enemy was more severe in repaying the benefactor and protector of the church with greater evil than that done to anyone else. 45. Because of our sins the guardian of the flock of Christ was confined in prision by that insolent and impious man, and he, who had pacified the people of Ashkenaz from all the evil turmoils to a state of spiritual richness with the assistance of your imperial majesties, and had gathered the reasonable flock of Christ to the glory and praise of God, was subjected to the agony of severe torments at the hands of the enemy.
46. "In his old age he suffered the toilsome agony of being confined in prison and dark dungeons, unbearable pits and uncomfortable places. 47. Subsequently, by means of merciless flogging and torments that would hasten his death, [the ostikan] exposed Smbat to destruction by means of the thirsty sword, and deprived all of us of the care of your faithful servant. And behold, presently internal strife, and disaster from above trouble us. But your prudent foster-son is no longer among us in order to advise and give every assistance to the warriors in battle. [195] 49. Sedekia has been taken captive and Zorobabel is to be found nowhere, so that he may not renew the endangered sovereignty of the land of Armenia. 50. Hazael has been invited to come and fell Israel, and we are surrounded on all sides by warfare. Being ensnared by very wicked executioners, Maccabee is unable to save us from the menace of these afflictions. 51. Antiochus is forcing us to foresake our Christian faith, while Matthathias is no longer alive to withstand the belligerent tyrant. 52. Thus, the church of Christ has become desolate, and like a widow she is left unattended to and neglected, deprived and silent of her annual feasts. Also the flocks of Christ are stripped all at once of their paternal succour and overseer. Wretched, forlorn and abandoned, this eastern land of ours is moaning constantly due to tremulous agitations. With tragic lamentations and tears she is suffering the perennial disasters brought upon by the evil, which has come and taken possession of us, and [is bearing] the anguish of bitter torments."
53. "What account should I, Yovhannes, a most humble man, give of my sufferings, especially since I do not consider myself worthy of sharing the toils of the righteous. Yet, the fact that I was banished, and subjected to severe torments because of my sins, and that I was saved from the tribulations which I willingly confronted, make it necessary for me to boast like Paul of my weakness, for some accepted the afflictions with fortitude. I suffered greatly at the hands of the children of Hagar. I was confined in dark dungeons, cast into a muddy cell, and chained with iron fetters. They tormented me with racks, clubs and various other devices, which would have been sufficient to extinguish the breath in my body. 54. Although I am a tormented man, our Hope Christ, Who is known by His power, and cannot be described visually, preserved me physically and saved me from death. He returned me and those with me from captivity, like torrents coming from the south, and snatched me away from the claws of the dragon. Like Elija I fled to Sarephtha of Sidon away from Jezabel, the prophet killer. Like Paul I was suspended from the walls of Damascus and fled the enthnarch Aretas. 55. I suffered all these things, as I deserved. In accordance with the order of the Lord, I was pursued from one city to the other, until I reached the threshold of your mighty, august, and imperial majesties. From this far off land I seek from your pious and beneficent superintendence mercy not only for myself, but also for all the people of Ashkenaz with the hope that you may save the children of your servants who were killed. We all drank the goblet of wrath [given to us] by the southern tyranny. We imbibed to the dregs the cup of indignation and mortification at the hands of those who brought misery upon us. 56. I beg you to raise your hand out of your wisdom and kindness to the end against the insolence of the enemy, and rescue the inheritance which is yours, as well as to reestablish by great expenditure the majesty of the temple of God in the [196] Highest, which was seized and ravaged by the insurgents. 57. Turning to flight the wicked beasts, the rapacious wolves, the heathen insurgents and the wild barbarians, you should subordinate those parts which you had received in the beginning by virtue of your desirable laws which are full of mercy. 58. Shake off of us this dust, to which our waist is glued, and lift from our necks the yoke, which was imposed on us by the tyrant for the entire duration of our lives. Cleanse this land and city, which became the target of the hostility and envy of the impure, damned and wicked princes, who were hateful to God. In accordance with the prophetic instruction, you shall inherit bliss by giving back to the wretched daughter of Babylon the harm that she brought on us. 59. It is for this very reason that God chose your triumphant majesties, so that those who love God might acquire peace through your willing kindness, and repay in peace the services that they owe your imperial majesties, and reach God in a tranquil state.
60. "I have made these requests on behalf of the entire reasonable and faithful flock entrusted to me by the Lord. 61. But as for my own self, I have the following request to make your Christ-crowned, triumphant majesties: afflictions, distress, persecutions, toils, famine, the sword, and captivity, as well as the southern tyranny have agonized my old age. 62. At the present time, sitting along the banks of the Babylonian rivers, I am scorched by many tears, and remember the captivity of Sion. But I have found asylum under the protection of your merciful and imperial majesty, and have come to your threshold. I am not asking for a domicile and quarters that my predecessors the blessed vicars [of the Church] did not have, but those that they held under the protective arms of your ancestors at the beginning of our conversion, and made secure by the might of the Holy Cross of the Lord as well as the providential mercy of your imperial majesties, they tended in their respective times to the faithful flock with fearless ministration, undistracted heart and unwavering faith. 63. This is something that I also wish to possess through the intercession of the life-giving and redeeming Holy Cross.
"Do not deprive me and those with me from prostrating ourselves before the Cross that carried God, and do not deprive us of meeting your majesties who are appointed by God. 64. For many years I have wished very much to pay a visit to you. Yet, until now I was hampered [in carrying out my wishes]. 65. I have also wished to provide my own people with a restful living quarter and a peaceful life within your august, magnificent, glorious and mighty kingdom, so that after being delivered from the hands of the Ishmaelites, and finding asylum under the auspices of your wings we might tend to the flock of God among us, and always offer our ceaseless prayers to God for the peace, safety, and stability of the power of your imperial majesties, whose might is acknowledged throughout the universe. With much assistance from you and by [197] means of your glory and grace we shall prepare the Armenian nation by turning them first into a people of the Lord, and then by the will of God into your own people. 66. For the following matter is quite clear to your glorious majesties; should I, who am a humble pastor of my flock, live under the auspices of the mighty and glorious Holy Cross, and under the tutelage of your imperial majesties, to what extent would the flock of God, and the inheritance of Christ follow my footsteps? They would rush in order to join the universal flock of your reasonable sheep congregated in the meadow and pursue their lives under the aegis of Roman supremacy, just like the people of Italy and all of Asia. 67. As for those, who will not come and who stray from the fold of the Lord's flock, you 79 shall bear their judgement, whosoever they be, and I shall remain irreproachable and free from blame.
68. "And now, may the exalted, blazing and radiant Holy Cross, which dwells in your universal and glorious city in the likeness of the sun shining amidst the celestial bodies, save the inhabitants of your court from all losses caused by the corruptible wiles of the devil, so that no surging tempest may come about through the swollen billows of the foreign invaders, nor the powerful storm be allowed to usher in destructive winter. Let no mountain-like surge or adversary of your praiseworthy selves be able to shake you by means of threats, or overwhelm your majesty, who art the protector of the laws of Christ, and whose name is exalted with glory from one end of the universe to the other. 69. May you rejoice greatly, and be merry in wonderful tranquility and in a perfect state of peace. Exult in your safety; by the mercy of the Exalted you shall never be shaken. Devote your time to blessing the Lord for His kindness, Him, who crowned you with a magnificently glittering diadem decked with valuable gems. May your righteousness rise in the strength of Christ, and let us bless your name gloriously, Augustus Constantine, autocrat, and triumphant and beneficient king, Emperor of the Romans.
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