In this period the Ossetians came through
the Darband gates and captured all of K'art'li from the head of
the Kur river to Xunan. They entered Movkan and Aghbania and took
captives [including] Mihranduxt, Vaxt'ang's sister. The Byzantines
also arose and took [territory] from below the Eger water to fort
J'uji. All Iberia mourned unbelievably and said: "It is due
to our sins that evils are being visited upon us for we do not
keep the Christian faith the way our fathers did".
The lad Vaxt'ang was devout in the Christian
religion. He was wounded by the fact that a fire-temple had been
placed in K'art'li and that indeed such sorrows had beset us;
[Vaxt'ang] was fifteen years old. He assembled all the grandees
and consoled them, saying: "It was with a Paternal intention
that God [68] [g75] advised us toward salvation and sensibility.
Hereafter if each of you turns away from evil, the Lord will turn
toward us with kindness. Perhaps you may see no goodness in me
because I am a lad, but remember the service (eraxtik')
of my fathers and do not despair of the Lord because of my boyhood,
for the Lord our God shall help us because of His Name and the
prayers of our fathers". He sent to his mother's brother,
Varaz-bakur, requesting aid against the Ossetians. The latter
sent him 12,000 armed men. Then, notifying all Iberia, Vaxt'ang
himself assembled 160,000 cavalry and infantry and prayed for
seven days, fasting and keeping night vigils and giving alms to
the needy. He entrusted the kingdom to his mother and said: "Should
I die in battle, let Trdat's grandson Mihran take the throne and
marry my sister Xorandze". Then Vaxt'ang went to T'ianet'.
Fifty thousand inhabitants of Caucasus came to him. He went through
the Darial gates, entered the Ossetian plain and encamped on the
far side of the Aragoy river. Now the Ossetians had mustered the
Khazars and they came and encamped on the opposite bank of the
river for seven days. Single-combatants on both sides tested one
another. On the seventh day a Khazar named T'arxan arose and challenged
someone from Vaxt'ang's army. They selected an Iranian who had
displayed much courage to [Vaxt'ang]. When the two met, T'arxan
struck him on the skull and split it in two. The [Iranian's] name
was P'arsman-P'axur. King Vaxt'ang [69] was deeply saddened. He
entered [his] tent and that night tearfully prayed to God. At
daybreak, T'arxan arose to insult and dishonor Vaxt'ang. He found
no one willing to [g76] fight with him. Then Vaxt'ang fell on
his face and wept before the Lord. He wanted to fight, and he
crossed himself. He did not heed those who would prevent him as
an untried lad. Rather he said: "Help me with prayers, for
this battle belongs to the Lord. He is my hope, confidence and
dexterity". Then, attacking T'arxan, he struck him in the
middle with a spear which went right through the thick armor and
the body and out the other side. Falling from his horse [T'arxan]
died. Vaxt'ang prostrated himself right there and exclaimed: "Blessed
art Thou my Lord, Christ God,Who sent Your angel and killed Your
defamer". Cutting off [T'arxan's] head, he took it back to
his army, in the sixteenth year of his youth. Now the next day
a gigantic man crossed the river and requested Vaxt'ang [in combat].
By the strength of Christ, [Vaxt'ang] downed him also. Then the
troops attacked, struck the Ossetians and Khazars, and put them
to the sword. They entered village and city of their land, took
booty and captives. They entered Bajanet' and Jik'et' which is
below Ap'xazet', taking them and making captives of them. Then
the Ossetian kings who had fled into strongholds, sent emissaries
to Vaxt'ang to make peace [under the terms that Vaxt'ang] return
the captured [70] Ossetians and receive back the K'art'velians.
[Vaxt'ang] agreed to this: he gave 30,000 Ossetians and received
back 350,000 plus his sister Mihranduxt. He sent them over the
Darial road and sent the Iranians and Kovkas troops [g77] to their
lands with much booty. He himself with his own army warred for
three years against the district of Ap'xazet' and captured all
the strongholds, for king Lewon was occupied with the Iranians.
Then [Vaxt'ang] returned to Mts'xet'a in happiness and delight
and held a feast of rejoicing to the glory of Christ our God,
giving gifts to the poor. He sent presents to the King of Iran--20,000
horses and 10,000 servants through the chief priest, and he requested
his daughter in marriage. [He sent] to his mother's brother 2,000
horses and 1,000 servants. When the Iranian king saw [Vaxt'ang's]
success he gave him his daughter Baleduxt and placed mt. Kovkas
under his command. He wrote the following prologue in his letter:
"From Ormzd Shahijan to Vaxt'ang Varnxosrovt'ang, champion
of ten kings, rejoice! I have done as you requested. Grow strong
and remain brave. Go against the Byzantines and take your uncle
with you."
Vaxt'ang held a military review of 200,000
troops and went through Armenia, for they too had the same order.
The Armenian naxarars came to them: Trdat Arshakuni, Arew
lord of Siwnik', Juanber Vaspurakani, Hamazasp of Taron, Grigor
and others besides. They went to Karaxpula-which is Karin city--[g78]
[71] and left two princes there with 12,000 cavalry to fight against
it. They then went through the middle country (mijerkrayk')
as far as Pontus and took three cities. And Vaxt'ang ordered the
troops not to kill any of the impious needlessly [saying]: "They
worship Christ the way we do. For when my grandfather arose with
the Iranian king [and went] to Byzantine lands reaching as far
as Andziandz--where the tomb of saint Grigor is--they attacked
the church clerics, and were then vanquished and but few of the
many returned home in shame. Having traversed a ten days' journey
by that route we have reached today as far as Constantinople (where
king Constantine, bel xt'ang] said to Peter: "From the time of my entry into
Byzantine lands, I did not aliow any attacks on the churches of
God". Peter replied: "The [real] church of God is His
rational flock which, after murder, neither you nor any other
can lift up; but [destroying] structures is easy for whomever
desires to do so. Do you not know that all sins were wiped away
by the Flood and that Abel's blood still cries out before the
Lord? All the wickedness of the Jews forgotten, [g81] the blood
of Barek'a's son, Zak'aria, will be demanded from them. How much
such innocent blood has been shed by your hands"! Vaxt'ang
replied: "You have shown me to be guilty and I have sinned
against the Lord". The priest said: "If you adhere to
what you've just said, your sins will be forgiven you. But hereafter
do not war against the sons of God and you [should] extinguish
the fire which you ignited". Vaxt'ang said: "Beseech
God that tonight I shall see His pleasure". But Peter replied:
"That is beyond me, but we shall recommend [you] to the saints".
Now Samuel grew angry and said: "Do you know not of Christ's
love which said to Polykarpos (Poghikarpos): 'If the angels did
not waver and grow angry, I would have been crucified in every
city and village so that [75] all might live. And what did God
say to the impious Ak'az: "Seek a sign from your God in the
depths or on the heights". And Christ said: 'Whatever you
seek in My name I shall give you'. Now king, pray with us and
it shall be as you wish". At night the king reposed, praying.
Peter and Samuel kept watch the entire night. The king saw saint
Nino in a vision, and she said to him: "Arise and come forth,
for behold kings of Heaven and earth are coming to you".
Opening his eyes and looking up, Vaxt'ang saw the city of Byzantium
wherein were two chairs occupied by a lad and a grown man. The
man was Gregory the Theologian, and he spoke: "Wicked man,
why do you strike the Lord's army, why did you destroy His flock?
If I did not respect saint Nino, you would have born the same
punishment as your fire-worshipping fathers". Then Nino said
to Vaxt'ang: "Go and fall before the king's feet". He
did so. [The king] seated [Vaxt'ang] near himself and placed on
his hand a ring made of a luminous gem. [g82] And Peter and Samuel
were guarantors for Vaxt'ang, that he would sin no more. Also
there was a glorious cross with a crown on it. Vaxt'ang watched
the emperor remove the crown from the cross and place it on his
head, saying: "Behold your second crownn. He saw all of this
in a dream as if he was [actually] seeing it [in a waking state].
He awoke and glorified God. The next day he returned by way of
Armenia, and ordered that no one be harmed.[76]
However the Byzantine emperor pursued
him with 9,000 men and caused [soldiers] to flee from the Iberian
forces. When Vaxt'ang's Iranian nephew (sister's son) saw this,
he said: "Snake born of a viper, what have you done? As I
have heard, your father's mother was from Byzantine lands ("Greece")
and pulled you, rotten seed, in the same direction. For the love
of the dead Jesus, lo, you destroy Iran. That shall not remain
to you". Vaxt'ang replied: "The crucified one is my
God and He saves me. Worship the fire and battle with the Greeks".
Then [Vaxt'ang] drew apart, with the Armenians and Iberians. And
the Iranians and Kovkasians warred against the emperor but were
defeated. Vaxt'ang's uncle (mother's brother) died as did 25,000
Iranians, the Lek king, Ajaj, and many of his front-line fighters
and the head of Aghbania. That was a terrible blow at Iran. Then
[Vaxt'ang] descended from his vehicle and worshipped Christ, saying:
"The victory belongs to you, Lord, and not to fire-worshippers
and the impious". Then he said to Peter: "Bring the
cross, place it over there, and Iet all who are with me adore
it. Those who do not obey will die". The king of Movkan,
Barzaw, scorned the cross and Vaxt'ang's words, and the sparapet
of Iberia, Juanber, killed him. He said to the entire army: "This
is our power and strength". All were terrified and said:
"If that cross gives us power we shall then scorn all of
our worship and worship Christ Who is in it".[77]
Just then a Greek named Polykarpos (Poghikarpos)
the emperor's sister's son arose and sought single-combat with
[g83] any one of Vaxt'ang's soldiers. But no one dared rise to
this challenge, for he was the slayer of the Iranian military
commander. Vaxt'ang said: "The lion does not fight with the
fox; however, to show the strength of the cross of Christ I shall
battle with you". Making the sign of the cross, he adored
and kissed it and then went against Polykarpos saying: "Since
you know that the army has worshipped Christ's cross and yet you
wish to fight us, let your blood be on your own head". Approaching,
[Vaxt'ang] struck at [Polykarpos] and split him in two and then
returned to his own people, glorifying Christ. Once more the Byzantines
started to mass, but Vaxt'ang sent them fleeing to the sea. After
this both sides held a review. Seventy-two thousand had fallen
on the Byzantine side. Assembling the captured Greeks, and counting
them, they found 780,000, all of whom they sent to the emperor,
under the direction of the princes Nerses and Atrnerseh. When
the emperor saw this he was delighted. He came to Vaxt'ang and
they swore an oath to each other. The emperor gave back T'ughars
and Klarchet' which he had taken from the Iberians and promised
to give his daughter to Vaxt'ang. And Vaxt'ang returned home in
great joy.[78] [g84]
Now the king of Iran heard about [Vaxt'ang's]
oath with the Byzantines. He became enraged and went in person
to Byzantine lands with a multitude of troops, and he died there.
His son ruled. The latter arose against Vaxt'ang and they fought
each other for four months until 80,000 troops arrived from the
emperor, with gifts. When the Iranian king heard about this he
sought peace from Vaxt'ang,saying : "Why are we fighting
about religion? If God is fire, He Himself will revenge Himself
against the Crucified One". Vaxt'ang responded: "Know
that all kings pay you taxes [yet] they believe in the Crucified
One. Strengthened by Him they vanquish you who worship fire, [fire]
which I extinguished here in my land and sent to you their [i.e.
Zoroastrians'] chief priest. Christ is my God: let fire be your
god if you wish. I am of the line [g85] of Nimrod, although you
have his throne. I shall subdue you like your father". This
is what they did. They exchanged gifts and met together. Vaxt'ang
gave his sister Mihranduxt in marriage to Xosrov, the Iranian
king, for his other sister Xorazne was with the Armenian patiashx
as a pledge. Vaxt'ang became a mediator between the Byzantines
and the Iranians and made peace between them. Xosrov left Jerusalem
to the Byzantines. Vaxt'ang's wife bore twins--a boy and a girl--and
then she [79] died. They called the boy Dach'e [Dach'i]. Now Vaxt'ang
made a helmet fashioned of gold and on it, images of a wolf and
a lion. During battle [the enemy] would see and recognize [the
helmet] and say: "Stay away from the wolf and the lion".
And they called him Gurgasal, that is Wolf-Lion in Persian. However,
his hope was in Christ God Whom he always glorified. The emperor
sent him great thanks and gifts through the military commander,
Lewon, and many presents to the Iranian king.
After this, motivated by the love of
Christ, Vaxt'ang went to Jerusalem, taking his mother and sister
with him. Having revered the holy places, they returned with great
joy. [Vaxt'ang] came to Andak [Antioch]. The Iranian king exalted
[g86] him so that he go with his mother and sister to Iran and
hold the wedding of the sister whom he had given to Xosrov. They
went to Babylon, were received with great honor and celebrated
for six months. With very great honors they sent Vaxt'ang's mother
[home]. Xosrov took Vaxt'ang and went to Jurjanet' the capital
of Gelan. They depopulated it of its inhabitants and settled Iranians
there; and to the present they are tributary to the Iranians.
Thence they went to India and looted large areas, excepting the
coastal cities. There Vaxt'ang slew twelve wrestlers, and they
took as tribute musk and 100,000 lters of amber and incenses,
boats, gems, a boat-load of emeralds and [80] hyacinths, 100 camel-loads
of Sovp'er gold, and 500 loads of silver, because they had remained
there for three years. Then they went to Sndik. The Sindian king
arose against them and killed many Iranian troops. However, the
Christian troops put them to flight into the fortress and secure
city of Sind. Every day the Sindian king personally came out for
single-combat. [g87] Whoever came against him he quickly killed;
and he tried to hunt out Vaxt'ang. At night, secretly, he dug
beneath the city gate and concealed ten select men there, then
he sent a certain single-combatant to challenge Vaxt'ang [and
arrange matters] such that the men [hiding in ambush] would jump
out at the appropriate time and seize Vaxt'ang. But Sayurmak,
Vaxt'ang's hechup went to the [challenger] and killed him.
However, as he was returning, those lying in wait sprang out and
killed him. Vaxt'ang grieved greatly and cried for [Sayurmak]
as for a dear brother because he was nourished with him (snndakits').
After this the Sindian king went up onto the wall and said: "Hear
me, king of Iberia, for I shall tell you whom you resemble. You
are like a crow that takes a hawk, stripped of feathers by its
other comrades, heals it in its nest bringing it small animals
and snakes. Yet when the hawk recovered somewhat it grabbed the
crow and ate it, saying: 'I cannot grow strong on such food, unless
I eat a bird'. You [81] now, stripped of feathers by us and others
behave contrary to your Christian beliefs". Vaxt'ang replied
to him: "You are a fool, and a mole which, being eyeless,
lives underground and, not partaking of the beauty of sky and
land and the sun's rays, is happy with life. You, similarly, mentally
blind, do not see what I have done. You laugh, not seeing what
I have accomplished, implanting my faith in the fire-temple, establishing
Christianity in the Iranian district. Furthermore I have taken
Jerusalem, where the feet of my God [walked], the place of Christ's
glory, from the Iranians. Nor did I come seeking glory and goods
worldly and corrupting--the things you are mired in like a mole
under the earth. For our wisdom commands us to risk our lives
for brothers. I have carefully [g88] kept my land and blessed
churches [in safety], putting my life into service for the forgiveness
of my sins. And should I die in this, I shall pass from death
to life". The Sindian king said to him: "If you believe
that, then come forth and I shall transfer you from death to life
as your prince who went as your precursor". Vaxt'ang replied:
"Come out, and I shall first dispatch you to the outer darkness
through the power of my Christ. He shall transfer me to life when
He chooses". They went and clashed with each other. Vaxt'ang
struck the Sindian with a spear and threw him from his horse,
wounding, [and almost] killing him. Taking him by the feet, [Vaxt'ang]
[82] dragged him before the Iranian king. There was great rejoicing
and [Vaxt'ang] was praised before everyone. They brought forth
a skilled man to heal his wounds. When they had revived him somewhat
they left him to his own people, took his two sons as hostages,
and imposed taxes double [those imposed] on the Indians. All of
this plus many presents besides were given to Vaxt'ang. Making
peace they went on to Habashet', to the Kushan country on the
borders of Iran, after spending four years in India and Sindet'.
Now the Habashik' dwelled in a reed swamp where neither animal
nor boat could penetrate. But by some strategem [the Iranian army]
cut through the water, took and defeated them. They took 1000
tuns (Houses/families) with them and dispersed them to
various places. These are the Kurds and Kushans, varied and diverse.
And they came to the borders of Armenia and Byzantine lands. Because Leo (Lewon) the Byzantine general was with them with many troops, he went to his own country, taking emissaries [g89] with him [requesting] that they send the emperor's daughter as a wife for Vaxt'ang and that they ordain Petros kat'oghikos of Iberia, and Samuel as bishop. The emperor and the patriarch of Constantinople sent the priest Petros and the cleric Samuel to Antioch to be ordained there, "since", they said, "that is your diocese". Fulfilling the request, they sent [83] them back to Iberia. Now king Vaxt'ang went to K'art'li, and his son Dach'i and all the didebuIs ["glorious lords", Arm. p'arawork'n "glorious ones"] of Iberia came before him and greatly rejoiced as he entered Mts'xet'a. But as soon as bishop Mik'ayel learned that a kat'oghikos and bishop were coming to Iberia against his will, he was vexed. On a pretext he rebuked Vaxt'ang [claiming] that he had worshipped fire. The king swore [oaths] and beseeched him, [saying]: "Christ is my true God. Do not condemn me falsely". But the bishop would not listen, and he cursed and excommunicated [Vaxt'ang]. The king said: "Although I am innocent of that thing, I have other sins before the Lord and therefore it is fitting that I humble myself before him". So he went and threw himself at the bishop's feet, kissed [them] and requested pardon. But the latter drew back his foot, struck the king on the mouth, and knocked out a tooth. Taking his tooth, the king said: "This is the work of my sins and of satan who raised you up against me, for you do not follow your commandment which says, 'Destroy not the broken reed' and 'Do not snuff out the wick which is almost extinguished'. Rather, you envy Petros and share in the jealousy of Judas". He sent him to the patriarch of Constantinopletogether with the tooth so that he would try him without bias. Seeing Mik'ayel, the patriarch said to him: "Like Judas, you greedily fought with the church and spilled blood, and from the king's mouth with your foot at that, and you pulled down the structure of God. Now you are unworthy of the priesthood, and worthy of [ 84] the death of your lord. Why did you not heed Paul, who said: [g90] 'obey the king', and also 'Pray for the king, otherwise know that it is not in vain that he puts the sword to work'". [The patriarch] immediately sent Mik'ayel into exile.
The patriarch of Antioch, while ordaining
Petros as kat'oqhikos also gave him twelve bishops.
[Thereafter] they went first to Constantinople where they received
numerous gifts and the emperor's daughter, Helen (Heghine), and
thence they went to Vaxt'ang. And the country was gladdened. The
kat'oqhikos sat at the church of Mts'xet'a, Sion,
which Vaxt'ang had built, and Samuel resided at the bishop's palace
of Mts'xet'a.One bishop was stationed in Klarchet', one in Artahan,
one in Jawaxet', one in Manklis, one in Bolnis (Bawghnis), one
in Risha, one at the place named Saint Nino above the gate of
Ujarma, one in Jeram, one in Ch'elt', one for two churches, Xornoyboj
and at Agarak opposite Xunan. Vaxt'ang built a church at Nik'oz
over the martyrium of Razhden the Iranian nourisher of Vaxt'ang's
first wife, [a man] who believed in Christ, was persecuted for
the faith by the Iranians but did not renounce Christ. They killed
him for his good confession in the glory of Christ God, and the
seat of a bishop was located on the site of his martyrium. Now
Vaxt'ang had three sons and one daughter from [his wife] Helen.
Then Vaxt'ang [85] dwelled at Ujarma, giving the greater part
of the country [g91] to his senior son, Dach'i, and he married
Xorandze his senior sister to the Armenian bdeshx, Bakur.
At that time Xosrov, the king of Iran,
died and his homonymous son sat on his throne. He sent to Vaxt'ang
[telling] him to be his guide in going to war in Byzantium. Vaxt'ang
laid the foundations for the city of Tiflis and vigorously built
it. The king replied [to the Iranian shah] , "There is a
proverb which says: 'Blacksmith, sharpen the sword so that I may
cut off your head' ". He said [to the messenger]: "Go
and say to the one who sent you to me, 'First fight with me, and
then with the Greeks', for we spared and preserved you".
In those days Dach'i took his sister's son and went through Kuxet'
to the Lawpat country to the cliff-caves whose inhabitants were
a great multitude of barbarous peoples who worshipped fire and
water. The entire country fortified itself, while Vaxt'ang, his
wife and sons went to the Ujarma valley, away from the Iranian
king since they had heard that he was coming against him. Soon
he did arrive, and destroyed the city of Kambech and the fortress
of Cheram. They reached Kuxet' and encamped by the Orin river.
Vaxt'ang arose with 240,000 troops against the Iranians' 740,000
on a gloomy day, [86] and destroyed them until the king's entreaty,
and killed [the king's] son Bartom (Bartam), although the Iranian
king escaped. But an Iranian fatally wounded that brave Vaxt'ang
in the side. [Vaxt'ang], taking heart, quit the battle triumphantly
killing 130,000 of them, and then went to Ujarma.
In that period the Byzantine emperor
died and his son Zeno reigned [474-91]. He came to aid Vaxt'ang,
but when he reached Sper [g92] he heard the sad tidings of Vaxt'ang's
death from his wound, and he returned to Karin city. Now Xosrov,
the Iranian king, ruined Tiflis and Armaz and the area around
Mts'xet'a and then went against the Byzantines. Iranians and Byzantines
fought each other inconclusively. The Iranians returned by way
of K'art'li.
Vaxt'ang died [A.D. 522] giving many
instructions to his son Dach'i to whom he entrusted the kingdom,
and [instructions] to all the troops concerning the Christian
faith and unity. He was buried in Mts'xet'a. And the Iranian king
returned to his own country.[87] [g93]
Dach'i ruled Iberia as king [522-34],
and rebuilt all that had been destroyed by the Iranians. Kat'oghikos
Petros died and was succeeded by Samuel, then T'ap'ejan, then
Ch'imak'. King Dach'i died, and his son [Bacurius/Bakur II, 534-47]
succeeded, then the latter's son, P'arsman reigned [Pharasmanes/
P'arsman V, 547-61]. In his day the Ossetians arose and ravaged
K'art'li. Now because the Byzantines were too busy in the West
to help P'arsman, he sought aid from the Iranians [saying that]
he would submit to them in matters of taxation but let them use
no force regarding the faith and the Church. The Iranians heeded
him and in no way harassed them regarding their faith. After P'arsman's
death, his brother's son, another P'arsman, [g94] reigned [Pharasmanes/P'arsman
VI, 561- ?]. He was a benevolent man, a builder and adorner of
churches. Kat'oghikos Ch'imak' died and they seated
Saba as kat'oghikos without [the ordination of]
Antioch, for thereafter the Iberians themselves designated kat'oghikoi
from the line of the naxarars. After Saba, Yelat'i served.
In his day Yovhannes (John) came from Mesopotamia to Iberia, a
blessed man and a wonder-worker who wrought many miracles--both
he and his students. The deeds were written down and placed in
the church of K'art'li. From king Mirian to the second P'arsman,
[88] two hundred years elapsed. [P'arsman] left a good memory
of himself.
In his day [Step'an Curopalate, ca.
590-627], Samuel died and his office was occupied by Bart'ughomeos.
[g95] In these days the emperor Maurice [582-602] was killed by
a soldier named Phocas, who himself ruled the Byzantines [602-610].
Now when [Maurice's] wife's father, K'asre [i.e., Xosrov II] king
of Iran heard these sad tidings, he became angered, went to the
country of the Byzantines, destroyed many districts, captured
Jerusalem and the Lord's Cross. Step'ane, prince of Iberia, turned
submissively to the Iranians out of fear of them, and resided
at Tiflis. Then Maurice's relative Heraclius killed Phocas and
ruled over the Byzantines [Heraclius I, 610-641]. He assembled
a very large army from the Turks of the west and went in search
of the envivifying Cross. [g96] Journeying through Armenia, he
came to Bznunik' and thence ascended to Tiflis. But Step'anos
did not forsake allegiance to the Iranians. Rather, he closed
the city and warred with the emperor, sallying forth each day.
And many of the Byzantine braves perished. After [Step'anos] was
killed, they took the city, excepting tbe citadel. From the citadel,
the senior (awag) [commander] of the fortress insulted
the emperor, [89] shouting: "Depart, you goat! For you do
not resemble a king. Instead you have a goat's neck and beard".
When the emperor heard this he laughed inwardly, had the book
of Daniel fetched, opened it and sought the passage where it states:
"The goat coming from the West will grow strong and attack
the ram in the East with great force". And he said to the
army: "Although the man dishonored me in his heart, nonetheless
he revealed this thing to me". [Heraclius] summoned Adarnase
[Atrnerseh, Adarnase I, 627-37/42] of Dach'i's line, who was in
Kuxet' and gave Tiflis to him. With him he left the military commander
Jibagh, and then went on to Iran. [The Byzantines] took that citidel
and Jibagh seized the man who had dishonored the emperor. First
he filled his mouth with gold, "For", he said, "the
emperor rejoiced at the words which issued from your mouth".
Then, removing his skin he sent the man to the emperor for insulting
him. Now K'asre's son killed him [i.e., Kawad killed his father
Xosrov II], made peace with the emperor and gave him the Lord's
Cross. After five years Heraclius returned and came to Mts'xet'a.
He took Mankli and Erushet', the tablet [placed] at the Lord's
feet [g97] as well as the nails which Constantine had given to
king Mirian. And he took them with him, not heeding the pleas
of Adarnase and the tears of all Iberia.[90]
After the death of kat'oghikos
Bardoghomeos, the [patriarchal] throne was occupied by Yovhannes,
then Babelas, then Tap'or. After Atrnerseh's death, authority
in Iberia was exercised by his son Step'anos [Stephen/Step'anoz
I, ca. 591/602-627], a man firm in the faith and a lover of [religious]
festivals. It was he who convened a great assembly before the
blessed Cross on the day of Cross Friday and Holy Thursday at
the kat'oghikosal residence at saint Sion and Tuesday
the festival of the proto-martyr Step'anos and all the witnesses.
"And", he said, "let Friday and Thursday not differ
from Good Friday and Good Thursday".
In this period Muhammad (Mahmet) the
leader and legislator of the Saracens and Arab people appeared
and ruled many lands. After holding sway for twenty years, he
perished (satakets'aw). His place was occupied by
Abu Bakr (Abubak'r) who entered Iran with a great force. Now since
[the Iranians'] kingdom had become weakened, he brought it into
submission. Entering Babylon [Abu Bakr] made it abandon fire-worship
and converted it to the faith of the Saracens. When he died, the
authority was wielded by Omar. And they told Heraclius that the
Saracens wanted to enter the land of Mesopotamia, Syria and Jaziret'.
The emperor went to the Pghshtats'ik' country and saw here a man
of God, a monk, who said: "Flee from those who put Sarah
to flight", for the Saracens are called Sarah's servants.
[91] For the Lord gave to their people the south, east, and north.
[g98] They are wandering stars who rule over those who do not
wander". And they found prophecies about them in the writings
of the philosophers Hermitron and Ijintos, that in 5840 of the
Great Era, there would appear the son of the maidservant from
the line of justice, and that [his rule] would last 240 years,
that is 615 - (5 x 75) + 5. King Heraclius turned and came to
K'art'li declaring: "Iranian people who emigrated from the
Ishmaelites to the northern regions, behold, your kingdom is finished.
The Saracens have grown strong. Arise, come to us". And they
at all hazards left their treasures, taking along a written [description
of where the treasures had been concealed] and went with Heraclius.
But the Byzantines came with those documents and found them. Now
the prince of Iberia, Step'anos, had two sons, named Arch'il and
Mihr, to whom he gave all of his property. They buried [the treasures]
in various places, concealing it from the Ishmaelites, and then
fled to Egris, because Mahumad's son Mruan, called Xul, was coming
against them and K'art'li The latter seized the Darial Gate and
destroyed the population of mt. Kovkas. Hearing that the lords
of K'art'li had fled to Egris and thence to Ap'xazet', [Mrwan]
pursued, and took [92] the fortress of Egre. Then he descended
upon the fortress of Anakop'os. Here was located an image of the
Lord's Mother fashioned by no human hand, and no one knew where
it had come from since it was discovered at the head of Gori mountain.
In that fortress Arch'il and Mihr were staying after their father's
death. Meanwhile Lewon (Leo) [g99] the Byzantine military commander
had entered and fortified himself into Subagh fortress at the
entrance to Oset'. The brothers said to each other: "If we
remain here and they take the stronghold, we shall not be remembered;
the treasure accumulated by the Christ-crowned Mirian and Vaxt'ang
(who was made wise by God) will be lost, undiscoverable. So will
that which Heraclius left here, the document [describing where]
we concealed the two emerald crowns. Encouraged by God, with the
intercession of Peter and Paul, and with the power of the image
of the Lord's Mother which is here with us, let us attack them
from the side where the sea rushes down". And they arose
with 3,000 and the Lord struck dead on the spot an enormous number
of [the enemy]. Thirty-five thousand died in pain because of the
Lord, while 3,000 were killed by men's swords. Sixty of the Christians
died, and Mihr was wounded. A certain Saracen said to his army:
"God gave us ten victories, as He had promised Abraham and
Hagar, but not [victories] over men of God and the temples [erected]
in His name". They arose thence and went and encamped by
two [93] of the rivers with seven springs. But suddenly the river
rose up in a mighty flood and carried off 23,000 of the Habashk'
soldiers with them and 35,000 horses. Thereafter, for its providential
work, the rivers were called Dzxenis tsghal ["that which
carried off the horses"] and Habashis tsghal ["that
which carried off the Habashis (Ethiopians)"]. The survivors
went over the Gori road, crossed the district of Sper, and so
departed. The Christians who had been saved glorified God, and
communicated to the emperor what had transpired. When the latter
heard about matters, he rejoiced in the Lord and sent encouraging
letters to the two brothers. However, Mihr, who had been wounded
there, died and was buried at Mts'xet'a [A.D. 736]. For twelve
years the country was calm. [g100]
In those days a certain prince, from
the house of the prophet David, named Adrnas [Adarnase], came
to Arch'il. He had been in Armenia and had been captured by the
foreigners together with his sons. Escaping thence, he asked him
for a place to live. [Arch'il] gave him Rhisha, Shghuer, and Atone.
[Similarly] three brothers came from Taron and at Arch'il's command
they settled as far as Gaghgagh. Arch'il's wife was the daughter
of the curopalate Gorom [Guaram III c. 693-748], from the clan
of king Vaxt'ang. [g101]
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