[111] 34. The venerable Vardan, the
sparapet of Armenia and the lord of the Mamikoneans, took
along with him the following tanuters of Armenia who, with
fervent love hastened to encounter the hour of martyrdom:
Xorhen Xorxorhuni,
Arshawir Kamsarakan,
T'at'ul Dimak'sean,
Artak Paluni,
Giwt Vahewuni,
Hmayeak Dimak'sean,
as well as other tanuters and
sepuhs and many of the troops of Armenia [ew bazumk'
i zorac'n Hayoc'] (who willingly and quickly wanted to avenge
the covenent of the holy Church, and give their lives for the
blessed and correct belief in Christ), and other brigades from
the troops of the Mardpetakan cavalry, were anxious for a war
of virtue. [These were people] whom the malicious prince of Siwnik',
Vasak, recognized as not sharing his own intentions, and so organized
them and sent them along with [Vardan]. But many of the most prominent
tanuters of Armenia and the sepuhs, as well as [people]
from the rhamik multitude [112] in whom he recognized evil
tendencies, and who were not directly [participants] in the plan
of the sworn alliance, [Vasak] kept there with him [ew zoroc'
giter zhoghovumn i vatt'ar koghmn, ew och' ughghaki i xorhurd
uxtapahut'eann].
Then the venerable general of Armenia,
Vardan, lord of the Mamikoneans, together with his comrades and
the other force of men with him, said farewell to Vasak, the prince
of Siwnik', and to the remaining nobles with him, and went to
battle in sincerity. [Vardan] entered a holy church, the house
of the Lord, and worshipped the omnipotent lord God. [He] took
the holy Gospel and the symbol of the envivifying Cross, and saluted
them, insatiably placing them over his eyes and forehead. All
of the people who were with him did the same thing with fervent
love. Inspired with love, they all departed. Now the venerable
sparapet of Armenia, Vardan, had not paseed many lodging-places
in [the district of] Ayrarat when Vasak, the prince of Siwnik',
quickly sent secret emissaries to Mihrnerseh, the hazarapet
of the Aryans, informing him of his treacherous plan in a letter.
He also wrote to Nixorakan Sebuxt and to other seniors whom Mihrnerseh
had sent against Armenia--and to Vehshapuh whom he had made [113]
his loyal overseer (who was then the royal chamberlain, but subsequently
became head of the Aryan dibheran). Vasak, the duplicitous
prince of Siwnik' wrote to demonstrate his treacherous will to
them [Noynpes arar namak ew arh Nixorakan Sebuxt ew arh ayl
awags, zors arareal er Mihrnersehi i veray Hayoc'-ew zVehshapuh
hawatarim verakac'u arar, or er i zhamun senekapan ark'uni, yet
aynorik apa ew dprapet eghew Areac'-yorum greal ec'oyc' noc'a
nengawor ishxann Siwneac' Vasak ziwr xabeut'eann kams]: "Be
at ease regarding Vardan's advance upon you, and have no fear.
For there are many [warriors] whom I have kept here with me, and
I have dispersed many others here and there. Their numbers are
not many, but few". But this impious one did not remember
the fact that the hearts of princes rest in God's hands. [g64]
For, as will be shown, the malicious [Vasak] who hoped by his
actions to gain favor from [the Iranians], had even more roused
the power of God's anger and [God] turned [the Iranians] against
him. And at the final moment [Vasak's actions] collapsed upon
his head.
35. When the venerable general of Armenia,
Vardan, lord of the Mamikoneans, reached Aghbania, the Iranian
military commanders were informed about the arrival of the Armenians.
Upon hearing the news, [the Iranians] quickly crossed the great
river, called the Kur, and advanced before them as far as the
village named Xaghxagh in the country of Aghbania. The blessed
sparapet of Armenia, Vardan, saw the limltless multitude
[114] of the Iranian brigade, and then saw how very few his own
men were. He began to speak with [his men], joyously encouraging
them in Christ and recalling for them the words of the holy Spirit
which were sung by the prophet Samuel's mother: "'Let the
mighty boast not of their might; nor the great one in his greatness,
but let them glory in God' [I Kings, 2.9; see also Jeremiah 9,
23-24, I Corinthians, I, 31, etc.]. For the matter of victory
and defeat rests not in having few or many [soldiers] but with
God's permission". When the venerable general of Armenia,
Vardan, lord of the Mamikoneans had said this, he looked to see
the will of his comrades and of all in the brigade with them.
[When he saw] how much they had been strengthened and encouraged
by fervent love, he joyfully glorified the lord Jesus Christ,
the Savior of all.
When the time for battle came, [the
Armenians] had observed the formation of the Iranian brigades.
The venerable general of Armenia, Vardan, arranged his brigade,
with competent cavalry, opposite them. He divided [the brigade]
into three fronts, entrusting each [front] to a military commander.
As military eommander of the right front he appointed the prince
of Arsharunik', Arshawir Kamsarakan (who was also the son-in-law
of the blessed Vardan, general of [115] Armenia and lord of the
Mamikoneans, being married to his daughter). As a comrade-in-arms
[Vardan] gave [Arshawir] the senior sepuh, Mush, from the
Dimak'sean azg. [Vardan] entrusted the left front to Xorhen
Xorxorhuni and appointed Hmayeak Dimak'sean to support him. Vardan,
the blessed general of Armenia, prepared to lead the central front
in the attack. With the fronts thus arranged, and depending on
God's care, they attacked the enemy.
Arshawir Kamsarakan and Mush the Dimak'sean
sepuh were the first to reach the site of the battle, however,
through unfamiliarity with the place, they fell into an extremely
thick marsh. Because of the great rushing of their horses, Arshawir
Kamsarakan and Mush fell into the mud together with the horses,
and began to sink. The venerable Dimak'sean sepuh, Mush,
was martyred there by Nixorakan. But as for [g65] Arshawir Kamsarakan,
he got down from his horse which was in deep mud, and on foot
he slew Vurk, brother of the the Lp'nac' king. One of [Arshawir's]
boots [moyk mi] had come off his foot and was in the marsh.
Then Kamsarakan, with only one boot on, and covered with mud,
together with all [his] troops, removed the horse. Fearlessly,
boldly, like a bird he mounted the horse, and put to flight the
terrified enemies [116] who were around him. Looking around, [Arshawir]
saw the venerable sparapet of Armenia, the lord of the
Mamikoneans, Vardan, with his comrades and all of the Armenian
brlgade. They also were chasing a multitude of Iranian troops
before them, as fugitives. Some [of the Iranians] fell to the
ground, killed by the sword, while others fell into the river
and drowned. Others yet scattered into the fields and dense forests.
Now some of the Iranian nobiity [Isk
omank' yawagoreroy Parsic'n] had gotten into boats and were
hurrying to flee to the other shore of the great [Kura] river.
But the venerable general of Armenia, Vardan, urgently urged the
Kamsarakan Arshawir, prince of Arsharunik' to shoot arrows after
the fleeing boats, since [Vardan] was confident of [Arshawir's]
flrm and unswerving aim. Arshawir the Kamsarakan (as he always
implemented the words of the blessed general) immediately accepted
the command from hlm, and began shooting at the navigators and
the fugitlves. He mortally wounded the navigators and many other
people onboard. As the wounded fell, the ships were destroyed.
Many of the navigators and the principal Iranians drowned in the
river. So, aid from On High favored them wlth victory, and [Vardan's
men] returned to their camps thanking and blessing God.
[Vardan's troops] remained there that
day, and the next day crossed the great Kur river. They reached
a guard wall, located between the principality of Aghbania and
the Honk'. There they found sentry guards [ew gteal and zpahapans
pahakin ew ayl zorakans parsiks bazums] and many other Iranian
troops, which they put to the sword. Then they entrusted the pass
to a royal Aghbanian named Vahan [ew zpahakn yanjn arhnein
t'agaworazni mium Aghuani, orum anum er Vahan] and sent this
same man as an emissary to the Honk' and to other strongholds
to convince them to ally with them by sending a brigade, [These
peoples] willingly and enthusiastically agreed to help, and confirmed
it with an oath.
36. With God's aid, as all of this
was occurring as they wanted, suddenly an emissary reached the
venerable general of Armenia, Vardan, and the entire brigade with
him. He gave them gloomy and wicked news: "The impious Vasak
has betrayed the covenant of God and duplicitously broken the
oath on the Gospel. He has rebelled from the allianae of [g66]
truth. The Armenian nobles who are with him have also rebelled
and turning their faces from the path of justice they have erred
after Satan. They sent an emissary to Iran and made vows to them
in letters. They took the fortified strongholds of Armenia, placed
their [118] fortress--commanders in them and told them to keep
watch. [Vasak] had the children of the Mamikonean tohm,
of the Kamsarakans, and of other tanuters gathered from
each of [their] dayeaks [ew zordis tohmin...zhoghoveal
yiwrak'anch'iwr dayekac'] and taken to secure fortresses in
the principality of Siwnik' which he ordered carefully held.
Furthermore, the treacherous Vasak had the boys sent to the Iranian
king. The following people abandoned themselves to Satan with
the oath-breaking Vasak:
the prince of the Bagratunik', Tiroc',
the prince of Xorxorhunik', Gadishoy,
the prince of Apahunik', Manech,
the prince of Vahewunik', Giwt,
the prince of Palunik', Varazshapuh,
the prince of Abeleank', Arten,
the prince of Urc, Nerseh,
and other nobles [ew aylk' yostankac
"and others from the ostaniks"] and some
sepuhs from every tohm
Hearing about all of ths disastrous
deeds wrought by the duplicitous prince of Siwnik', Vasak, and
by the other naxarars with him, the venerable sparapet
of Armenia, Vardan, lord of the Mamikoneans, and the troops with
him could not but [119] be dismayed. They vowed to do everything
possible to preserve themselves and their captive boys, saying:
" Lo, the Savior of all, Christ, has taken the hay rake in
hand and is winnowing and grading the grain placing it in the
heavenly grainary, but throwing the straw to the merciless burning
of inextinguishable fires. Let us be like the cleaned grain, and
let us await the day of our martyrdom with desire. Should we be
wortny of attaining the fate of the saints, our good deaths will
crown us. [Should we live], our boys will be preserved and grow
up each in his own place and attain princehood, while the satellites
of Satan with g:eat remorse will be shamed and ridiculed in this
world and in the next".
When the blessed people said this they
all went unitedly to the land of Aghbania from the district of
Ayrarat in the country of Armenia. There, in accordance with their
custom, they remained and passed the bitterly cold days of winter,
all of them anxiously waiting for springtime and the day when
they would attain the crown of martyrdon. For no one thought of
victory or defeat, rather, like a thirsty person they longed for
the cup of their final salvation and wanted to drink.
[120] Now the treacherous prince of
Siwnik', Vasak, did not stop writing letters to the princes, shinakans,
and priests of the land of Armenia. He [tried to] show that the
oaths and testimonies brought from court were false and futile,
saying: "The king of kings has sanctioned Christianity [g67]
for [this] land, and does not seek a harmful destruction of the
mages". About the rebellion, he said: "I shall completely
forget about [recriminations], only let people turn from the counsel
and word of Vardan, and not be lost with him". Regarding
himself, the oath-breaking Vasak wrote: "I will be the intermediary
in all of this and keep the land of Armenia unharmed". Then
the duplicitous Vasak entrusted the correspondence to some false
priests, non-priests, having the following names:
a certain Zangak,
Sahak Jaynogh,
and another one, a certain Petros Erkat'i.
Sahak and Petros were from the district
of Siwnik'. The treacherous Vasak entrusted the correspondence
about the venerable sparapet Vardan to these men and had
them circulate it throughout the land of Armenia. Those people
who were weakening in the faith and were without hope, listened
to the words of the treacherous man, and believed them. [121]
But when the crazed words were heard by those who held firm, and
those who longed for martyrdom, they became strengthened, and
even more convinced, and they hopefully awaited the day which
would bring them the good news of their salvation.
37. When the bitter days of winter were
passed and the great feast of Easter arrived, the oath-keepers
and the entire world--angels and men--experienced joy. For there
were engagenents of peace anong them at the good news of the Savior's
resurrection, and with joyful happiness, they celebrated this.
After a few days had passed, they heard
that many troops had come to the districts of Her and Zarewand.
The venerable sparapet of Armenia, Vardan, lord of the
Mamikoneans, sent the following message to the oath-keepers who
had gone to their own homes to celebrate the Easter holiday with
their families: "Many brigades [of Iranians] have arrived,
bringing along divine crowns for the lovers of God. Now let whoever
wants to participate make haste so that he does not miss out and
regret it. Should anyone have other plans, as do those vrho abanaoned
themselves to Satan, let him stay and relax wherever it pleases
him. For none will be crowned with his comrades, if he does not
suffer. Let each one class himself now, with the mortals, or with
the immortals".
[122] Those who loved truth, and longed
for immortality were moved, and urged each other on, resembling
a flock which hurries after the shepherd's call. It seems to me
that Abraham did not go as quickly bearing a calf to the angels
who had promised him a son, as the Armenian troops hastened after
the venerable Vardan, sparapet of Armenia. They were going
to Christ's supper, to eat the bread of the angels.
Thus they resembled the blessed Apostles,
all of one heart and of one soul. The venerable sparapet
of Armenia, [g68] Vardan, sent a sepuh named Arhanjar of
the Amatunik' azg together with the nobility with him--some
300 cavalry-to go and spy on the multitude of Iranian troops and
to harrass then, so that if possible, Vardan said, they might
quickly come and bring us our crowns of the Kingdom which the
Savior Christ, the giver of eternal goodness, will bestow upon
us by means of them. Arhanjar and the brigade with him departed
and was so favored by God that they saw the Iranian army and fell
on one wing of the mighty rear-guard, putting many to the sword,
and sending others fleeing back to the Iranian army. [The Armenian
troops] returned unharmed in joy to the Armenian brigade and spoke
of God's strength which the Savior had aided them with.
[123] When the venerable sparapet
Vardan and the masses of the troops heard the news, they glorified
and blessed omnipotent God, [Arhanjar's men] also said that the
military commanders were the Mushkan Niwsalawurt and Doghvch [patmein
ew vasn zoraglxac'n, te' Mushkan Niwsalawurt ew Doghvchn en],
and that [the Iranians] were [trying] to come into the center
of the land quickly. When the venerable sparapet of Armenia
and those with him heard this, they strived yet more to go against
them. First, they wanted to quickly meet with the hour of their
martyrdom (since they had been incessantly praying day and night
that they be worthy to have this share of the divine); second,
they said, if warfare does not take place in the districts of
Her and Zarewand, and if no one stops the Iranian army, they will
come into the land of Armenia bringing death, taking captives,
and causing harm. Thinking these things, [the Armenian army] wanted
to hurry, but before that, the Iranian brigade came more quickly
[than expected] to the district of Artaz, close to the village
called Awarayr, They came to an enclosed place in the Tghmut plain
which was chosen out of fear of the Armenian troops. Considering
it a proper refuge for themselves, they pitched camp in its midst
[amur apastani anjanc' hamarein patshach, ew i miji nora aceal
ghakish banakein].
[124] 38. Now on Friday of the great
feast of Pentecost, the Armenian troops arrived near the same
site and found the Iranian troops unprepared. Had they wanted,
they could have inflicted unusually great harm [on the Iranians]
who were like a flock that had lazily dispersed. But they permitted
them to rest that day. For those who longed and yearned for martyrdom
did not want to see it sullied by a soul-losing pollution, rather
at a moment's call they hastened to attain that longed-for martyrdom
[? k'anzi och' er edeal i mit hanatakut'ean p'ap'ak'oghac'`
aynuhetew yaght'el, vasn tesaneloy hanapazor zhogewkorusac'n zapakanumn].
Then [the Armenians] gathered and encamped
near the Iranian troops. The day drew to a close. Evening approached,
and as usual they held worship and were filled with prayers. [g69]
They modestly rejoiced in their food. Having done all of this
they accepted a command of the holy priests to say the evening
prayers with wakeful entreaties. Until morning all the ranks of
priests encouraged the multitude of troops (sometimes with laments
from the psalm-book, sometimes with words of doctrine) to take
heart for a moment, and then to inherit inexhaustible goodness.
The holy priest Yovsep' who held the throne of the kat'oghikosate
of Armenia [surb erec'n Yovsep', or ew zkat'oghikosut'ean Hayoc'
uner zat'orh], commanded [125] Ghewond, that venerable man
of God, to advise and encourage the people. The holy priest Ghewond
fortified and taught everyone the entire night through with tireless
Apostolic doctrine, and copious wisdom, with interpretations of
the proverbs and illuminating doctrine. The words which flowed
like sweet honey from the mouth of the just man brought delight
to the listeners. A luminous clarity revealed itself in him by
heavenly influence, and he appeared to have the face of an angel
[? ew axorzhabar zna canuc'aner verin azdec'ut'eamb lusachachanch'
paycarhut'iwnn i nma nerk'in mardoyn ew tesakut'iwn hreshtakanman
eresac'n kerparani]. (At an earlier time [in his life] his
vardapet the man of God, Mashtoc', had chanced upon [Ghewond]
while the blessed man was sleeping. Together with others of his
students, the venerable Koriwn and Arjan, [Mashtoc'] saw in waking
how a brilliant light radiated forth around him. Then and there,
through the holy Spirit, these venerable men reaiized that the
blessed man [Ghewond] would die a martyr's death. Although they
did not reveal this miraculous occurrence to him, nonetheless
word of this vision became spread about through many rumours.)
[Ghewond] recalled for alI who depended on him many spiritual
things, [such as] the lives and forbearance of earlier people.
[He spoke] first of the dishonoring and patience of saint Gregory,
and then about all the others. He said: "Those who [126]
experience a premature and slow death, have chosen eternal life.
Some people were unknowingly worthy of receiving the Good News--people
who [experienced] torments and death, some keeping fasts, on pallets,
others because of their love for the poor and for strangers. Others
were chosen by God for their judicious judgements and for making
the country bloom [Omank' tanjanok' ew mahuamb, omank' pahok'
ew getnatarac ankoghnok' aylk' aghk'atasirut'eambk' ew otarasirut'eambk'
yangets endunel zheshtaks arzhani eghen]. But the fate of
a martyr is not shared by all, rather it is given from time to
time by heavenly Providence. Those who receive it should purchase
through just business the eternal rather than the transitory,
eternal goodness rather than pollution. And now those of us who
have been kept for the great and honorable Cup will hasten to
be worthy of attaining a portion of the inheritance of the luminous
saints. The psalmist sang of their respectability: 'The death
of His saints before the Lord is respectable' [Psalm 125, 15].
Behold the ascetic Gregory, your vardapet calls you to
the heavenly city of Jerusalem, to the most desired and fragrant
supper of Christ, where pain and sorrow and lamentations do not
exist". [g70]
The blessed Ghewond encouraged each
member of the grandee nobility of Armenia with many other words
of spiritual [127] and inspired doctrine. He was aided by the
venerable Yovsep', who, although ordained as a presbyter nonetheless
had the fortune to be worthy of the kat'olikosal throne
[or t'epet ew zjerhnadrut'iwn eric'ut'ean uner` sakayn yat'orh
kat'oghikosut'ean er vichakeal arzhanaworapes]. They counseled
and fortified them with spiritual words all night, until each
of the willing listeners became as it were armed with fearless
strenth by the holy Spirit. These were people to whom the decreed
hours of the night seemed longer than on other nights, and they
longed to see the dawn of salvation, to be able to drink the Cup
of the Kingdom of Heaven.
When the venerable Vardan, lord of the
Mamikoneans, heard the divinely inspired words and the doctrine
exhorting martyrdom from the angelic lord Yovsep' and the diligent
Ghewond, he replied: "The dignity of ordination of blessed
priests of the Church comes not from mankind, but is bestowed
by the holy Spirit. Their words cause all rational listeners to
look toward Heaven, just as this very night long they have been
ceaselessly urging everyone to the Heavenly banquet, recalling
for us the torments of saint Gregory. Many here are not only [Gregory's]
pupils, but are blood-relations [yoroc' bazumk' or ast kamk',
och' miayn ashakertk', ayl azgaxarhnut'eamb emk' haghordealk'].
Let us hasten to the wedding of Christ, to join the guests, [128]
the brigade of holy Apostles in Christ's dining hall, where [Christ]
has opened the door of the Kingdom and waits to receive everyone
and make them happy with an eternal, endless and immortal happiness.
Let us make haste without delay. And let none resemble Judas who
was torn from the ranks of the Apostles. As you have seen tonight,
those who weaken trail after Satan. But I will take that cup which
I have long desired and drink of it with eagerness, crying out
the Biblical prescription: 'I take the cup of salvation and call
upon the name of the Lord' [Psalm 125, 13]".
After the blessed general had said all
of this, at cock's crow the holy Yovsep' and Ghewond commanded
all the priests to perform mass, so that armed with the holy Spirit
[the troops] would be accompanied to God's beautiful Paradise.
After the Armenian troops had communed in the body and blood [of
Christ], they hastened to work on this divine matter before them.
39. It was close to the hour of sunrise,
and the Iranian brigade was arming and preparing to form into
military fronts. The blessed Vardan, lord of the Mamikoneans,
divided his [129] brigade into three fronts. As head of the center
wing, he appointed the lord of Arcrunik' and the mardpet
Mihrshapuh together with the prince of Arsharunik', Arshawir,
and the [g71] venerable men of Artak, prince of Mokk', and other
senior naxarars. As chief of the right wing he appointed
the venerable Maxaz Xoren, with the venerable T'at'ul, lord of
Vanand, the blessed Nerseh K'ajberunik', and other senior naxarars.
He readied the left wing himself, with his own brigade and with
the prince of Arhawegheank', P'ap'ag and other princely naxarars
of Armenia, for it was on that side that the encampment of the
brigade of Siwnik' troops, and the banners of other military men
could be most clearly discerned [k'anzi yayn koghmane arhawelapes
erewer ghakish gndin Siwni zorun ew ayl zorawor aranc' nshank'
droshic'n]. He left his own brother Hamazaspean as the rear
guard and ordered him not to force anyone [to fight], but rather
only to exhort them with words, for their own salvation.
Thus once the blessed Vardan had divided
the Armenian troops into three fronts, and they were blessed by
the holy priests, the two sides, Armenian and Iranian, attacked
each other, the Armenians blessing God as they attacked. Vying
with one another, those who sought the crown of [130] martyrdom
advanced and turned the first Iranian troops to flight. But another
multitude of Armenian troops, which had come under obligation
and not voluntarily, though they had strived for goodness, nonetheless
wavered and turned back, and suffered eternal loss in their flight
[Isk ayl bazmut'iwn zorac'n Hayoc', ork' arh harki ew och'
kamaw manawand zi ew zayls yerkuanaloy ew darjuc'aneloy yets,
ork' erknic' barut'eanc' c'ankac'ealk' ein` anden i p'axust darjeal
kornch'ein zyawitenic' korustn]. When the Iranian troops saw
how the Armenian brigade was abandoned and fatigued from killing
their own people, and how they were fleeing, they went into their
midst and surrounded them like a sea. Those [Armenians] who had
been hoping to achieve [martyrdom] attained it there. But then
the Iranian troops quickly went after the Armenian fugitives.
They killed some of those [Armenians] whom they caught up with;
others they restricted in some secure place (but some [of the
fugitives] at night attacked and killed many of the armed guards,
and got away unharmed). In the morning [the Iranians] took the
arrested fugitive Armenians to camp. Some they put to the sword,
many others they trampled under elephants. The remainder of the
fugitives were dispersed to one or another place in the land of
Armenia.
Those who were worthy of the blessed,
heavenly summons and were martyred there with the holy Vardan
were as follows:
[131] from the Xorxorhunik' azg,
the blessed Xoren,
from the Palunik' azg, the blessed
sepuh Artak,
from the Gndunik' azg, the blessed
Tachat,
from the Dimak'sean azg, the
blessed Hmayeak,
from the K'ajberunik' azg, the
blessed Nerseh,
from the Gnunik' azg, the blessed
Vahan,
from the Encaynik' azg, the blessed
Arsen,
and from the Sruanjteayk' azg,
the blessed Garegin.
As we discovered through much investigation
and inquiry, the number of those martyred with the senior naxarars
at the site [g72] of the battle was 276. Those who had been brought
down from strongholds and killed with the sword or trampelled
by elephants added up to 750 men. Thus 1036 men died. Christ the
requiter keeps all of these names written in the Book of Life.
As for the Iranian casualties, the figure 3,544 was related to
us as accurate by people who had learned it from the Iranian military
commanders.
40. When the battle had come to this
conclusion, and humane God had called his dear ones to him, Mushkan
Niwsalawurt sent a hrovartak to Yazkert, king of the Aryans,
informing him of the outcome of the war, the glad tidings of victory,
and an accounting by name of those [prominent] people who had
fallen in battle on both sides. ''When king Yazkert heard [132]
about the deaths of good men from the Iranian brigade, and about
the death of Vardan, he fell into an awesome mourning remembering
the man's bravery and goodness which he had demonstrated many
times defending the Aryan world against enemies. [Yazkert] ordered
that as a reply to the hrovartak Mushkan Niwsalawurt together
with the brigade should be summoned to court. He ordered that
a certain man named Atrormizd, from the land of Armenia, be left
there as marzpan. He urged him by hrovartak not
to agitate the Armenian people but rather to subdue them with
affection, and to permit everyone to practise Christianity freely.
When Mushkan saw the hrovartak of king Yazkert and heard
its contents, he established Atrormizd Arsakan as marzpan
in Armenia, and entrusted him with implementing everything written
in the king's hrovartak. Mushkan and the nobility and the
entire brigade returned to the country of Iran. Atrormizd, the
marzpan of Armenia, who remained there sent many letters
of peace to the different places of the land of Armenia, saying:
"Come and build courageously, and fear nothing". He
wrote and sealed this good news granting all of them whatever
form of Christianity they wanted [yors grer ew knk'er awetawor
bans, shnorhel amenec'un zkarg k'ristoneut'ean, orpes ew kamic'i
est iwrak'anch'iwr kamac']. At this news, all the people of
Iran and Siwnik' assembled joyfully [Ork' i hambawn` xndut'eamb
i Parsic' ew i Siwneac' zhoghovec'an amenak'ean].
[133] 41. This was in addition to those
who had assembled near the venerable Hmayeak in the strongholds
of Tayk', where the latter organized a brigade from the select
multitude of Iran and Siwnik' [Sa ew i veray zhoghoveloc'n
arh eranelin Hmayeak yamursn Tayoc'` gun kazmer ayrentir bazmut'eamb
i Parsic' ew i Siwneac']. He divided the brigade into two
parts, appointing Arten Gabeghean and Varazshapuh Paluni as their
military commanders. For a multitude of the fugitive Armenians--naxarars
and sepuhs, ostaniks and rhamiks--had headed
for the country of Tayk' and had assembled near Hmayeak, brother
of the blessed general Vardan. Hmayeak had been delayed in the
land of Byzantium, requesting troops from the emperor, as was
mentioned earlier. Those travelling [g73] with him went before
the emperor Theodosius [II, 408-450]. [The emperor] heard the
reason for their arrival, and then listened to it again from them,
affectionately. He agreed to aid them with a brigade. But while
this holy man was preparing to fulfill his promise, his end overtook
him and he passed from this life. He was succeeded by Marcian
[450-457], who, when informed about what was needed for matters
in Armenia asked the seniors at court: "What reply do you
think we should give to the men who have come to us from Armenia"?
[Two individuals], Anatolis (who was then the sparapet
of Antioch) and a certain P'ghorent (a man of Syrian nationality
who was chief of the emperor's court) [134] replied, saying: "It
is not agreeable to us to scorn the covenant and stability which
has for a long time existed among previous kings, a covenant both
written and sealed, and to aggrevate a peaceful situation with
warfare, and to remove a land from the service of its king. Furthermore,
we nust think about what might happen, something no one knows
for sure. Would such a [proposed] war be resolved easily or with
extreme confusion?" With these words, they changed the emperor's
mind, and the hopes of the Armenians [which the delegation] was
concerned with and [the reason that it remained there, were injured
and not realized [Ew zays ayspes asac'eal` kasec'uc'in zmits
t'agaworin, ew vnasec'aw aknkalut'iwn Hayoc', orum ush edeal mnayin,
ew och' patahec'aw]. While the matter of the [Byzantine] response
was being delayed thus, the war between the Armenians and the
Iranians had begun.
When the Armenian tanuters and
naxarars who had gone to the land of Byzantium saw that
they had not been able to accomplish anything that they had been
working for, they returned and made haste so that perhaps they
would not lose out in the hope of salvation, but be found worthy
to drink the cup of martyrdon with their comrades. But they did
not [135] arrive in time for the battle. For the moment they found
an extremely secure place and stayed there, by the mountain called
Parxar, close to the borders of Xaghteac', to prepare as they
could for what would happen next. At the break of dawn, prepared,
armed [Iranians] informed [about the Armenians' whereabouts ]
through guides, fell upon Hmayeak Mamikonean and his companions
in the village named Orjnahagh in the district of Tayk'. At the
time they were coming down from the strongholds of Parxar mountain.
[Iraniansj with the speed of fugitives caught up with each one's
horse. Iranian troops struck at some unarmed and some armed. Turning
about [the Iranians] made them flee. Many were killed there in
the town, others, in the vineyard [Omank' merkandamk' ew omank'
zinealk' harkanein i zorac'n Parsic'. ew darjuc'eal end krunkn`
anden p'axstakans arhnein yoroc' zbazums anden i shinamijin ew
zayls i mej aygestanoyn yerkir korcanein]. It was there that
the.blessed sepuh Hmayeak received the crown of perfection,
which he had greatly longed and sought for. His request to follow
after his holy brother was quickly heard. For God heard the man's
request and granted it, and crowned him a saint.
Now when the oath-keepers who had gathered
by the holy Hmayeak saw what had happened, they were overcome
with great [g74] mourning, having no hope of consolation. For
each man saw [136] before him the verdict of an evil death and
ruin, as though carried out. Terrified, they returned back up
the Parxar mountain, considering it an expedient of sorts against
the wicked despair that resulted from the great and terrible mourning
[? zarhurealk' anden i ver i learhn darhnayin i Parxar, hayt'ayt'ans
imn arh ch'ari ew sug patcharhanac' meci ew ahawor haseloy trtmut'ean
hashuein]. When Atrormizd, the marzpan of Armenia,
heard that so many fine men from the brigade of Iranians and Siwnec'ik'
had been lost, although he was upset by great sadness, nonetheless,
when he heard about the deaths of blessed Vardan and Hmayeak,
he was greatly comforted, knowing that the brave generals had
been finally eliminated.
42. [The Iranians] then took counsel
to devise a means of hunting the fugitives without using Aryans
to fight, to hold them as they wanted, and to put the land of
Armenia into tribute-paying status. They decided that they could
sway the minds of the folk, without warfare, oniy by false oaths
and worthless promises. The marzpan Atrormizd sent [to
the rebels] in the name of king Yazkert and falsely swore that
none of them would be killed and that no one's terut'iwn or
patiw would be removed. Thus did he deceitfully subdue
them. He seized them all and sent the following men to the [137]
court of king Yazkert:
the great prince of Arcrunik', Nersapuh,
the prince of the tun of Amatunik',
the prince of the tun of Vanand,
the prince of the tun of Arsharunik',
Arshawir,
the prince of the tun of Anjewac'ik',
Shmawon,
the prince of the tun of Amatunik',
Vahan,
the prince of the Gnt'unik',
the prince of Ashoc'k',
the prince of the Arhawegheank', P'ap
'ak,
the prince of Tashir, Vren,
the prince of Arcunik', Aprusam,
and other tanuters and senior
sepuhs.
Vasak, the duplicitous prince of Siwnik'
also wanted to go to court, but he sent the others before he went.
The following were among the blessed
priests of Armenia who had been seized earlier and placed in different
secure fortresses in Siwnik':
the holy priest Yovsep' who then occupied
the throne of the kat'oghikosate
lord Ghewond,
lord Samuel and lord Abraham, the priests
of Arac
[138] Also among those seized and taken
were:
the blessed bishop of Erhshtunik', lord
Sahak,
the court priest of Nershapuh, prince
of Arcrunik', lord Mushe,
the holy priest Arshen
and the blessed deacon K'ajaj.
Because of a grudge of the prince of
Siwnik', the blessed bishop of Basen, lord T'at'ik had earlier
been given to the Iranian military commanders to be taken to Xuzhastan,
and he was kept there in harsh fetters. [Vasak] also sent [to
court] the boys whom he had seized from tohms of the Mamikoneans,
[g75] Kamsarakans, and other princes of Armenia. [Vasak] thought
to render a very great service to king Yazkert and to the entire
Aryan world, and to receive honor of the realm and gifts [ew
arhnul zpatiw t'agaworut'ean ew zpargews]. But God saw to
it that he was yet more disgraced by his enenies on the day when
Yazkert with all the court nobility ridiculed and dishonored him
thanks to the unseen effect from on High of judicious God acting
upon them.
Thus the duplicitous Vasak sent all
[of the hostages] in advance of himself to the country of Iran,
in the thirteenth [139] year of king Yazkert [III] of Iran [=A.
D. 452]. Then he himself went to the king of Iran with elaborate
preparation and much equippage, thinking to reveal his treacherous
loyalty to the king and nobility of the Aryans, and, in his crazed
perception of things, to receive as payment the very kingdom of
Armenia [ew arhnul varjs est molekan xorheloyn iwroy zt'agaworut'iwn
isk Hayoc']. "Should this not happen", he reasoned,
"in any case I will receive patiw and standing [zpatiw
ew zgahs] without any doubt or dispute". But he did not
ask the lord God, who said through the prophet: "They reigned,
but not through me, and they made an agreement, but not through
my will" [Isaiah 30, 1]. When the treacherous man's hour
approached, he thought he was to receive great honor, but, as
the above-cited just word of God suggested, the mask was pulled
away from his duplicitous plans and all the man's bitter intentions
were completely overturned, just as the poisonous plan of Akitovp'el
[II Kings, 15, 31].
Thus seated on mules, Vasak and the
multitude going with the impious one, set off on the journey,
following the same road that the blessed priests of God were being
taken on. [Vasak's party] approached the champions of Christ.
The latter inquired: "Whose multitude is that"? A
man replied: "The lord [140] of Siwnik's". And they
said: "He is approaching us". The holy ones ceased asking
questions and paid attention to.the road. The blessed Yovsep'
asked that man of God, Ghewond:"I know that that Vasak, in
his lewd shamelessness, is coming to greet us. Think what we ought
to do, command us, and we will do it". The blessed Ghwwond
replied: "Seek not to learn the doctrine of the Savior from
this man. 'Whatever town or village you enter, find out who is
worthy in it, and stay with him until you depart. As you enter
the house, salute it. And if the house is worthy, let your peace
come upon it; but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to
you'" [Matthew 10, 11-13]. As they were ending their questions
to one another, the duplicitous lord of Siwnik', Vasak, approached
them. Informed about them [teghekac'eal i noc'ane`], [Vasak]
quickly dismounted and greeted the holy men. None [g76] [of the
captives] in any way let it appear that they had enmity toward
him, rather, they received him with joyful affection. This was
especially true of the blessed Ghewond who always appeared happy
and joyful, and who now spoke at length with Vasak the prince
of Siwnik', using words of agreeable seriousness. Hearing the
venerable man's sweet and gracious words, [Vasak] who was crazed
by a dew thought that they did not know about the evil
he had done to them. For this reason, comforted even more by the
words of Ghewond, the man of God, [Vasak] travelled with them
for a long time.
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