THE CHURCH OF ARMENIA HISTORIOGRAPHY THEOLOGY ECCLESIOLOGY HISTORY ETHNOGRAPHY By Father Zaven Arzoumanian, PhD Columbia University Publication of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church 2014 Cover painting by Hakob Gasparian 2 During the Pontificate of HIS HOLINESS KAREKIN II Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians By the Order of His Eminence ARCHBISHOP HOVNAN DERDERIAN Primate of the Western Diocese Of the Armenian Church of North America 3 To The Mgrublians And The Arzoumanians With Gratitude This publication sponsored by funds from family and friends on the occasion of the author’s birthday Special thanks to Yeretsgin Joyce Arzoumanian for her valuable assistance 4 To Archpriest Fr. Dr. Zaven Arzoumanian A merited Armenian clergyman Beloved Der Hayr, Your selfless pastoral service has become a beacon in the life of the Armenian Apostolic Church. Blessed are you for your sacrificial spirit and enduring love that you have so willfully offered for the betterment of the faithful community. You have shared the sacred vision of our Church fathers through your masterful and captivating writings. Your newest book titled “The Church of Armenia” offers the reader a complete historiographical, theological, ecclesiological, historical and ethnographical overview of the Armenian Apostolic Church. We pray to the Almighty God to grant you a long and a healthy life in order that you may continue to enrich the lives of the flock of Christ with renewed zeal and dedication. Prayerfully, Archbishop Hovnan Derderian Primate March 5, 2014 Burbank 5 PREFACE Specialized and diversified studies are included in this book from historiography to theology, and from ecclesiology to ethno- graphy, most of them little known to the public. Sources from antiquity are explored, such as the earliest reported and verified theological source known as the Seal of Faith by Catholicos Komitas (7 th c.) . Also, the Geography of Ancient Armenia by Anania Shiraka- tsi (7 th c.) , the Book of Canon Law, by Catholicos John of Otsoon (8 th c.), and the Hymns in Five Units of Catholicos St. Nersess the Graceful (12 th c.) are reviewed. The 1600 th anniversary of the invention of the Armenian alphabet by St. Mesrob Mashtots, and the 500 th Anniver- sary of the first printed Armenian books in 1512 by Hagop Megha- bard are included as important milestones in the Armenian litera- ture, crowned with the first printed Armenian Holy Bible by Vosgan Yerevantsi in 1666. The revival of all ancient historiography, one by one, explor- ed by Soviet Armenian scholars in the 20 th century is briefed in this volume from three dozens of such texts and their commentaries by leading historians, such as Catholicos Karekin I Hovsepiants, H. Ma- nandyan, H. Acharyan, Y. Ter Minassian, Bishop Garabed Ter Mkrt- chyan, V. Hakobyan and S. Yeremian. Church architecture focused on the famous Zevartnots Church built by Catholicos Nersess the Builder (7 th c.), and excavated by Toros Toramanian at the dawn of the 20 th c. is part of my studies, as are the 256 catalogued and for- ever lost manuscripts of Armash and Hakstoon. A review on the translation of St. Gregory of Narek’s Book of Lamentation into the vernacular from the rare text of the Classical Armenian, published in 1858, is also included. Julian (old) and Gregorian (new) calendars are treated after the New Calendar was adopted in 1923 by the Armenian Church, directed by the Encyclical of Catholicos Kevork V of All Armenians. The Return from the lengthy Peregrination of the Pontifical Seat of the Catholicos of All Armenians from Cilicia to Holy Etchmiadzin in 1441 is reported, as well as soon after the formation of the Armen- ian Patriarchate of Constantinople by the Ottoman Empire. Both Seminaries, Kevorkian in Holy Etchmiadzin, and Armash near Cons- 6 tantinople, proved providential for the immediate future of the Armenian Church worldwide. As we approach the centennial of the 1915 Genocide of the Armenian people, two studies reflect the Eastern and the Western resistance of Armenia against the Turks. The first under the Soviets during the pontificate of Catholicos of All Armenians Kevork V, and the second under the Ottomans during the pontificate of Catholicos Sahak II of Cilicia. Sahak II exiled from Cilicia, and the final evacua- tion of the remnants doomed on the Catholicos and his flock. I am confident that reading the present book many relevant subjects will arouse the interest of the reader for further studies in the ancient and recent history of the Armenians. The Author 7 TABLE OF CONTENTS HISTORIOGRAPHY PART I Chapter 1 Page 17 1600 th Anniversary of the Invention of the Alphabet The Jubilee – Three Factors – Queen of Translations – Historiography – Preserve the Legacy – What Gift has Armenia to offer? Chapter 2 Page 21 “Armenia According to Ashkharhatsouyts” (Geography) The Volume – Visit to the Matendaran – Content of the Book – The Author of “Ashkharhatsouyts ” – The Large Map Chapter 3 Page 25 500 th Anniversary of Armenian Printed Book (1512-2012) The Jubilee – From Manuscript to Print – Hagop Meghabard’s Initiative – The Legacy of Hagop Meghabard – Khachadour of Guesaria (1590-1646) – From the Mother See Holy Etchmiadzin – Vosgan Yerevantsi in Marseille – In Constantinople Krikor of Marzvan – Mekhitarist Fathers in Venice – Conclusion Chapter 4 Page 35 15 th Century Armenian Manuscript The Manuscript – The Content – Two Important Eulogies – Conclusion Chapter 5 Page 39 Prof. Hrachia Acharyan (1876-1953) The Author – Etymological Dictionary of the Armenian Language – Classification in Groups – The Classical Mesrobian Orthography 8 Chapter 6 Page 43 Revival of Armenian Ancient Historiography (1930-1980) General Review – Publications (1930-1980) – Classical Texts – Source Book Texts – Conclusion Chapter 7 Page 48 “Colophons of Manuscripts” by Catholicos Karekin I Hovsepiants (1951) The Passing of His Holiness – The Preparation of the Volume – The Continuation of the Volume – His Holiness in Jerusalem (1947) – The Content of the Book THEOLOGY Part II Chapter 8 Page 52 “Seal of Faith” – “Knik Havado”-Theological Collection 7 th c. by Catholicos Komitas (615-628) The Manuscript – The Content – Catholicos Komitas and the Council of Persia (614) – The Legacy of Komitas Catholicos Chapter 9 Page 58 Armenian Church Hymns by St. Nersess Catholicos the Graceful (1103-1172) Catholicos Nersess the Graceful – The Creation of the Seven Days of the Week – The Last Days of Jesus’ Life – “Norokogh Tiezerats” – Sts. Vartanank “Norahrash Psakavor ” – Hymn of Sts. Ghevondyank– “Anjarreli Bant Asdevadz ” – The Sunrise, Peace and Rest Services – Peace Service – Rest Service – Hymn for the Departed Chapter 10 Page 67 The Hymn “Daradzyal” of the Crucifixion The Hymn of Crucifixion – The Cross and the Crucified – “Committed his Spirit to the Father” –“His Church Cleansed with Water and His Blood –“The Preaching of the Miracles” 9 Chapter 11 Page 71 The Armenian Church Hymnbook In the Vernacular The Translation – The Translator – The Accuracy of the Translation – Hymns Devoted to the Cross –The Hymns are Original – Hymn of the Pentecost – Task Remaining Chapter 12 Page 76 Notes on the Book of Revelation The Conclusion of the Bible – Who is the Author? – What is the Revelation? – The Armenian Church Chapter 13 Page 79 The Great Lent What is the Great Lent ? – Why Do People Fast? – Medication Needed in Both Cases Chapter 14 Page 83 Pentecost the Advent of the Holy Spirit The Event – Who is the Holy Spirit? – Jesus and the Holy Spirit – Jews from Colonies – Colonies of “Armenia” and “Judaea” ECCLESIOLOGY Part III Chapter 15 Page 88 The Formation of the Armenian Church In the 5 th Century Introduction – Armenian Alphabet – Translation of the Bible – Resistance and Defense – Patristic Literature Chapter 16 Page 95 “Book of Canon Law of Armenia” Compiled By Catholicos John of Otsoon (717-728) The Text – Catholicos John III of Otsoon – The Content – Two Volumes Final Edition by Vasken Hakobyan – Volume I (1964) – Volume II (1971) – The Armenian Church Councils – General Agenda of the Church Councils 10 Chapter 17 Page 103 Holy Easter 2013 March 31 (New Calendar), May 5 (Old Calendar) Two Calendars – The Problem – The Calculation – The Armenian Church Chapter 18 Page 106 Grouping of the Feasts In the Armenian Church Introduction – Groupings – Dominical Feasts – Saints Days – Fasting Days - Summary Chapter 19 Page 110 Bishop Grigoris Balakian, St. Tarkmanchats Cathedral, the “Armenian Golgotha” Graduate of Armash Seminary – His Legacy – Holy Translator Cathedral in Marseille – The Passing of Bishop Balakian – The “Armenian Golgotha” Chapter 20 Page 116 Negotiations Between The North American Diocese and the Prelacy (1970-1990) Formation of Committees – The Meetings – The “Guidelines” – Bylaws for the “United” Diocese – Centennial of the Armenian Diocese (1898-1998) Chapter 21 Page 122 “Free Church” in Armenia, Notorious Aberration (1924-1930) Destructive Movement – “Living Church” Mother of Evil – The Purpose of the Movement – Resolute Decree of Etchmiadzin – The Defrocked – The Outcome: State Violence 11 HISTORY Part IV Chapter 22 Page 128 “Narek Book of Lamentation” In Modern Armenian, Ten Centennial (951-1951) The Centennial – The Translation of “Narek” – The Content – The Translators – The Old Edition of 1858 – Additional Articles Chapter 23 Page 133 St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral of Zevartnots and Catholicos Nersess III the Builder (641-661) The Special Publication – Historic Evidences – S. Mnatsakanian’s Evaluation – Catholicos