Page:The History of Armenia - Avdall - Volume 1.djvu/210

Rh blameable. One of the Armenian chiefs called Archelaus, styled prince of the fourth Armenia, having been admonished by Aristakes for the dislike he bore him, the former was so much incensed, that waylaying the pontiff while going on a visit to the province of Zophs, he killed him. His body was conveyed to the province of Ekeliaz and buried in the village of Thil. This pontiff presided over Armenia for seven years.

Vertannes, his eldest brother, succeeded him. He was a man of uncommon piety, wisdom, and zeal, and ever on the watch to improve the state of his church. Desiring to bring into use amongst the Armenian churches, the ceremonies of the church of Jerusalem, Vertannes sent to Macarius, the patriarch of that city for infomation thereupon. The latter, having held a synod, furnished him with eight canons, embracing the whole of the sacraments in use with the believers in that patriarchate. At this period St. Jacob, the patriarch of Nisibis, the cousin of St. Gregory, and son of Khosrovedught the sister of Anak, being much famed for his wisdom and sanctity, St. Vertannes wrote to him for information on prayers of faith and other subjects. The former, on this account, composed for him eighteen treatises, which contain most excellent doctrine. Saint Vertan-