Page:The History of Armenia - Avdall - Volume 1.djvu/220

 he should, consequently, be visited with the emperor's vengeance, in a fit of violent rage, caused Husik to be seized and scourged so severely that he expired under the punishment. His pontificate lausted six years. His remains were interred near those of his father in the village of Thordan.

In the room of the blessed Saint, whose cruel death had left vacant the pontifical chair, the Armenians appointed an old man named Daniel, a Syrian, and disciple of St. Gregory, by whom he had been consecrated priest. His sway lasted but a very short time, for having thought proper to admonish the king on the unjust death of Husik, he was ordered to be strangled. This being done, the body of the unfortunate Daniel was taken to the convent to which he had formerly belonged, called the Garden of Hazies, and there buried. The Armenians then wished to appoint a descendant of the Illuminator to the important ofiice of pontiff : none, however, of that family was found fit for the station. Husik had indeed left two sons. Pap and Athanagheney, but both were addicted to vicious habits. So great, however, was the veneration of the people for the memory of St. Gregory, that they hoped for a change in the conduct of his two unworthy descendants, and therefore for some time kept the pontificate vacant. Having, as a probationary

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