Page:The History of Armenia - Avdall - Volume 1.djvu/262

 with the bishops, and other dignitaries of the church, where a solenxn covenant was made, that every one would henceforward lead a life of one of the first who disregarded the observance of it ; he gave himself up to the guidance of his passions, and vice of the worst description in a short time became his reigning principle. Nier- ses beheld the gradual change in the king's habits with the deepest pain, and endeavoured by every gentle means to lead his royal pupil back to the paths of virtue. The mild admoni- tions of the blessed saint failing to produce the effect he looked for, he assumed a higher tone of reprehension, which was so displeasing to the king, that he caused the pontiff to be secretly put to death by poison, which was effected in the village of Khakh, in the province of Ekeliaz^ Thus, say the ancient records, was this most brilliant light of the church extinguished, after illuminating the pontifical throne for a period of twenty, or according to others, thirty-four years. Just before his deaths the precious saint foretold many important events. He declared that after the lapse of fifty years, the pontificate should never more be possessed by the posterity of St. Gregory, and that, in aftertime, the kingdom should be troubled by the incursions of the tribes of Archers, &c. It is related, that, on this

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