Page:The History of Armenia - Avdall - Volume 1.djvu/300

 some mention before. At the end of six years Joseph was consecrated a bishop, when he was enabled to discharge fully the duties incumbent on a pontiff. Shortly after this, he held a meeting in Shahapivan, A. D. 447, when he es* tablished twenty canons, with suitable penalties attached to the breach of them, for the better administration of the spiritual affairs of the people.*

About this time Hazkert the Second ascended the throne of Persia, and meditated the convert sion of the Armenians, Aluans, and Georgians, to the worship of fire, to which he was much instigated by the suggestions of his vizier Mihr* nerseh. While the king was revolving his projects in his bosom, Varazvalan, the son-in- law of Vasak the Seunian, with whom he had quarrelled, left Armenia and came into Persia. When he was informed of the king's desire, he immediately abjured his faith, and embraced the religion of the Persians, expecting to obtain, through his apostacy, great power and influence* He waited on the vizier Mihrnerseh, and urged a. d. at. the instant commencement of the attempt to convert his countrymen. Mihrnerseh, inflamed by his words, proceeded to the king, and irri- tated the mind of the monarch still more with a desire to accomplish his designs. Hazkert then,


 * See Hist. Book III, c. 2.

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