Page:The History of Armenia - Avdall - Volume 1.djvu/324

 other in the practice of every christian virtue, cmd became eminent for the piety their conduct erinced. Their hearts, however, were oppressed, when, on looking around, they observed many of the other chiefs^ with the view of courting the fa- Tour of the Persians, openly worshipping the sun, and erecting temples for the adoration of fire. A circumstance which had a powerful ten- dency to extend the evii was, the power which some of these unworthy chiefs attained by their apostacy. Other individuals, seeing the advantages to be obtained by embracing the Persian religion, followed the example set them by those whom we have noticed.

They, however, suffered in other respects : for in renouncing their religious faith, it appeared by their actions as if they had renounced every virtue that distinguishes one man above another ; they became so base and cowardly, that king Pfairos often said, '' In my dominions I find the Armenians more worthless than the Syrians."

While the Armenians were in this condition, the Huns made incursions into the regions about Arzakh, where they committed dreadful cruel- ties, on account of religion. They martyred Atbanas, the pupil of St. Isaac, and a lady of the name of Regina, but miracles having followed their deaths, many of the Huns were converted, and afterwards suffered martyrdom.*


 * SeeHi8t. Booklll, c. 18.

�� �