Page:The History of Armenia - Avdall - Volume 1.djvu/325

 282 QI8T0RT OF ARMENIA.

Let US now observe the changes that had taken place in the pontificate.

A. D. 457. Melitey, the pontiS; in the fifth year of his spiritual sway, and before the release of the chiefs confined in Persia, died, and was suc- ceeded by Moses the First. The latter eiyoyed his dignity eight years, and then followed his predecessor.

A. D. 465. The successor of Moses was Geut, a disciple of St. Isaac and St. Mesrop, from the village of Arahez, in the province of the Taics. He was a pious man» and eminent for wisdom and know- ledge of the sciences. He was a great proficient in Greek literature, and, upon the whole, a great ornament to the pontificate. Although at his election he was nearly seventy years old, he set about correcting the disorders which had crept among his people, with admirable zeal and ar- dour. He was also not sparing of admonition and reproof to the profligate, where he had an opportunity of noting their vices. This created him enemies, and one of them, Gadishew the Corcorunian, carried a complaint against him to

A. D. 47X ^g j^jjjg ^f Persia. Phiroz hereupon sent for

Geut, and having examined the deeds which had distinguished his pontificate, found nothing worthy of reprehension. He, however, tempted the pontifiPto embrace the Persian religion, and on his expressing his indignation at the propoaal*

�� �