Page:The History of Armenia - Avdall - Volume 1.djvu/353

 9.10 HISTORY OF ARHEVIA*

Persians. This being perceived by the two chiefs abovementipned» they hastened to his

rescue, and fighting valiantly, opened a way through the enemy. On their pushing forward with the pontiff, they were unhappily killed, and Johan the Mandakunian himself received a severe wound, which bringing him off his horse, he lay among the slain, to all appearance dead. By the providence of God, however, the blessed pontiff a short time afterward, having recovered himself, found his way to the city, and by his presence there created as much joy at his escape as astonishment at the manner in which he had effected it. The Persian general Hazaravukht» irritated beyond measure at the unexpected escape of the Armenian chiefs, immediately set out in pursuit of Vahan, guided by the apostate Gudihon the Seunian. Vahan, in the meantime, with his adherents, took refuge in the fortress of Varairvar, in the province of Shalagom, which was situated in the part of Armenia belonging to the Greeks. Hazaravukht nevertheless con- tinued his pursuit, and by forced marches quickly arrived at Varaivar, but nothing could exceed his vexation and surprise when he learned that the Vahanians had just left that place. Not being able to contain his resentment, he wreak- ed his fury on the. innocent and defenceless inhabitants. He, however, found there the wives

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