Page:The History of Armenia - Avdall - Volume 1.djvu/366

 lire same course, and adverted to others who had again returned to the bosom of the Church, after having been led away by the weakness of their minds. At the conclusion of his ad- dress, great weepiug arose in the church; some weeping for joy, and others from repentance for their apostacy. Having ail saluted Vahan, they separated, and he retired to his palace. He forthwith, with the concurence of the Per- sian monarch, appointed his brother Yard, a Tobust and valiant youth, to succeed him as general of the Armenians. He then set out on a tour to all the provinces, reforming abuses ^s he proceeded. Wherever he found fire- temples he razed them to the ground, smd built churches in their room. From this period all began to exercise publicly the rites and 'duties of the Christian religion. Vahan, assisted by Johan the pontiff, repaired all the convents which had fallen into decay, and built many others. Over each he placed a virtuous government, and the whole were confided to •the superintendence of Lazarus Pharpensis, a worthy servant of God.

Johan the Mandakunian, having been in the pontificate six years and a half» was translated to God, leaving behind him, as a memorial of bis labours, a considerable number of prayers and

sermons.

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