Page:The History of Armenia - Avdall - Volume 1.djvu/402

 desolated Duin. He caused the corpses of the murdered citizens to be buried, and began to repair the public edifices which had not been entirely destroyed. He rebuilt the tomb of St. Sarkies, which had been burnt by the Sara- cens, and constructed another over the Khor Virap or deep dungeon.

This pontiff built the large church of St.

Qregory in Valarshapat, and, at the tiftie of

laying the foundation of this edifice, he placed

the relics of the blessed saint under the four

pillars, persuaded by this that it would for

ever remain secure from the devastations of

future conquerors. The head of St. Gregory

was» however, put in a rich urn, and deposited

near the altar, for the comfort of the devout and

cure of the diseased. It was afterwards removed

by certain nuns to Neapolis. Nierses, after this,

built a number of churches and other public

edifices, among which was the church of the

Virgin Mary in Valarshakert. In consequence

of these works, he was henceforth called the

Architect.

Constantine, the grandson of Heraclius, hav- ^^^^ ing succeeded to the imperial throne, Nierses «"^*' the pontiff prevailed upon him to appoint Varaztiroz, of whom we before gave a few par* ticulars, to the government of Armenia ; that individual being then resident at Constantino-

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