Page:The History of Armenia - Avdall - Volume 1.djvu/405

 364 HISTORY OF ARMENIA.

pontiff to Duin, and the next day having heard mass in the church, he ordered the council of Chalcedon to be read before all present. The Armenians having again consented to accept the council, all then partook of the holy com- munion. The emperor then, leaving in Armenia a quantity of troops, with Greek generals and priests, returned to Constantinople. On his departure, the Greeks being differently circum- stanced to the Armenians with regard to fasts and other religious observances, endeavoured to make them conform to their customs. Some of the Armenians complied, and were much honoured on account of it by the Greeks, but most of the people looked upon these latter with contempt, and would not allow them to partake of the communion in their churches. The Greeks hereupon complained to the em- peror, who wrote a threatening letter to the Armenians, directing them immediately to re- frain from the odious distinction which they made between the Christians of the two nations. This letter was brought by David a philo- sopher, and an Armenian by birth, from the province of Bagrevand. On the receipt of it, A. D. 648. the Armenians assembled iii the city of Duin, en 97. and wrote a reply to the emperor, entreatmg him to allow them to continue in the doctrines which they had received from St. Gregory, and

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