Page:The History of Armenia - Avdall - Volume 1.djvu/422

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course sackcloth. On festivals he would carry this bodily discipline to such an excess, that people who beheld him were amazed. His fam^ having reached the ears df Omar the caliph, he was invited by that monarch to visit him, and met with a most respectful and honourable reception. On his elevation to the pontifi- cate, he devoted himself assiduously to restore tranquillity in the spiritual affairs of the Ar- menians, among whom many confusions and perplexities had started up, occasioned by three several reasons : first, the people were agitated and alarmed by the statements of two most wicked sects, which had recently sprung into existence, and were denominated Paulicians and Fanatics : secondly^ much confusion arose from the irregular lives many of the clergy and laity led: thirdly, the nation was unde- cided as to the performance of the religious ceremonies; some desiring to conform to the custom of the Greeks, who administered the Lord's Supper with leavened bread and wine mixed with water ; who also omitted the word and asserted that the birth of Christ should be celebrated by a distinct feast; with many other irregularities. Johannes the philosopher A.p.nsi wishing to apply a wholesome redress to these «» ^^^ evils, assembled a large meeting in the city
 * crucified'' in the anthem " The holy God, S^c.**

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