with a permanent result, till we come to the first Uniates (roughly since the 13th century).[1] We must remember above all that the Armenian people kept the Christian faith, although in a schismatical Church, during all the centuries of their oppression by Moslems.
But a word must be said about the schisms among themselves which have left a result till now. The Katholikos-Patriarch still had no fixed residence (p. 403). He wandered about with the court as the capital changed. We saw him at Ani (p. 410). The Moslems ruined that city in the 10th century. There were then various Armenian princes who kept by force of arms their independence (p. 387). One of these was the prince (or king) of Van, who had made himself a small kingdom around Lake Van. The Katholikos Hovhannes (John) V (899-931) came to his court and established himself on an island in the lake called Aghthamar. Here were a church and monastery where Hovhannes and three successors resided. Then came the usual schism. Ananias (943-967) left Aghthamar and went and placed himself under the protection of another small king of Ani. He lived near Ani at Arkina. His successor, Vahan I (967-969), was supposed to have Chalcedonian tendencies; so the bishops of Van deposed him and set up Stephen III (969-971) at Aghthamar. Each king (of Van and Ani) supported his own candidate. Eventually union was restored under Katshik I (971-992). When the kingdom of Cilician Armenia was founded (p. 388) the Katholikos went to reside at its capital Sis. Fifteen Patriarchs lived here, from 1294 to 1441. During this time reunion with Rome was brought about. We have seen that the kings of Cilician Armenia were exceedingly friendly with the Crusaders and submitted to strong Latin influence (p. 389). They, the Patriarchs and clergy, after some negotiations, came back to the communion of the Catholic Church.[2] For a time the Armenian Church officially was Uniate. The fact is symbolized by the crowning of King Leo II by the
- ↑ Of whom in our next volume.
- ↑ This will be described in detail in our next volume.
Gregorian Church (Armenian Liturgy, by two priests, Cope and Fenwick, 1908, p. ix). But the constant teaching of their Church and of their chief theologians is that only the first three general councils are really authentic (e.g. Ormanian: op. cit. 78).
