XXX PllEFACE.
mencing with St. Gregory the Illuminator and ending
at the period of his own succession. His works have never
been printed, though more than one manuscript copy
is preserved in the library of the Venetian Conventuals.
Mesrop the Priest flourished in the tenth century.
He was a native of the valley of Voyoz in the village
of Holozim. He wrote a narrative of the memoirs of St.
• Nierses the Great, taken from the history of Phostoa
Byzandensis, with an addition of some prayers and visions.
This work was published in Madras in the year 1775»
Haican era 1224. In the beginning of this edition is
annexed a short account of some events that occurred in
Georgia, of the rise and origin of the Orbelians, and
of the invasion of Armenia by the Tartars. The editor
of this work, however, appears to ascribe the additional
narrative to Mesrop; but from the date of the events
it can easily be perceived, that the author must have been
another individual ; for Mesrop lived in the tenth century»
and the narrative in question extends to the twelfth
century. It cannot, however^ be exactly ascertained by
whom the work was written, though some ascribe it
to Stephen the .Orbelian, who lived about the period of
which it treats.
Stephex of Taron flourished at the end of the tenth century. He is known by the surname of Asolik or Asolnik, and was contemporary with St. Gregorius Narekensis. He wrote a complete History of Armenia from the formation of the nation by Haic to the reign of the Bagratian king Gagik the First, and to the pon- tificate of Sarkies, at whose particular desire he com-
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