210 BISTORT OF ARMKNI'A*
issued an order that no Armenian slioidd leam that language. The kihabitants were only per* mitted to use the Persian characters in their writings. We before observed that all: the books in the Armenian language were written in the Greek and Syriac characters, the Arme- nians having no sdphabet of their own. The Syriac was used in religious writings, the Greek in scientific works^ and the Per»an, at this period,, began to be employed in the forms and statutes of law. The Magi, accom- panied by executioners, were distributed amongst the towns and villages of the kingdom,, where they forced the inhabitants to forsake their religion, giving them the only alternative of instant death. The dreadful news of these enormities reaching Constantinople, St Nier- ses, and all the Armenians who were about him^ were plunged into the deepest sorrow : many of the chiefs who had left the country at the commencement of the persecution^ came inta Greece, and were well received by their chris- tian brethren in that country.. The blessed St. Nierses, after praymg fervently for his perse* cuted country, went to Theodosius the emperor, and earnestly besought him to appoint Pap, the son of Arsaces, king of Armenia; and sendhim^ with the remainder of the Armenian hostages i^t Constantii^ple, and a suitable force t»
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