FR£FACE. XXV
bat I shall, in imitation of the learned Father Michael Chamichy only mention here the names of those from whose works the present volume is compiled. In doing this, I shall observe the order of the age in which they flourished in Armenia*
Agathangklus, secretary to king Tiridates, flourished in the beginning of the fourth century. He wrote the Memoirs of Tiridates and St. Gregory the Illuminator, at the particular desire of the king. But. it cannot be ascertained in what language the historian wrote his work. Some, however, assert that the history was written in the Armenian language with Greek characters; while others are of opinion that it was written in Greek and translated from it into Armenian. The latter is more probable, as a complete history of Agathangelus, written in the Greek language, exists to this day. This valuable work was published in Constantinople in the year 1709, or the Haican era 1 158.
Zekobius, a Syrian bishop, and one of the scholars of ^t. Gregory the Illuminator, flourished in the beginning of the fourth century. He was called by the surname of Gilak, and appointed by St. Gregory prior of the convent of Innaknian in Taron. From his surname the convent subsequently took the appellation of Gilak. At the particular desire of St. Gregory, Zenobius wrote a narrative of the events of his own time, giving an account of St. Gregory's visit to Cesarea, his ordination as a bishop by Levondius the metropolitan of that place, and the wars of king Tiridates on the frontiers of Taron, ice. This work was originally published in Gonstanti*
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