^hioh had fallen into deoay. He entirely rebuilt the church of St. Ripsima, and while prosecuting this work, discovered the urn of the saint sealed with the cross-engraven signet of St. Gregory. St. Isaac, having affixed his own seal on the urn, near that of St. Gregory, put it in its original place. At this time St. Mesrop became famous for sanctity and wisdom. He was the sen of a pious man named Vardan, of the village of Haze- ^cas in the province of Taron, and having become well versed in Greek literature, as well as in •the arts and sciences, attached himself to St. Nierses. After the death of this glorious defender ^f the faith, Mesrop retired to a solitary place, -and led a life of holy contemplation.
He was induced to leave this solitude by a.d.396. hearing the fame of St. Isaac, whom he visited, ^and from whom he received the dignity of a doctor of divinity. With the sanction of the pontiff, he taught and preached in all parts of the kingdom. In conjunction with St. Isaac, a. d. 401. he endeavoured to form the Armenian alphabet, for till this period, the Armenians were ac- t^ustomed to use the characters of other nations in Aeir writings. Having fouad their exertions unavailing, they sought to gain, by prayer from God, what they conceited human ingenuity, unasttsted by him, unequal to supply. St. Mes- a. d. 40d. rop, about this time, with a few disciples, went to
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