288 HI8TORT OF ARMENIA.
Mesopotamia, and theDce so Samosata ; and at this latter place» in time of prayeir, as it is related, received from the Almighty the object of his incessant supplications. Having arisen from his knees, he at thatplace and moment invented all our characters in exquisite perfection, and forth- with began to trantdate the book of Proverbs from the Greek, as a test of the character, in which he was assisted by two of his pupils, Johan of £keliaz and Josephof Palin. This invention of the Armenian letters took place in A. D.406, in the seventeenth year of the pontificate of St. Isaac,
A. D. 407. ^^^ fifteenth of the reign of Viramshapuh. St. Mesrop> with his invention, came joyfully to Armenia, and the king and pontifi" went to meet him, bringing him to the capital with songs of praise and gl^ry to the Bestower
A.D. 408. of all good. From this period the Armenian characters were introduced into all the schools in the kingdom, and youth were taught their language by them^ Armenian literature soon attained a respectable height, and the Per- sian division of the kingdom became cele^*- brated for knowledge of every description. St. Mesrop, after .this> invented distinct characters for the Greorgians and Aluans, according to the different nature of their languges. Viramshapuh directed all these things to beinserted in the royal archives, bearing the testimony of the whole
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