344 BISTORT OF ARMENIA.
A.D.581. the council and its enacted rules. The year en 30. after this event Moses the pontiff, after go- verning the Armenian church thirty years, became so old and feeble that he was unequal to the duties of his office, and obliged to ap- point a substitute, in the person of a Monk named Vertannes. This arrangement lasted for thirteen years when Moses died.
A.D.594. His successor was Abraham, bishop of the era 43. Rushtuuians, from the village of Albathans, appointed by order of Sumbat the prefect. Abraham became extremely displeased with Curion the pontiff of the Georgians, for ac- cepting the council of Chalcedon. He bad previously written thrice to him to avoid re- ceiving it. Curion in his replies says, I am astonished that you are at variance with all other churches of Christ, which declare that the creed of the council of Chalcedon is precisely the same with that of the three other councils.*' Abraham not believing the council in question to be orthodox, and being unable to persuade Curion against it, held a meeting of bishops in Duin, where they anathematized him and all those who accepted it. Maurice the emperor hearing of this, became angry, and immediately A.D. 597; Ordered an assembly to be held at Constanti- era 46. noplc, to which he invited both Greek and Armenian bishops. Upon this being made
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