desolated Duin. He caused the corpses of the murdered citizens to be buried, and began to repair the public edifices which had not been entirely destroyed. He rebuilt the tomb of St. Sarkies, which had been burnt by the Sara- cens, and constructed another over the Khor Virap or deep dungeon.
This pontiff built the large church of St.
Qregory in Valarshapat, and, at the tiftie of
laying the foundation of this edifice, he placed
the relics of the blessed saint under the four
pillars, persuaded by this that it would for
ever remain secure from the devastations of
future conquerors. The head of St. Gregory
was» however, put in a rich urn, and deposited
near the altar, for the comfort of the devout and
cure of the diseased. It was afterwards removed
by certain nuns to Neapolis. Nierses, after this,
built a number of churches and other public
edifices, among which was the church of the
Virgin Mary in Valarshakert. In consequence
of these works, he was henceforth called the
Architect.
Constantine, the grandson of Heraclius, hav- ^^^^ ing succeeded to the imperial throne, Nierses «"^*' the pontiff prevailed upon him to appoint Varaztiroz, of whom we before gave a few par* ticulars, to the government of Armenia ; that individual being then resident at Constantino-
3a
�� �
