��CHAPTER XX.
The period between the governments of Mahomed and Hasan, and between the pontificates of David the First and Isaiah.
Mahomed succeeded Vilth in the government a. d.;2;. of Armenia, during the lifetime of Johannes era i76. the philosopher. He was a great man, but his froops were addicted to every kind of dis- order and crime. On the pontifical chair be- A.p.7».
^ Haican
coming vacant by the death of Johannes, David «• i'^. the First, from the village of Aramons in the province of Cotais, was appointed to fill it.
About this period flourished Stephen the Second, from the province of the Seunies. He was early distinguished for genius, and having studied for a considerable period at Constanti^* nople in the time of St. Germannus, he translated into Armenian the works of several holy fathers, viz. Dionysius the Areopagite, Gregory of Nyssa, and others. He subsequently repaired to Rome> where he much increased his stock of know-- ledge. Thence returning to Constantinople, he was favoured by a letter of sound doctrine from
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