The Life of Mashtots

is corrupted without any doubt and appears to be in need of correction. "From whom some were found worthy to rise to the order of the bishopric; the first of whom was named Samuel," and so forth 22.

There was no need to have sharp eyes to see that the source text here is corrupted. And Noryar's reflection should have been enough to open even blind eyes. Koriwn narrates here that Mashtots gave an alphabet to the Georgians, opened schools, gathered students, and made them literate; some of these Georgian students developed to such a degree that they later reached the bishopric, as, for instance, Samuel. And because Samuel was appointed bishop of Tsurtav, the princely city of Tashirk, where there was both a Georgian-speaking and an Armenian-speaking population, we can assume that in those schools both the Georgian and Armenian languages were taught, at least in those provinces where both peoples lived together. Koriwn, as an associate and companion, was undoubtedly among Mashtots's followers, an eyewitness to all those events that took place in Georgia.

4. When did Koriwn write the Life of Mashtots?

Fr. H. Gatrchyan 23 was the first to occupy himself with this question and arrived at the conclusion that "the time of this writing falls with certainty between 445—450." Fr. H. Torosyan was initially inclined to place the time between the years 447—449, but later inclined toward the years 442—445 24. Noryar Byuzandatsi 25 considers it "about the year 443—444." S. Fntglian 26 wavers between "before 446—447" and "443—445" 27" years. M. Abeghyan says "it was composed between the years 443—451" 28; while elsewhere 29 he writes: "Even if Koriwn had started his work earlier, he finished it no earlier than the year 443." P. Vetter 30 states: "The time of the composition of this writing should be set to the years 445—451." S. M. Garagashean 31: "Koriwn wrote his History after the War of Vardanants, because he knows of the persecution of the priests in Ctesiphon and the death of Vahan Amatuni," or "Koriwn, who wrote his little book if not after, then at least not many years before the War of Vardanants 32." N. Adonts 33 writes: "Because Koriwn does not mention the movements of the 5th century, it is likely that he died before the Council of Artashat, in the 12th year of Yazkert (439—450). From this it is established that he must have written the life of Mashtots during the decade 440—450." However, one cannot overlook,

22 For other attempts at correction see here: Note 55.
23 Handes Amsorya, 1887, p. 10.
24 Bazmavep 1897, p. 465 and 1931, p. 465.
25 Koriwn Vardapet, p. 7.
26 Fntglian, Koriwn, p. XXXVI.
27 Ibid., p. XXXVIII.
28 History of Ancient Armenian Literature, I, Yerevan 1944, p. 150.
29 Abeghyan, Koriwn, p. 8.
30 Armenian Studies, p. 80.
31 History of Armenia, D., p. 26.
32 Ibid., p. 67.
33 Mashtots and his Students, pp. 51—56.