The Life of Mashtots

he busied himself with correcting the Armenian translation of the Bible by comparing it to the newly brought stable copy.

Koriwn here casts a general glance at Mashtots’s social activity and inner life. Behind him, Mashtots had 40 years of vigorous activity. Both Sahak and Mashtots were at an advanced age. Like fruitful trees, they had produced abundant and ripe fruit.

Sahak passed away on September 7, 439. His death greatly affected Mashtots. Although he carried on administrative duties with all vigor, his delicate heart did not hold up for more than 6 months; on February 17, 440, the Great Vardapet Teacher also sealed his mortal life. Koriwn, as an eyewitness, described in detail his Teacher’s final hours and funeral, as well as the ceremony of the translation of the relics about 3 months after his death.

He concludes his History by mentioning the election of Hovsep as the bishop of the "chief assembly" of bishops and priests, and of Hovhan as the "overseer." He mentions the trials the latter suffered in Ctesiphon and his safe return (440/41). Finally, he considered it important to dedicate a few lines to the memory of Vramshapuh, who, along with Sahak and Mashtots, had earned his credit for the inception of Armenian literature.

The final word aims to reassure readers of his truthfulness, while simultaneously justifying his brevity. A chronological table follows, where he marks the time of the main milestones of Mashtots’s life by the years of the reign of the Sasanian kings.

6. The characterization. After Mashtots’s death, when the desire was expressed in the assembly of students that the Teacher’s memory be immortalized with a written memorial, everyone’s attention turned to Koriwn as the only one capable of that work; and Hovsep, the head of the assembly, officially commissioned Koriwn to write the Life of the Blessed one. Why was Koriwn taken into consideration and not another of the elder or younger students, e.g., Eznik or Ghevond? Undoubtedly, a superiority shone upon him that perhaps others lacked. Koriwn had been not merely a student of the Departed, but an eyewitness to his figure, an attendant to his spiritual works, a listener to his grace-filled teachings, and his inseparable satellite; he had enjoyed the Teacher’s love and had been deemed worthy of his trust; therefore, he was the most familiar with the folds of his Life and inner life. He had been sent to Constantinople on a major mission, and without doubt, he had also been a companion to the Teacher on various occasions, thus having experience and training in external conduct. It appears that he was also valued by his fellow students for his flowery style and rhetorical ability. On the other hand, as an attendant to the Teacher’s ecclesiastical works, he had been a communicant and participant in his strict trainings, and had blossomed as a virtuous, soul-filled, and spirit-bearing person. Koriwn had proven faithful to his Teacher until the last breath of his life, as can be inferred from that detailed description of his final hours...