The General Epistle

...like the Mosaic staff swallowing the snakes of the schism-loving deceits of those who follow us, and sinking into the abyss the Egyptian-born vanities of those who deny the true-believing, dove-smiled [church] into the pools of error. But for us, who strive in Christ Jesus through the firmness of faith, [it is] the power of God, and an infallible guide to the truth, to the Jerusalem above, to our mother Zion, where Christ entered, into the inner side of the veil.

For many of the same leaders of heresy, in many places, taking the words of this holy Patriarch as a witness, justify themselves in their writings with the sound doctrine of this Blessed Man of God. They appear to offer faith to the orthodoxy, truth of order, and traditions of our light-professing Armenian Church written by him, but they lie completely and are not students of his words. According to the Prophet, they honor [him] only with their lips, while their hearts are far from his spotless confession and his right order.

Thus, they call themselves sons of the Blessed Patriarch, just as the rich man [called] Abraham the father of faith, yet they are found to be completely different from him in the recognition of truth.

Therefore, it is necessary and fitting to consider this light-spreading book, which is bright with orthodox faith, to be printed and delivered to all of you, the light-born Abaghyan lineage likely referring to a family or community, and to the true children of this God-given Patriarch. So that by the power of the Word nourished within this [book], and by the eyes of your faith being illuminated—like the eyes of Moses—you may be able to see the intellectual land of promise from this mountain, now in hope, and in the world to come, truly seeing [it] in the upper region.

For which reason, the Royal David also invites everyone to this, saying: "Taste and see that the Lord is sweet." And I, voicing along with the Prophet, invite all orthodox children to the tasting of this book, granted by the Lord to the holy, light-built, Only-Begotten-Descended Holy [See]...