The General Epistle

...of the various Graces of God, according to the holy Apostle Peter, to dispense the good confession profession of faith to one another, to silence the ignorance of foolish men, and to be ready to provide answers to the questions of other Christians regarding our faith and ecclesiastical rites.

Likewise, the most holy Apostle and our first Illuminator, Jude Thaddeus, entreats us in the same matter for our salvation in his epistle, specifically saying: "Beloved, giving all diligence to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you and exhort you to contend for the faith which was once delivered to the saints."

Therefore, Japhethite nations, children of Torgom, and light-born offspring of the Araratian Mother, from now on be wakeful and alert in building yourselves up through this [book], according to our ancient orthodoxy right-worship which was delivered to us by our holy Illuminators: faith in the Only-Begotten Christ, holiness of faith in the Holy Spirit, keeping yourselves in the love of God, and doubtlessly expecting the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

A large initial "E" begins this paragraph. And so that you may have at hand the answers for people of other persuasions, I considered it fitting to include with this [work] the three epistles written by this most holy Patriarch regarding our confession profession of faith and the beautiful orderings of our Church, written to Emperor Manuel, as well as his other specific writings from time to time, as the need arose, to certain individuals regarding various matters. For all these words are as a Golden Apple set in silver.

We have divided them into three volumes. In the first, [we have placed] the soul-profiting moral instructions for all ages and all conditions. In the second, the Orthodox confession profession of faith and the Spirit-taught rites of our Armenian Church.