History of Armenia

as we said, was performed from two copies that were transcribed from the Etchmiadzin manuscript by the hands of Mser Magistros and Bishop Hovhannes Shahkhatunyants in 1829. In this year, as G. Ter-Mkrtchyan says, manuscript B existed in Etchmiadzin, but there was no other manuscript of P'arpetsi's Letter. Thus, he naturally concludes that the source of the first printing, and consequently the next two printings, is our Z. (B), through the mediation of the two mentioned new transcriptions. But here we encounter two difficulties. First, that these two transcriptions have a significant number of large and obvious differences from Z. Leaving aside many others, which could have arisen from the publisher's carelessness or silent orthographic correction, let us bring especially a few examples that are marked in the notes of the first printing as readings of the original examples: khotetsan (instead of the manuscript's "khotetsav" reading; see this publication p. 187, s. 10). havatas (=of faith, p. 187, s. 14). zorots ev ... yishe (=of whom and... Paul—corrected from the Kerons, p. 191, s. 24). that they complain a list (=that they complain a list, p. 193, s. 31). zoyr indz (=any care, p. 196, s. 30). according to the sound (=according to the sound, p. 202, s. 9). After the word "informed" (p. 202, s. 9), At. places a note: "As in our copy, likewise in the original manuscript two leaves are missing here"; whereas Z. has a note in this place: "one word is missing in this place." On the other hand, we notice that the two mentioned copies are entirely in agreement with each other. The aforementioned differences exist in "both copies," and there is no such orthographic difference that would be marked according to only one copy. To explain the latter phenomenon, it is necessary to assume that the two copies in M. Emin's possession were transcribed one from the other, and not independently from the original manuscript as is understood from the publisher's words. And to explain the first phenomenon, i.e., the differences between the manuscript and these transcriptions—since there is multifaceted and abundant evidence that these transcriptions arose from Z. (B)—it must be assumed that the first transcription (Mser's) was done very carelessly, contrary to M. Emin's assurance that "having been transcribed with great care, he took it with him to Moscow."

In any case, while considering G. Ter-Mkrtchyan's conclusion that "Emin's publication descends from B" to be correct, we must add that this publication, compared to Z., is very corrupted due to the poor transcription of the copies, and perhaps also because of the publisher's inattention.

The question of the relationship of the Vienna copy to Z. is more knotty 1.

This copy was an independent booklet, in cursive style, which entered the collection of Vienna manuscripts after 1867 and, along with other booklets, was enclosed in one binding. In this collection, the Letter holds the first place, occupying leaves 5a—9b. The colophon is: "This book of Ghazar P'arpetsi Vardapet was completed by the hand of the multi-sinful and unworthy priest Grigor for the sake of the saintly and brave vardapet, Vardapet Vardan. Now, this book was copied in the year of the Armenians 1091 (=1642) in Baghesh, in the monastery of Hovhannes Karapet." (Tashyan, Catalogue of Mss.). The copy is very incomplete. It lacks the Preface of the Letter (in this publication pp. 185, 186). "of the two alone yet — and now what more shall I say" (p. 188, s. 28 — p. 189, s. 3). "But also with un-observance — the sweet and very merciful" (p. 189, s. 10—25). "and accept with grace and — the holding of evil deeds" (p. 190, s. 4—6). "Let alone to another such whispering words" (p. 190, s. 8—9). "to speak of the unworthy out of envy — and only for the sake of desires" (p. 190, s. 14 — p. 191, s. 5). "I consider it much work and superfluous" (p. 191, s. 14—15). "But a little"

1) In accordance with my request, by the recommendation of Fr. Tashyan, Fr. Pizikichyan sent me a detailed comparison of this copy performed on the G. print, for which I express my deep gratitude.