OF SOCRATES SCHOLASTICUS

original: "ՍՈԿՐԱՏԱՅ ՍՔՈԼԱՍՏԻԿՈՍԻ". Socrates of Constantinople (c. 380–439 AD) was a Christian church historian. His "Scholasticus" title indicates he was a lawyer or professionally trained in law.

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY

original: "ԵԿԵՂԵՑԱԿԱՆ ՊԱՏՄՈՒԹԻՒՆ". This is a vital source for early Christian history, covering the years 305 to 439 AD, following the period where Eusebius of Caesarea's history ended.

TRANSLATED BY

PHILO OF TIRAK

original: "ՓԻԼՈՆ ՏԻՐԱԿԱՑԻ". A 7th-century scholar of the "Hellenizing School" (Yunaban dprots), known for translating Greek philosophical and historical works into Armenian with high literal precision.

AND

HISTORY OF THE LIFE

OF THE HOLY SYLVESTER, BISHOP

OF ROME

Sylvester I was Pope during the reign of Constantine the Great. The "Life of Sylvester" is a hagiographical text often bundled with ecclesiastical histories in Armenian manuscripts because of its account of the conversion of the Roman Empire.

TRANSLATED BY

ABASUN GRIGOR DZERAP'IRETS'I

An earlier medieval translator or scribe associated with the transmission of the Sylvester text.

A decorative banner with scrolled ends and floral motifs frames the text "VOLUME I." To the right of the banner, there is a handwritten digit "1."

Edited with Diligence by

MESROP V. TER-MOVSESIAN

Mesrop Ter-Movsesian (1865–1939) was a prominent Armenian clergyman, scholar, and archeologist. The "V." stands for "Vardapet," a title for a celibate priest with a doctoral degree in theology.

Member of the Congregation of Holy Etchmiadzin

BY COMMAND OF

HIS HOLINESS MKRTICH I

Mkrtich I Khrimian (1820–1907), affectionately known as "Khrimian Hayrik" (Father Khrimian), was a central figure in the Armenian national awakening and served as Catholicos from 1892 to 1907.

SUPREME AND MOST HOLY CATHOLICOS

OF ALL ARMENIANS

VAGHARSHAPAT

The city where the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin—the spiritual center of the Armenian Church—is located.

Press of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin

Ecclesiastical History

OF SOCRATES SCHOLASTICUS

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY

1897