Ecclesiastical History

Page 12.

The oldest Synaxarion Armenian: Yaysmavurk; a liturgical collection of hagiographies and short lives of saints arranged by their feast days. of the Greeks is considered the one composed in the name of Emperor Basil II Basil II (r. 976–1025), a powerful Byzantine Emperor under whom the "Menologion of Basil II" was produced. between the years 975–984. In this work, the feast of Saint Sylvester is set for January 2nd; however, there is a great difference between that "Life" [of the saint] and what is found in our Armenian Synaxarion¹. In the Vatican, there is a Synaxarion written in the tenth century where, "apart from the record of the baptism, there are also contained the details of the Arian sorcerers, the Marsian healers original: marsikean (մարսիկեան). This refers to the Marsi, an ancient Italian people famous in antiquity for being snake-charmers and healers; they appear in the legends of Saint Sylvester's miracles., and the massacre of the children²." Consequently, the passage in our Synaxarion is translated from a second edition, and it must certainly have been performed before the tenth century; otherwise, Ukhtanes could not have made use of it.

Constantine, the King of Rome, was an idol-worshipper and was seduced by his wife Maximiana⁴ Though historically Constantine's wife was Fausta, the Armenian text refers to her as Maximiana, the daughter of Maximian., who was the granddaughter of Emperor Diocletian. He persecuted the Christians... but the blessed one Referring to Saint Sylvester., taking his disciples, fled to the mountain and was [there]...

Constantine, the King of Rome, was an idol-worshipper and was seduced by his wife Maximinda (who was the daughter of King Maximian) and the granddaughter of Emperor Diocletian... Saint Sylvester... taking his disci[ples]...

1. Compare Father B. Sargisian, same work, page 22.
2. Father B. Sargisian, same work.
3. Ukhtanes, Publication of Saint Etchmiadzin, 1871. pages 102–103.
4. It is worthy of attention that he translates the Greek original independently of Khorenatsi Movses Khorenatsi, the traditional "Father of Armenian History." and the Small Socrates, yet in exactly the same manner.