History of Armenia, by Father Michael Chamich; from B. C. 2247 to ...

178 HISTORY OF ARMENIA.
step,, caused them to
be consecrated deacons,
the Armenians saw then that their
was hopeless,
reformation
for they became more and more
irregular, until they were punished for their
impiety, and neglect of the duties they owed
themselves and family, by a visitation of the
anger of the Almighty, who caused them to be
consumed by fire from heaven. Athanageney
left one son, named Nierses, who proved highly
worthy of his descent from the good St. Gregory.
He was sent into Cesarea at a very early age,
and there carefully instructed in the fear of the
Lord. He made a rapid progress in Greek literature,
and having at a more advanced age gone
to Constantinople, he there still
more improved
his mind. It was at this city that he married
the daughter of a great prince named Aspiones.
On the death of his father and uncle, the Armenians
invited him to return amongst them ; but
in consequence of delay in complying with their
desires they did not appoint him to succeed
Daniel as pontiff of their church.
A. D. 362. This dignity was conferred on Pharnerseh or
Pharen, a priest from the convent of St. Johannes
Carapiet, in the city of Ashtishat.
News of
the violences committed by Tiran on the church,
in the two before mentioned instances, reaching
the ears of Zura, who accompanied Julian in
his expedition, it gave him infinite pain. He