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

HISTORY OF ARMENIA. 237
wliieh had fallen into decay.
He entirely rebuilt
the church of St. Ripsima, and while prosecuting
this work, discovered the urn ofthe saint sealed
with the cross-engraven signet of St. Gregory.
St. Isaac, having affixed his own seal on the urn,
near that of St. Gregory, put it in its original
place. At this time St. Mesrop became famous
for sanctity and wisdom. He was the son of a
pious man named Vardan, ofthe village of Hazeeas
in the province of Taron, and having become
well versed in Greek literature, as well as in
the arts and sciences, attached himself to St.
Nierses. After the death of this glorious defender
of the faith,
Mesrop retired to a solitary place,
and led a life of holy contemplation.
He was induced to leave this solitude by a. d. 396.
hearing the fame of St. Isaac, whom he visited,
and from whom he received the dignity of a
doctor of divinity. With the sanction of the
pontiff, he taught and preached in
all parts of
the kingdom. In conjunction with St. Isaac, a.d. 401,
he endeavoured to form the Armenian alphabet,
for till this period, the Armenians were accustomed
to use the characters of other nations
in their writings.
Having found their exertions
unavailing, they sought to gain, by prayer from
God, what they conceived human ingenuity,
unassisted by him, unequal to supply. St. Mes- a. d. 406.
rop, about this time, with a few disciples, went to