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

24G
HISTORY OF ARMENIA.
panied by Vardan. The emperor, having perused
the letters addressed to him, and being
pleased with the elegant manners of St. Mesrop,
granted the request of St. Isaac, and moreover
appointed Vardan generalissimo of the Armenian
troops belonging to his division of the kingdom.
Atticus, also, the patriarch, as far as regarded
his spiritual authority, had no objection to St.
Isaac assuming the government of the Armenian
church. He appointed St. Mesrop an
hierarch, or ecclesiasticus, who proved vigilant
and wise in his sacred function, like restless
and pious conventuals.
A. D. 421. On the return of St. Mesrop, the Armenians
received St. Isaac as their spiritual guide, and
also founded schools for the instruction of their
youth in the knowledge of the newly invented
Armenian letters. After a short time, when
St. Isaac and St. Mesrop had taken a little rest
from their labours, they commenced regulating
the church ceremonies, agreeably to the ecclesiastical
code and calendar. St. Mesrop, for a
season, devoted his time wholly to this work,
and in consequence of the zeal he displayed in
it, the book, containing the regulations, was
called Mashtoz, which was one of his surnames.
These two blessed saints also composed
A. D. 426. anthems to be sung by eight voices. After all
these works were finished, St, Isaac convened a