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

256 HISTOKT OF ARMENIA.
they had done him, besought him to be their
sole pontiff. He refused complying with their
wishes, informing them that he had beheld a
vision, wherein he was forewarned of the removal
of the pontificate from the house of the Illuminator,
and of the kingdom from the race of the
Arsacidge. He then retired to a village called
Blur, in
the province of Bagrevand, and there
died, on the 30th of Navasard (August), the
A.D. 440.
A.D.440. anniversary of his birth, A. D. 440. His body
was buried in the village of Ashtishat. A magnificent
church was erected over his remains,
and an annual feast appointed in remembrance of
him, on each return of which, as we are told,
many miracles were wrought. Mesrop, or Mashtoz,
surnamed the blessed, succeeded St. Isaac,
and died after a short pontificate of six months.
This event took place in the city of Valarshapat;
his remains were interred in the village of Oshakan.
An annual feast was also instituted in
remembrance of him.*
A.D.441. Joseph, from the village of Holozim, in the
valley of Vayoz, a disciple of St. Isaac and
Mesrop, by the direction of the latter just
before his death, took possession of the pontifical
chair.
Not being a bishop, he was not qualified to
confer ordination, this office being performed by
Surmak, the expelled pontiff, of whom we made
• See Hist. Book II, c. 58 and 60.