St. Gregory of Narek and his Times – 9-11th centuries

Armenian Bagratuni Kingdom (885-1045) Armenia flourished during the two centuries of Bagratuni rule. It began with Armenia’s rebellion against Arab domination around 850 and ended with the Byzantine capture of Armenia’s capital, Ani, in 1045 and the invasion of the Seljuk Turks at Manzikert in 1071. It was a period of cultural and economic prosperity and political and military consolidation. Although a relatively peaceful period in Armenian history, it was a constant struggle to defend the Kingdom’s independence and integrity against Arab and Byzantine invasions. The kingdom was founded in 855 by King Ashot I, whose father Prince Smpat had led the rebellion against Arab rule. The kingdom reached its height under King Ashot III ( 952-977), who built Ani, “the city of 1001 churches”. The Bagratunis were one of Armenia’s leading families, traditionally the crowners of Armenian kings, since Artashes I (200 BC), and their feudal holdings were scattered throughout historic Armenia and into Iberia (Georgia). The Georgian branch of the family continued to rule Georgia into the 19th century.

King Smpat I (890-914), king of Armenia from 890, succeeded his father Ashot I, managing rivalries between Armenia’s provincial leaders, he further consolidated and expanded the Armenian Kingdom, bringing most of historic Armenia under his rule.   He liberated the old Armenian capital of Dvin from the Arabs and established order and fealty from the remaining Arab emirs in the region.   In 910, he was defeated by the Arab Emir Yusuf at the Battle of Dzknavajar.   He retreated to Kapuyt (“Blue”) Castle, but to save the country from destruction, he surrendered himself to Yusuf, who beheaded and crucified him in the main square of Dvin in 914.

Gandzak, Located in the Utik province of Greater Armenia, on the bank of the Kur and Gandzak Rivers.   It was founded in 840 and became a major center of Armenian learning, graduating such scholars as Mkhitar Gosh in the 12^th century, the medieval Armenian fable-writer and codifier of laws.

Vikings invade Britain, besiege Paris (845)

King Gagik Artsruni of Vaspurakan (circa 900-925), battled against the divide-and-conquer strategy of the Arab suzerain Yusuf, relinquishing the crown of King of Armenia, granted by Yusuf, in order to join forces  with King Smbat I and Armenia.  He liberated Mokk’, Amyuk Castle, and the Tamper and Urna Provinces of Persian Armenia from the Arabs.  Vostan and Van were rebuilt during his reign in Vasporakan and the island cathedral of Aghtamar was constructed.

Manuel, 10^th century architect.   Chief architect of the Artsruni court, he built the city of Vostan and its palace complex, the Holy Cross Cathedral on the island of Aghtamar in Lake Van, along with its fortifications and adjoining buildings.

Van, on the south shore of Lake Van, in the Vaspurakan province, Van is one of Armenia’s oldest cities, founded in 825 B.C. as the capital of Urartu by the Urartean King Sarduri I.   The region bore the name Bianili (from which Van derives) and the city itself was know as Tushpa, later known also as Tsopk.   There are extensive cuneiform inscriptions from this period in the cliffs above the city.   During the reign of Derenik and Gagik Artsruni in the 9^th and 10th centuries, Van flourished, becoming the capital of the Vaspurakan.   Home to many Armenian spiritual leaders, this was the birthplace of St. Gregory of Narek and 19^th-century Catholicos Khrimian Hayrik.

Kars, Located in the northwest of Greater Armenia, this fortress city on the banks of the Akhurian and Kars Rivers had special strategic significance, especially during the 9^th century struggle to maintain Armenian independence.

Seljuk Turks begin westward invasions (970)

King Ashot III leads 80,000-strong army to defend Armenia from Byzantines (974)

Bishop Khosrov Andzevatsi father of St. Gregory of Narek, ordained vartapet and bishop after the death of his wife. A critical and creative thinker who wrote prolifically, he earned the ire of the Catholicos Anania Mokatsi for his independence, a fact which was to haunt St. Gregory during his life as well.

King Gagik I Bagratuni (990-1020) King Gagik I (ruled from 989-1020), succeeded his brother Smbat II as king, and bore the title King of Armenia and Georgia.   He continued the consolidation of the Armenian kingdom and established a national army, whose numbers reached 100,000.   Successfully repelling the attacks of the Arab emirs culminating in the victorious battle of Tsumb in 998, King Gagik reigned over a period of economic prosperity, during which culture and business flourished, particularly in Ani and Dvin.  It was, however, a period of domestic divisions, fueled by the heretical Tondrakian movement.

Grigor Magistros (990-1058), Prince and Philosopher Grigor Magistros Pahlavuni.   The son of General Vasak Pahlavuni, Grigor Magistros was an accomplished scholar, educator, philosopher and a political and military leader.  He studied in Ani, then in Constantinople.  He worked to strengthen the Armenian Bagratuni rule, helping to overcome internal divisions and fend off external threats.  In 1048 he was granted the title Magistros (‘Master’) by the Byzantine Emperor.   He was appointed ruler of southern Armenia (Mesopotamia) in 1048.  His building endeavors included St. Astvatsatsin Church in Bjni, St. Gregory the Illuminator in Kecharis, St. All-Savior Church in Havuts Tar.  He also wrote a Interpretation of Grammar, metered poetry, including a short retelling of the Bible in verse.   He also translated works from Greek and Syriac.   In addition to his primary fields of rhetoric, philosophy, grammar and mathematics, he has left valuable contributions in the fields of biology, medicine, cosmology and music theory.

Trdat (circa 950-1020), chief architect of the Bagratuni Royal House, sculptor.   Built the Cathedral in Argina (973-977), the Dome of Hagia Sophia in Constantinople (989-992), the main Cathedral of Ani (989-1001) and the St. Gregory Cathedral in Ani (1001-1010).   Renowned in Armenia and the Byzantine Empire, Trdat created a new style of Armenian architecture and contributed to the technical development of public works.  He established a school of architecture, whose masters and students designed and built many of the leading buildings of the Armenian Renaissance.

Armenian architect Trdat restores the dome of St. Sophia Cathedral in Constantinople (989)

Cathedral of Ani (989) Started in 989 by King Smpat, the cathedral was completed in 1001, during the reign of King Gagik I, under the sponsorship of Queen Katranide. The Cathedral is a masterpiece of international architecture designed by the Architect Trdat.

Marmashen Monastery (986-1029) Located in the northern province of Shirak on the bank of the Akhurian River, the monastery’s main cathedral was built by Vahram Pahlavuni in 988-1029.

Tsakhatskar Monastery (989) Located near Yeghegis village in the central province of Vayots Dzor, the complex was built circa 980 during the reign of King Abas Bagratuni.

Byzantine Emperor Basil II invades W. Armenia (1000)

David of Sassoon (Armenian Epic), The epic spans four generations of the house of Sassoon, a mountainous enclave of the Armenian highlands, west of Lake Van and Mt. Ararat, known for its hearty folk and indomitable spirit. The epic took shape in the 10^th century based on an oral tradition spanning centuries.  Like the Old Testament David who slew Goliath, David of Sassoon is the beloved, national hero, the defiant and self-reliant youth, who by the grace of God defends his homeland in an unequal duel  against a titanic oppressor.

Catholicos Petros I Getadarts (1019-1058) (‘Turner of Rivers’). He earned the epithet ‘turner of rivers’ when the river miraculously changed its flow during his blessing of the waters at the Feast of Christ’s Baptism.  In 1022, he was dispatched by King Hovhannes Smpat to negotiate with the Byzantine army, which was pointed to invade.    In order to forestall the invasion, he signed a treaty with the Byzantine Emperor Basil II by which Ani was to be subject to Byzantine rule after the reign of Hovhannes-Smpat.   By 1037, discontent with Catholicos Petros’ pro-Byzantine policies led King Hovhannes-Smpat to name the Abbot of Sanahin Monastery Dioscoros catholicos.   Within a year, however, Petros I reclaimed his patriarchal office.  Continuing to support the Byzantines, he hoped to bolster his ecclesiastical power; however, the Byzantines, who sought not only the elimination of the Kingdom of Armenia, but also of its independent church, turned against Petros I.  He was held prisoner by the Byzantines for 4 years, after which he was permitted to take sanctuary in St. Nshan Monastery in Sebastia, where in died in 1058.

Haghartsin Monastery (St. Gregory Church, burial place of Bagratuni royalty) Located to the north of Dilijan in the northern province of Lori, the monastery was built in the 10-13^th centuries. The earliest church, St. Gregory Church, dates to the 10^th century.

Byzantines take Ani, earthquake strikes (1045)

Byzantine Emperor Constantine IX (1042-1050)

Turks take Manzikert (1071)

Hovhannes Sarkavag, Dn. Hovhannes Sarkavag (1045-1129), born in the Parisos province of Artsakh to a priestly family. A distinguished scholar, scribe, philosopher, educator and poet, he was trained at Haghbat Monastery and continued his education in Ani.   He was headmaster of the school of Ani in the 1070s and returned to Haghbat to head the school there. He established the new calendar and dating system in 1084 and earned the epithet Philosopher for his broad erudition and profound writings.