134 Memoir of St. Nierses Clajensis. [March, 



Previously, however, to her departure, she made over the management 

 of the fortress to the pontiff Gregory and his brother Nierses on the 

 following condition : " I am about to quit this place," said she, " and 

 proceed to my country. I leave this fortress as a trust in your hands, 

 with a desire that in case my son happen to come to this quarter, you 

 shall deliver it over to him as his patrimonial property ; but if other- 

 wise, you shall be entitled to its possession." On the arrival of young 

 Joscelyn in Hiromcla, he was made master of it in conformity with 

 the desire of his mother. After a short residence in this place, Joscelyn 

 determined to quit it for Europe. In consequence of this intention, 

 the fortress was sold to the Armenian pontiff Gregory, who, according 

 to the historians Vardan and Kirakus, established in it the seat of his 

 pontifical government, and raised there a very magnificent Church, 

 embellished with splendid cupolas. 



About the year 1165, when Gregory had attained to a good old 

 age, and enjo^/1 the pontifical office for a period of 53 years, he began 

 to be solicitous for the nomination of a successor. He expressed a 

 desire of conferring that spiritual dignity on his brother Nierses, 

 who was also past the meridian of life. The latter, though the offer 

 was several times made to him by Gregory, was unwilling to accept it. 

 Finally, anticipating the approach of his death, Gregory ordered a gene- 

 ral meeting of all the Armenian bishops, monks, and priests to be held 

 in the pontifical house at Hiromcla, for the purpose of considering the 

 best mode of nominating a successor to the pontificate. In this assem- 

 bly, after making an impressive speech on the approaching termination 

 of his career, and the necessity of electing a successor worthy of the 

 high station which be filled, he expressed his choice of investing his 

 brother Nierses with the pontifical authority, which proposition met 

 with the unanimous and cordial approbation of the audience. Nierses, 

 who had made up his mind to exchange the troubles of a busy life for 

 the sweets of solitude, in vain endeavoured to decline the offer of that 

 responsible situation. Overcome by the repeated solicitations of the 

 assembly, he was at last obliged to accept the office of the pontificate, 

 with a view of promoting the general welfare of the nation. Immedi- 

 ately after this, Gregory anointed Nierses pontiff of all Armenia, 

 and adorned him with the pontifical robes. He placed in his hand the 

 sceptre of authority, and saluted him with the greatest reverence and 

 submission as the head of the Church. When the ceremonies of the 

 election were over, Nierses rose and delivered a most excellent speech, 

 expressive of his acknowledgments for the high honor that had been 

 . conferred on him, and descriptive of the nature of the responsible duties 

 which he was bound to perform in the spiritual dignity to which he 



