144 Memoir of St. Nierses Clajensis. [March, 



the guidance of one pastoral crook ; to cause them to ' lie down in green pas- 

 tures" of orthodox faith ; to render them participators of the vital stream of 

 wholesome doctrines, and to gather them within the pale of one Catholic 

 Church. Elevated by Providence to the highest station that can be allotted here 

 to a human being, I consider the duties of governing my empire less sacred, less 

 beneficial, than those which oblige me to be instrumental in effecting an union of 

 the Christian Churches. Impressed with this conviction, I shall, as far as time 

 and circumstances will permit, strive to consummate an object, which involves 

 the temporal and spiritual welfare of mankind. 



" It is not less becoming to your excellent fraternity, who have made the 

 scriptures and the laws of God your chief studies, and rendered yourselves con- 

 versant with the orthodox doctrines of the fathers of the Church, to use your 

 friendly and influential co-operation in securing the welfare of the inward man, 

 by collecting from the only source of life the dews of truth and salvation. Of 

 your desire to promote this laudable object, we have been informed by our belov- 

 ed son-in-law Alexius, who delivered to us a letter bearing a detailed account 

 of the conference that had taken place between you and him concerning the 

 contemplated union of the sister Churches. It is our intention to give due 

 deliberation to the state of the Armenian Church, and to institute inquiries into 

 the creed thereof. A translation of the letter of your holiness was read by us 

 with uncommon interest, and afforded us a source of the greatest satisfaction. 

 Assured of the moral and Christian virtues, for which your holiness is so emi- 

 nently distinguished, we feel real pleasure in rendering our aid to the consum- 

 mation of an object highly desirable both to God and man. 



" With this view we would propose to you to dispatch your brother Nierses 

 to our capital, as we are perfectly convinced that a man of his extensive informa- 

 tion, varied knowledge, virtuous conduct, and amiable disposition, will not 

 only be able to afford satisfaction to the Head of our Church, and the synod in 

 general, but particularly tend to remove the difficulties which will otherwise be 

 experienced from time and place. Let the insignificant cause of division, which 

 subsists between the two Churches, be removed if it he within the scope of pos- 

 sibility ; and let not Christ, who redeemed us from eternal punishment by his 

 precious blood, be considered a stumbling block, but the Head of the corner and 

 the True Foundation of our faith, which unites us together in spirit. Let Christ 

 be the centre of all our religious inquiries, the Anchor of all our spiritual aspi- 

 rations, and the Director of all our ecclesiastical affairs. In him we founded our 

 belief, to him our hearts were fixed, and by him our wounds were healed. From 

 the Great Bestower of so many blessings you will no doubt obtain for your zeal 

 in the sacred cause of Christianity that recompence which is reserved for the 

 enjoyment of the elect. We have thought it necessary to depute our faithful 

 servant Sumbat, bearing this letter, with directions to induce you to despatch 

 your brother Nierses to Constantinople. He is also authorised to give you 

 such other information, as might have a connexion with the immediate object 

 of his mission. You may safely credit all that will be said by him on this sub- 

 ject. Adieu !" 



While preparations were in progress at the capital of Greece for 

 depatching the embassy to Armenia, the pontiff Gregory terminated 

 his earthly career. The Church of Syria was also at the same time 



