1836.] Memoir of St. Nierses Clajensis. 145 



deprived of its supreme pastor, whose station was immediately filled 

 by an able and worthy successor. News of the proposed union of the 

 sister Churches having spread throughout the Christian countries 

 which held a close intercourse with Armenia, the patriarch of Syria 

 deputed two learned bishops to Hiromcla, for the purpose of taking a 

 part in the proceedings of the council, which was shortly to be held by 

 Nierses the Graceful, for furthering the views of the intended union. 



On the arrival of the embassy at Hiromcla, Sum bat delivered the 

 imperial letter to Nierses the pontiff, communicating to him many inter- 

 esting particulars on the part of the emperor, and persuading him to 

 accompany him to Constantinople ; but the duties of his high office 

 rendering his absence from the pontifical house indispensable at that 

 very juncture, Nierses sent a reply to the emperor, full of spirit and 

 wonderful observations. As the letter itself is of great length, I shall 

 here only give an outline of its contents : 



" I had the honor to receive the letter of your Imperial Majesty, addressed 

 to my late lamented brother and immediate predecessor in the pontificate of 

 Armenia. By the perusal of the inspired sentiments expressed in it by your 

 godly Majesty, our hearts thrilled with that inexpressible delight which a person 

 feels on recovering from the influence of sleep, and enjoying the vivifying beams 

 of the glorious orb of day. It is gratifying to us to observe, that your Majesty 

 is worthy of not only bearing the name of the true Emmanuel, but also of his 

 co-operation in ' breaking down the middle wall of partition between us.' En- 

 dowed with these peculiar gifts of heaven, your Majesty is condescendingly 

 pleased to accost us with a cheering voice, and propose measures for eradicating 

 from amongst us that hatred, which has proved so baleful to the interests of 

 Christianity, and the welfare of our country. I am so exceedingly delighted with 

 your Majesty's invitation, that I would, even if I were dead, like Lazarus, arise 

 from the grave, and obey the divine voice which summons me to your presence ; 

 but violent disturbances abroad, and the urgent duties of my avocation at home, 

 present insuperable barriers to my paying a visit to Constantinople. Notwith- 

 standing these obstacles, I should still feel diffident to attempt discussing a ques- 

 tion of so much weight in your august presence, from a conviction that the 

 sphere of my knowledge would look like a mere drop in comparison with the 

 vast ocean of your Majesty's qualifications. All that were great and noble in 

 Armenia, to our national misfortune, have now ceased to exist. The only com- 

 fort, with which we cheer our hearts in the melancholy gloom that overhangs 

 our civil destinies, is derived from the circumstance of our Church being based on 

 the solid foundation of Catholic faith. We place our confidence in the mercies 

 of God, that the divine power which excited love and good-will amongst us, 

 shall consummate a happy union between the two Churches. 



" Should your Imperial Majesty be graciously pleased to visit Armenia, for 

 the furtherance of this desirable object, you will, by that act of condescension, 

 display in your soul the stamp of that humility, with which the heavenly King came 

 to the world to bestow salvation on mankind. We are sure that you will join with 

 us in the conviction, that the lustre of glory reflected on your mighty empire by 

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