1836.] Memoir of St. Nierses Clajensis. 155 



feared, an unfortunate division might be created amongst the Armeni- 

 an ecclesiastics, and the result of their undertaking be attended with 

 lamentable detriment. 



The ambassadors of the court of Constantinople applauded the 

 wise precautions which marked every act of the pontiff of Armenia, 

 but seeing that the council could not possibly be held before the setting 

 in of the summer, they determined to depart from Hiromcla. Nierses, 

 in conjunction with Theorianey, addressed letters to Michael, the 

 patriarch of the Syrian Church, communicating to him the points 

 which were proposed by the Greeks for their acceptance, and soliciting 

 the favour of his presence in the council that was shortly to be held at 

 Hiromcla for that purpose. Michael being prevented by his various 

 avocations from going to Hiromcla, sent in his room the friar Theo- 

 dorus, who was eminently distinguished for his profound learning and 

 conversancy with the Syrian, Greek, Armenian, and Turkish languages. 

 On the arrival of the latter at Hiromcla,he was received by Nierses with 

 every kind of respect due to his rank. A discussion arose between them on 

 the import of the words " substance" and " nature," which, according 

 to the doctrine of Aristotle, admitted of various constructions. Theo- 

 dorus, widely differing from the sentiments expressed by Nierses on 

 this subject, immediately took his departure from Hiromcla. In the 

 mean while, Theorianey and Johannes Uthman returned to Con- 

 stantinople, furnished with letters addressed by Nierses to the emperor 

 Manuel and the patriarch Michael. Nierses promised them to 

 convene a general council for the decision of the question of the in- 

 tended union, and to endeavour to make the concessions they required. 

 " I shall assiduously try," says he, " to overcome the long received 

 customs of my countrymen, which prevail on them with the power of 

 a second nature, and to force them to an acquiescence in such of the 

 points proposed in your letters, as may possibly be reconciled to their 

 minds. In so doing, we shall only be actuated by a desire of promot- 

 ing divine love and peace amongst us, but not by an idea of turning 

 from errors into truth. The acceptance of the rest of thp points either 

 must be overlooked by you, or left to time, and the happy union which 

 shall shortly be effected amongst us." 



Immediately after this,NiERSES addressed letters to all the Armenian 

 bishops, abbots, and friars residing in different quarters of Armenia, 

 Syria, Aluans, Georgia and Persia, communicating to them all that 

 had passed respecting the union of the sister Churches. He also 

 desired them to pray to the Almighty for the consummation of the 

 laudable object in view, and to take an early opportunity of going to 

 Hiromcla for the purpose of being present in the council that was 

 x 2 



