968 Memoir of Mechithar Ghosh, [No 106. 



of ranking in the list of the most learned and erudite of his age, a 

 consummation to which his whole ambition aspired ! The extent of his 

 learning could only be equalled by the degree of austerity which he 

 had imposed on the mode of his life. He was highly esteemed by all, 

 for the urbanity of his manners, and rigidness of his moral discipline. 

 After a stay of some years in the society of men eminent for their love 

 and acquisition of wisdom, he went to*the city of Carin,C^) (the modern 

 Erzerum) preparatory to returning to Ganzak, the land of his birih. 

 No sooner had he commenced tasting the sweets of the company of his 

 relatives and nearest friends, after a long separation, than he had the 

 misfortune to feel the disasters from the inroads of the Scythians, by 

 whom that part of the country was cruelly harassed and devastated. 

 This induced him to quit his native soil, and to proceed to the province 

 of Khachen, where resided Vakhthank, the prince of Hatherka,C) under 

 whose protection he expected to enjoy comparative ease and freedom 

 from the molestation of unbelievers. Here he meditated the propriety of 

 devoting himself to a monastic life j and having determined on this step, 

 he bade adieu to his protector, and repaired to the province of Kain, 

 where stood a convent, known by the appellation of Ketick.(^) He 

 took shelter within the precincts of this monastery, and joined its 

 inmates with a full acquiescence in the rules of the institution. 



On the demolition of that convent by the incursions of enemies, he 

 constructed a new one on the spot, called the " Valley of Tanzut."(^>) 

 He also built in this place a church, consecrated by the name of St. 

 Gregory the Illuminator,(') and a small chapel dedicated to St. 

 John the Baptist.(^) Subsequently, on the increase of the popu- 

 lation in that place, he erected another church of solid stone, and 

 on a more extensive scale, which was consecrated by the name of the 

 holy Deiparous. The erection of this sacred edifice was finished in 



(^) ^utpt" Carin is the name of the city of Erzerum, in the classical atlas of 

 Armenia. 



{*) \l^tuluutu/bli Pi^wVu Z,uj[^lrp^nj in Armenian. 



(^) c^inn^^ oi" f{*trtnliuij iltub^ in Armenian. 



(^) Tanz goili^ signifies jjear in Armenian. The valley abounded in pears, and 

 was therefore called ^ut'binuin Tanzut, ox full of pears. 



(7) \Snuftp. ^pliq-np l^nuutui^npf,^ gt. Gregory the Illuminator flourished in the 

 third century, and evangelised Armenia. 



C) Mnupp Qntl^tuVltku If i^^m^^ iu Armenian. 



