1840.] the Armenian Legislator. 969 



the year 1191. The convent, newly constructed by him, received 

 the name of Ketick,(^) which appellation was afterwards applied to 

 him, in commemoration of his being the founder of that monastery. 

 He was also known by the cognomen GhoshjC^") which appellative was 

 added to his Christian name, in consequence of his having very little, or 

 no beard ; this circumstance is corroborated by the testimony of his 

 cotemporary and countryman, KirakusC*) Ganzakensis, who had the 

 honour and pleasure of his personal acquaintance and friendship. 



Mechithar Ghosh is known to have been the author of numerous 

 works of sterling merit. He wrote a book on human nature, in the 

 shape of an address from Adam to his sons, and from Eve to her 

 daughters. He also wrote several treatises on the Christian faith, and 

 on the Communion of the Altar. His pastoral and admonitory epistles 

 are also extant, and afford a proof of his unassuming piety and philan- 

 throphy. At th^ end of this epistolary work he says, " If I have ever 

 erred in addressing these monitory letters to my countrymen, or un- 

 intentionally offended those whom I intended to benefit, I am most 

 cordially penitent for my error, and readily ask their indulgence and 

 forgiveness." He is also said to have written a commentary on the 

 book of Jeremiah, and a great many sacred odes and poetical pieces. 

 Some of the latter have been handed down to us, and are pro- 

 nounced to be sufficiently elegant and sublime, to stamp him as a 

 poet of no ordinary kind. His composition of " Choice Fables," is a 

 combination of the utile dulciy and indicates his capacity to unite 

 a great deal of instruction with much amusement. Of all the works of 

 Mechithar Ghosh, the latter is the only one that has ever been 

 printed. It was published by the MechitharisticC^) Society of Venice, 

 on the 18 th of January 1790. The chief recommendation of these 

 Fables is, their originality, for M^hich they are considered to be fiir 



(^) The subject of this memoir was also called IT/w^/^'T <\^kmtiuij Mechithar of 

 Ketick. 



('<*) Ghosh S'O^in Armenian signifies '^utpi or 'f'^'fly » vulgn '^e^m\ t and in 

 English, beardless, or one having very little heard. 



(H) \\ltpiulinu <\.ui'biu,tfb^li jr,, Armenian. Kirakus is from the Greek word 

 KvjOeay o^, and its adoption as a proper name, is very common among the Armenians. 



('^) This Society was founded by Mechithar of Sebastia, in the early part of the 

 eighteenth century. Its members have been pre-eminently successful in promoting the 

 revival of Armenian literature, and the publication of numerous worksof considerable 

 merit. 



