MONASTERY OF EITCH-MAI-ADZEN. 
187 
intrigues of envy, or his own misconduct, displaces him: the 
two latter modes of translation, I trust, seldom happen. The 
monastery of Eitch-mai-adzen was founded, A. D. 304., by 
St. Gregory, as, likewise, were the churches in its vicinity. But 
the monastery, in particular, was established on the very spot, 
where, it is said, he had a vision of our Saviour’s presence, and 
held with him a divine discourse. The excited zeal of the saint, 
in consequence, extended the knowledge of Christianity all over 
Armenia ; and as guardian of its numerous churches, he soon 
became a sort of episcopal sovereign. Eitch-mai-adzen is now 
the sole habitable remains of an enormous city, called Valarsapat, 
which, in old times, surrounded this great metropolitan establish¬ 
ment, for many miles. Vestiges of its magnitude may yet be 
traced in various spots, at a considerable distance from the con¬ 
vent, and particularly towards the north-east; but round its 
immediate walls, a few low mud-houses are all the neighbour¬ 
hood we find ; and they are the residences of a little remnant of 
poor Armenian Christians, who, under the protection of the 
holy towers, or, more likely, that of their own unpretending 
appearance, live a life of humble industry and content. Their 
children are educated in a school established by the church, and 
attended by one of the order. 
The morning after my arrival, His Eminence the Patriarch 
ordered his secretary to attend me to see the cathedral, which 
has been accurately described by Chardin. The architecture 
is of a rude character, when compared with even the roughest 
styles of Gothic churches that may be seen in England. A 
tliree-arched gateway, surmounted by a heavy and pointed 
tower, leads to the main door. Much labour, in the shape of 
fretted and carved ornaments, in a bad taste, has been wasted on 
BB 2 
