Gandzasar Theological Review, Volume 6

  • 1996, 630 pp. (in Armenian)

The 6th volume of the Gandzasar Theological Review comprises the following sections: Studies; Original Texts and Translations; Appendix.

In the Studies section, articles by the following authors are placed: Fr. Mesrop Aramian, Fr. Artak Tigranyan, Azat Bozoyan, Hakob Keoseyan, and the Eastern Armenian translations of some articles by Aloys Grillmeier, Andrea B. Schmidt, Charles Renoux, G. Banateanu (trans. from English, German and French by Fr. Mesrop Aramian, Azat Bozoyan, Jasmen Mehrabyan and Gevorg Melikyan).

The Original Texts and Translations section includes the Eastern Armenian translations of St Clement of Rome’s I Epistle to Corinthians (continued from the previous volume), Mxit’ar of Skewra’s apologetic treatise “On the 12 Apostles' Equality in Honour” (continued from the previous volume), the "Story of the Repose of St John the Apostle" and Nerses of Lambron's Commentary on it (trans. from Classical Armenian by Seda Stamboltsyan), and the following Classical Armenian texts: the Commentary on the Gospel of Matthew by Anania of Sanahin (continued from the previous two volumes); the first writing from the collection of dogmatic treatises of John the Deacon Philosopher (Yovhannes Sarkawag; text prepared for publication by Fr. Mesrop Aramian), five moral and ascetical writings by the same author (text prepared for publication by Fr. Trdat Uzunyan), the dogmatic epistle to the Georgians by Mxit'ar Gosh (text prepared for publication by Paruyr Muradyan), the "Homily on the Feast of Theophany" by John of Erznka (text prepared for publication by Armenuhi Srapyan), the same author's epistle "On the Union of Brothers" and a New Year exhortative address to the inhabitants of the region of Ekeleac' (prepared for publication by Eduard Baghdasaryan), and, lastly, the "Epistle to the People of Karin" by Kirakos of Erznka (text prepared for publication by Fr. Avetis Danielyan).

The Appendix presents a brief essay about the Coptic Church, a book review by Hakob Keoseyan and Fr. Mesrop Aramian's announcement about the program of the Gandzasar Theological Center for the "Armenian Theological Library" book series.

THE HISTORY OF GANDZASAR

  • Gandzasar, 2005, 458 pp. (in Armenian)

The study presents the history of the Monastery of Gandzasar, located in the province of Artsakh of the historic Armenia. Numerous inscriptions and archival documents, in addition to the writings of Armenian historians of medieval and later periods, are used by the author to achieve his aim. Among the issues presented in the study is the history of the family of Prince Hasan-Jalal Dola, the founder of the Monastery's Church of St John the Baptist; of the Catholicosate of Gandzasar and of the struggle of the Artsakh people against foreign invaders. The study has not overlooked the issue of the Nagorno-Karabakh war; it presents the role of the prelate and the clergy of the Artsakh Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church in the struggle of the Artsakh people for freedom.

 

EXHORTATIONS

  • Gandzasar, 1999, 220 pp.
  • Translated into Eastern Armenian by Fr. Shaheh Hayrapetyan

This book is a collection of admonitory treatises, written and compiled in a separate book by Vardan of Aygek [Aygekc'i], a well-known Armenian Vardapet of the 12-13th centuries, at the request of the Armenian prince Baghdin. The collection begins with a brief confession of the Holy Trinity and a short prayer, addressed to Him. This introductory part is followed by a letter from Prince Baghdin to Vardan Vardapet and by Vardapet's reply to it. Then 20 treatises follow which are dedicated to virtues and vices, eschatological themes, such as death, hell, the Antichrist, Christ's Second Coming, Heavenly Jerusalem etc. The treatises are concluded by a beautiful prayer, which presents supplications for the whole Armenian nation and the entire world, and by a brief colophon, written by Vardan Vardapet himself.

I AM THE WAY

  • "Gandzasar" Theological Center, 1995, 218 pp. (in Armenian)

This book is dedicated to the study of the ways to the knowledge of God in Christian and non-Christian mystical systems. The first chapters presenting the Christian system give a basic overview of Christian doctrine and speak of the theoretical and practical ways to the Christian knowledge of God. A separate chapter is dedicated to prayer, which is the main means of that practical knowledge. Then the systems of yoga, theosophy, anthroposophy are presented. The survey is concluded by a comparative analysis of all of these systems.

ENCYCLICAL LETTER

  • "Gandzasar" Theological Center, 1991, 124 pp. (in Armenian)
  • Translated from Classical Armenian into Eastern Armenian by Fr. Mesrop Aramian, Tigran Khachatryan and Seda Stamboltsyan

This book presents an Eastern Armenian translation of the first pontifical encyclical of St Nerses the Grace-filled as the Catholicos of the Armenian Church. Written in the 12th century, it is still as important and urgent as ever. This is a lengthy treatise, which addresses the various groups of people found in society. The encyclical begins with an introduction in which St. Nerses gives instruction in the dogmatic faith of the Church, which is the foundation of Christian life. Then the letter is divided into chapters in which the Holy Catholicos addresses, one by one, different groups found in society-monks, abbots, bishops, priests, princes, soldiers, citizens, peasants and the general population, and finally, women. Throughout the centuries the role of the first encyclical of St Nerses has been so great that the precepts found in it have been viewed by some as part of the official canon-law of the Armenian Church.

SONG OF SONGS with Commentary by the Church Fathers

  • "Gandzasar" Theological Center, 1993, 149 pp. (in Armenian)

This volume, compiled by Fr. Mesrop Aramian, is a commentary on the Song of Songs, according to the Church Fathers, namely – Hyppolitus of Bostra, Origen, St Gregory of Nyssa, St Gregory of Narek, Vardan Areveltsi, and St Gregory of Tathev. The commentaries appear after each verse of the text of the book and are mostly retold, though sometimes one can also find translated excerpts. The Appendix of the book presents a new Eastern Armenian translation of the classical Armenian version of the Song of Songs.

SAINTS OF UNIVERSAL CHRISTENDOM

  • "Gandzasar" Theological Center, 1997, 317 pp. (in Armenian)

The present volume is the second among this author's series of collections of saints venerated in the Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church. It presents the lives of those saints that are also commemorated by the other traditional Churches, Catholic and Orthodox. This is the third edition, and does not contain any changes to the previous two. It begins with an introduction in which the late Armenian Patriarch of Turkey, Shnorhk Kalousdian, presents the main historical phases of the persecution of Christians. The volume is concluded by an appendix including also the biographies of some other famous saints of other Churches who are not commemorated by the Armenian Church.

THE LIFE OF THE CLERGY

  • "Gandzasar" Theological Center, 1993, 127 pp. (in Armenian)

This book, written by one of the 19th century Armenian Patriarchs of Constantinople, Khoren Ashekian, is addressed to the pastors of the Armenian Church. It was first published in 1891 in Constantinople. The chapters of the book are dedicated to the vocation of a clergyman as a pastor of the Church and to all those virtues by which he must be adorned to be a good servant of the Saviour and of the Armenian Church.

Gandzasar Theological Review, Volume 5

  • 1994, 351 pp. (in Armenian)

The 5th volume of the Gandzasar Theological Review comprises the following sections: Studies; Original Texts and Translations; Bible Commentaries; Lives of Saints; New Armenian Martyrs; Spiritual Culture. The volume opens with the Eastern Armenian translation of an excerpt from the “History” by Kirakos of Gandzak, on Prince Hasan who founded the Church of St John the Baptist in Gandzasar (trans. from Classical Armenian by Marta Arabyan). Then follow two writings of the Armenian Church Fathers: the Eastern Armenian translation of the “Homily on Palm Sunday” by Catholicos Sahak of Dzorop’or (trans. from Classical Armenian by Seda Stamboltsyan) and the Classical Armenian text of the “Ode on the Holy Mother of God” by Grigor Cerenc’ of Xlat’ (text prepared for publication by Artashes Matevosyan).

In the Studies section, articles by Archbishop Tiran Nersoyan, Very Rev. Fr. Abel Oghlugyan and Rev. Fr. Mesrop Aramian are placed.

The Original Texts and Translations section includes the Eastern Armenian translations of St Clement of Rome’s I Epistle to Corinthians (trans. from Greek by Simon Grkasharyan), Mxit’ar of Skewra’s apologetic treatise “On the 12 Apostles' equality in honour” (trans. from Classical Armenian by Azat Bozoyan) and the following Classical Armenian texts: David of K’obayr’s “Introduction (Patchar) to St Basil the Great's Book of Lenten Homilies” (prepared for publication by Kim Muradyan), St Basil the Great’s treatise on the Holy Spirit (continued from the previous volume of the Review), and a treatise attributed in the Armenian Church tradition to St Athanasius the Great, “To Those Who Say Man Commits Good and Evil by God’s Command” (text prepared for publication by Hakob Keoseyan).

The Bible Commentaries section continues presenting the Classical Armenian text of the Commentary on the Gospel of Matthew by Anania of Sanahin (text prepared for publication by Hakob Keoseyan).

The next section includes the lives of St Mary of Egypt, Catholicos Mashtoc of Elivard and John the Deacon Philosopher. The life of St Mashtots is presented in both Classical Armenian and the modern Armenian translation. Following these lives the martyrologies of three Armenian martyrs (“new martyrs”) are presented.

The Spiritual Culture section presents an article by Tigran Khachatryan on the symbolism of Christian temples.

THE SEMINARY OF ARMASH

  • 1998, 259 pp. (in Armenian)

This two-partite study is dedicated to a seminary established in the 19th century in the Armenian-populated village of Armash, Turkey, the region of Nicomedia. The founders of the Seminary of Armash were Bishop Maghakia Ormanian and the Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople Khoren Ashekian. The first part of this study, written by Prof. Paruyr Muradyan, presents the history of the monastery where the Seminary was located and of the Seminary itself. Astghik Musheghyan, the author of the second part, presents the musical traditions of the Seminary, the teachers of music who worked there, and their musical heritage.

CATECHISM

  • "Gandzasar" Theological Center, 1994, 144 pp. (in Armenian)

This is a brief Catechism of the Armenian Apostolic Church. It is formed on the basis of the Catechism written by the late Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, Papgen Giuleserian. This new edition, prepared by the Gandzasar Theological Center, contains numerous changes to the contents of Giuleserian's book but has retained its main structure. The Catechism is made up in the form of questions and answers, providing basic knowledge of the doctrine, sacraments and customs of the Armenian Church.

Gandzasar Theological Review, Volume 4

  • 1993, 348 pp. (in Armenian)

The 4th volume of the Gandzasar Theological Review comprises the following sections: Theological Studies; Church Fathers; Bible Commentaries; Lives of Saints; New Armenian Martyrs; Spiritual Culture. The volume opens with the Eastern Armenian translation of Nerses of Lambron's “Ode on the Coming of the All-Holy Spirit of God” (trans. by Very Rev. Fr. Mikayel Ajapahyan). 

In the Theological Studies section, articles by Archbishop Maghakia Ormanyan, Very Rev. Fr. Abel Oghlugyan, Rev. Fr. Mesrop Aramian, Paruyr Muradyan and Hakob Keoseyan are placed. 

The Church Fathers section includes Eastern Armenian translations of some Homilies («Yachaxapatum chark'») attributed to St Gregory the Illuminator, and one of his prayers (trans. by Fr. Mesrop Aramian and Seda Stamboltsyan); also the first parts of the text of the Classical Armenian translation of St Basil the Great's «Word on the Holy Spirit» (text prepared for publication by Hakob Keoseyan). 

The Bible Commentaries section presents the first parts of the Classical Armenian text of the commentary on the Gospel of Matthew by Anania of Sanahin (text prepared for publication by Hakob Keoseyan). 

The next section includes the lives of three universal Church Fathers, also venerated in the Armenian Church. Following them, the martyrologies of three Armenian martyrs (“new martyrs”) are presented. 

The Spiritual Culture section presents articles by Vigen Ghazaryan, Levon Hakobyan and a treatise by Ghevond Alishan (continued from the previous volume).