Hovhannes Draskhanakerttsi ( hy, Յովհաննէս Դրասխանակերտցի, John of Drasxanakert, various spellings exist), also called John V the Historian, was
Catholicos of Armenia
The Catholicos of All Armenians (plural Catholicoi) ( hy, Ամենայն Հայոց Կաթողիկոս; see #Other names), is the chief bishop and spiritual leader of Armenia's national church, the Armenian Apostolic Church, and the worldwide Arm ...
from 897 to 925, and a noted chronicler and historian. He is known for his ''History of Armenia.''
He is also the author of a list of Armenian Catholicoi titled ''Shar Hayrapetatsʻn Hayotsʻ''.
[Yovhannes Drasxanakertc'i/John Katholikos (1987). '' History of Armenia by John Katholikos''. Translated by Maksoudian, Krikor H. Atlanta, Georgia: Scholars Press. p. 8–23.]
What little is known about Catholicos Hovhannes's life comes from his own written works. He gives his own birthplace as Draskhkert (Draskhanakert), which has been variously identified with modern
Ashtarak
Ashtarak (Armenian language, Armenian: ), is a town and urban municipal community in the Aragatsotn Province of Armenia, located on the left bank of Kasagh River along the gorge, northwest of the capital Yerevan. It is the administrative centre of ...
or placed near the historical canton of Shirak in
Ayrarat province (later medieval Armenian historians claimed he was from
Garni
Garni ( hy, Գառնի), is a major village in the Kotayk Province of Armenia. It is known for the nearby classical temple. As of the 2011 census, the population of the village is 6,910.
History
The settlement has an ancient history, and is b ...
or
Dvin).
He was related to his predecessor as catholicos,
Mashtots I, under whom he studied.
Hovhannes's pontificate coincided with the reigns of
Bagratid kings of Armenia
Smbat I
Smbat I (; c. 850–912/14) was the second king of the medieval Kingdom of Armenia of the Bagratuni dynasty, and son of Ashot I. He is the father of Ashot II (known as Ashot Yerkat) and Abas I.
Rule
Smbat I was crowned king in 892 in Shiraka ...
and
Ashot II the Iron, who fought against Arab domination of Armenia.
The Catholicos played an important role in the consolidation of
Bagratid Armenia
The Bagratid Kingdom of Armenia, also known as Bagratid Armenia ( xcl, Բագրատունեաց Հայաստան, or , , 'kingdom of the Bagratunis'), was an independent Armenian state established by Ashot I Bagratuni of the Bagratuni dynasty ...
.
He often tried to play the role of peacemaker between Ashot II and his rebellious vassals and frequently went on diplomatic missions to Armenia's neighbors.
After returning the Catholicosate to Dvin since it had been reclaimed from the Arabs, he moved it again to
Vaspurakan
Vaspurakan (, Western Armenian pronunciation: ''Vasbouragan'') was the eighth province of the ancient kingdom of Armenia, which later became an independent kingdom during the Middle Ages, centered on Lake Van. Located in what is now southeaster ...
around 924, fleeing the
Sajid army. There he spent the last years of his life. According to local traditions, Hovhannes was buried in Vaspurakan at either Dzoroy Vank or in the
monastery of Akhtamar.
References
External links
Maksoudian's translation of Yovhannes Drasxanakertc'i History of Armenia
- ''mirror if main site is unavailable''
Yovhannes Drasxanakertc'i history of Armenia
- ''details of published book''
{{authority control
10th-century Armenian historians
Chroniclers
Catholicoi of Armenia
9th-century Oriental Orthodox archbishops
10th-century Oriental Orthodox archbishops