Hovhannes Draskhanakerttsi ( hy, Յովհաննէս Դրասխանակերտցի, John of Drasxanakert, various spellings exist), also called John V the Historian, was
Catholicos of Armenia 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 or placed near the historical canton of Shirak in
Ayrarat province
Ayrarat () was the central province of the ancient kingdom Armenia, located in the plain of the upper Aras River. Most of the historical capitals of Armenia were located in this province, including Armavir, Yervandashat, Artashat, Vagharshapat, ...
(later medieval Armenian historians claimed he was from
Garni or
Dvin Dvin may refer to:
*Dvin (ancient city), an ancient city and one of the historic capitals of Armenia
*Dvin, Armenia, a modern village in Armenia named after the nearby ancient city of Dvin
*Verin Dvin, a village in the Ararat Province of Armenia
*FC ...
).
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 and
Ashot II the Iron
Ashot II the Iron ( hy, Աշոտ Բ; r. 914–929) was an Armenian king of the royal Bagratuni line. He was the son and successor of King Smbat I. His reign was filled with rebellions by vassals and pretenders to the throne, as well as foreign in ...
, who fought against Arab domination of Armenia.
The Catholicos played an important role in the consolidation of
Bagratid Armenia.
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 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