Koriun Vardapet Was an Armenian Scholar of Term Paper

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Koriun Vardapet was an Armenian scholar of the 5th Century and was among those who first translated the Bible into Armenian. His most valid contribution to Armenian literature must be the Life of Mashtots, a book based on the life of his mentor, St. Mashtots Vardapet, who created the "God-given alphabet of the Azkanazian nation and of the land of Armenia" (Koriun, 1985).

Koriun was one of the 'Holy Translators' who's job it was to translate religious texts, including the Bible and writings by Greek and Syriac authors, who were considered highly important in Christian literature as being that "reasons favor the view that the Gospels were first read in a translation dependent on a Syriac text of Tatian's Diatessaron" (Pearse, 2002).

Christianity's arrival to Armenia is maintained to have been introduced by St. Bartholomew, and Thaddeus. "It also is known that small Jewish colonies dating probably to the period of the Babylonian captivity (sixth century B.C.) existed in Armenia and probably served as axes for the spreading of the Christian gospel. Tradition also links Armenia with the legendary Christian king Abgar (d. 50 A.D.) of Edessa" (Steeves, 1991).

Armenia's conversion to Christianity was also spearheaded by St. Gregory the Illuminator and by the time of his passing, circa 311, Armenia's churches suffered through internal dissensions, as well as political turmoil.

Mesopotamia, Egypt and the Indus river valley surrounded the country. Armenia is dominated by Mt. Ararat and historically, it has seen it's fair share of war and refuge. It is also an important reference within Christian literatures and scriptures.

The onset of Armenia being shared with Persia after the Greek conflict created greater turmoil for the Church and Christianity's survival in Armenia as the Persian's were determined to replace it with Parseeism.

As it is, "The Armenians were the first people to adopt Christianity as the official state religion" (Steeves, 1991) and the importance of a translated Bible was invaluable to the people and the stability of the Church in the country. It could be said, that it was the Church that provided the people a safe-haven and ability to keep above the turmoil that would eventually cross their borders and threaten their statehood.

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The creation of an Armenian language helped to solidify a translation of the bible. "A Church without the Bible in the hands of her faithful could not stand very long and very firm in the midst of a pagan world.

The Armenian Church Fathers were deeply conscious of the pressing necessity, of the absolute urgency of the translation of the Bible into Armenian" (Sarkissian, 1960).

Armenian Christian literature was greatly influenced by this invention of an Armenian language by Mashtots (Mesrob) and his life was recorded in Koriun's The Life of Mashtots.

Koriun was a disciple of Mashtots and during the surfacing of Christianity in Armenia; there was also a change in architecture and music.

There was also a boom in science and mathematics flourished, as did medicine and astronomy.

Despite the political problems, it was a semi-renaissance for the country.

Koriun's contribution to Armenia's historical works, is best shown in his biography of Mashtots. This has become one of the most reliable sources of historical background regarding St. Mashtots and his creation of the Armenian language, which in turn brought about the full development of the Armenian Church to the people in the 5th Century.

Koriun is believed to have been in the regions of Amida and Edessa to learn the Greek and Syrian language (Sarkissian, 1960). Besides contributing on the translation of the Bible, Koriun also helped with translating the Liturgies, and other documents of the Greek and Syrian Church fathers.

As mentioned, the most important work by Koriun is The Life of Mashtots. Within this book he gives historical details of his mentor and of the era that are otherwise lost. The work has been translated throughout the years into many languages including French, German and Russian. He gives great details to Mashtots dedication in creating the Armenian language, as well as the Georgian and Albanian alphabets.

Koriun was one of a few 'historians' who have documented….....

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