Moses of Chorene (Armenian Մովսէս Խորենացի — Movses Khorenatsi) (5th century AD) is the most significant mediaeval Armenian historian, and one of the outstanding representatives of world historiography, considered to be the "father of Armenian history".

His History of Armenia covers the time-frame from the formation of the Armenian people to his own day (5th century). It contains the richest and most unique material on ancient Armenian legends, the pagan (pre-Christian) religion, the internal life of the country, and its relations with the world. It also contains plentiful data on the history and culture of contiguous countries. The Armenians are a nation or ethnic group, originating in the Caucasus and eastern Asia Minor. ...

The critical attitude of the author toward other sources is manifested in the book. It is characterized by exceptional literary merits: harmony of structure, colorful description of people and events, picturesque and laconic language. The book had an enormous impact on Armenian historiography.

According to Moses of Chorene, he was a disciple of Saint Mesrop, and he composed his work at the request of Isaac (Sahak), the Bagratunid prince who fell in battle in 482. Saint Mesrob Mashdots (Armenian: Western:Մեսրոբ Մաշդոց; Eastern:Մեսրոպ Մաշտոց [Mesrop Mashtots]) (360 - February 17, 440) was an Armenian monk, theologian and linguist. ...

The book is divided into three parts:

• «Genealogy of Armenia Major», embracing the history of Armenia from the beginning down to the foundation of the Arsacide dynasty (149 B. C.);
• «History of the middle period of our ancestors», extending from 149 B. C. to the death of St. Gregory the Illuminator and the reign of King Terdat (A. D. 149-332);
• the third part brings the history down to the overthrow of the Arsacid Dynasty (A. D. 428).

There is also a fourth part, which was added to the work by a later writer, who brought the history down to the time of the Emperor Zeno (474-491). The first three parts also contain some anahronistic data, which contradicts with other fifth-century Armenian writers such as Koriun and Lazarus of Pharp. Based on these contradictions and anachronism, some researches (Dr. Bardenhewer, Carrière) have assumed that the «History of Armenia» is not the work of Moses of Chorene. Saint Gregory the Illuminator (Alternate: Gregory the Wonderworker, Armenian: Gregor Lusarovitch, Greek: Gregarios Phoster or Photistes), the founder and patron saint of the Armenian Apostolic Church, was born about 257 AD. He belonged to the royal line of the Arsacid Dynasty, being the son of a certain Prince Anak, who... King Trdat (Trdat III or Trdat IV depending on the source) was the first Christian king of Armenia. ... The Arsacid Dynasty ruled Persia. ... Zeno on a coin celebrating his victories. ...

This, however, does not dispose of the historical personality of Moses of Chorene, who is one of the venerable fathers of the Armenian Church, and who really lived in the fifth century. Lazarus of Pharp bears witness to the existence in the fifth century of an Armenian bishop named Moses and a distinguished writer. Armenian Church can refer to: Armenian Catholic Church Armenian Apostolic Church External reference and links Jerusalem Photos Archive - Armenian Church in Jerusalem Pictures of Armenian Churches This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists pages that might otherwise share the same title. ...

We do not know the reason why this eighth- or ninth-century editor and author of the fourth book assumed the name of Moses of Chorene. Perhaps, he intended to glorify the Bagratunid dynasty which from the end of the seventh century surpassed in splendour all the other noble houses of Armenia. In 885 Aschot I, a descendant of that house, was recognized by the Caliph as King of Armenia. Vetter conjectures that the secret aim of the pseudo-Moses of Chorene was to prepare the way for the accession of this house. In spite of its really late date, the author's narrative is generally speaking, trustworthy. He draws largely on ancient authorities, though occasionally modifying them in a capricious way, and embodies his own ideas in their context; but it cannot be maintained, as some have done, that he invented these authorities. His witnesses for the ancient history of Armenia, even as late as the second or third century after Christ, were principally legends and folk-song, and it is precisely this legendary element that lends to the work its special charm and value. Region (Bagrevand) and family Bagratuni (or Bagratids) that ruled it, of the old Armenia c. ...

Movses of Chorene is also known as a poet, or hymn writer, and a grammarian. A native of Choren or Chorni in the province of Darou, when young, he was sent by Mesrop, the founder of Armenian literature, to study in Edessa, Constantinople, Alexandria, Athens, and Rome. Upon his return, he is said to have assisted Mesrop (407-433), in the translation of the Bible into Armenian. The date of his birth is unknown, but the above fact would indicate that he was born towards the end of the fourth century, and his death is generally placed about the end of the fifth. Saint Mesrob Mashdots (Armenian: Western:Մեսրոբ Մաշդոց; Eastern:Մեսրոպ Մաշտոց [Mesrop Mashtots]) (360 - February 17, 440) was an Armenian monk, theologian and linguist. ... This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Map of Constantinople. ... Antiquity and modernity stand cheek-by-jowl in Egypts chief Mediterranean seaport Located on the Mediterranean Sea coast, Alexandria (in Arabic, الإسكندرية, transliterated al-ʼIskandariyyah) is the chief seaport in Egypt, and that countrys second largest city, and the capital of the Al Iskandariyah governate. ... The Acropolis in central Athens, one of the most important landmarks in world history. ... City motto: Senatus Populusque Romanus – SPQR (The Senate and the People of Rome) Founded 21 April 753 BC mythical, 1st millennium BC Region Latium Mayor Walter Veltroni (Democratici di Sinistra) Area  - City Proper  1290 km² Population  - City (2004)  - Metropolitan  - Density (city proper) 2,546,807 almost 4,000,000 1... The holy jewish scripture: The Torah. ...

The following works are attributed to him: «Treatise on Rhetoric»; «Treatise on Geography»; «Letter on Assumption of B. V. M.»; «Homily on Christ's Transfiguration»; «Oration on Hripsinia, an Armenian Virgin and Martyr»; «Hymns used in Armenian Church Worship»; «Commentaries on the Armenian Grammarians»; and «Explanations of Armenian Church Offices». The most celebrated work, however, is the «History of Armenia», practically the only work preserving the early history and traditions of pre-Christian Armenia.

The first edition of the «History of Armenia» was published at Amsterdam, 1695; the second at London, with a Latin translation, 1736; the third at Venice, 1752; it was translated into French (Venice, 1841), and Italian (ibid.). The best translation is that made by Langlois in his «Historiens Anciens de l'Arménie» (Paris, 1867), II, 47, 175. The Armenian Mechitarist Fathers of Venice have issued several editions of the work in 1827, 1843-64, etc.

Links

• Movses of Chorene, "The History of Armenia" (In Russian)