Moses of Chorene (Armenian Մովսէս Խորենացի Movsēs Xorenac‘i, Movses Khorenats'i) (traditionally fl. 5th century AD) is traditionally regarded as the author of the most significant mediaeval Armenian history. He is credited with the earliest known historiographical work on Armenia, but is also known as a poet, or hymn writer, and a grammarian.
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Life
A native of the village of Khorni in the province of Taron, 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.
Works
The following works are attributed to Moses:
- History of Armenia
- Treatise on Rhetoric
- Treatise on Geography
- Letter on the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Homily on Christ's Transfiguration
- Oration on Hripsime, an Armenian Virgin and Martyr
- Hymns used in Armenian Church Worship
- Commentaries on the Armenian Grammarians
- Explanations of Armenian Church Offices
- Geography ("Ashxaracuyc") - a description of the World with maps (Later Moses's "Geography" was edited and renewed by the 7th century's scientist Anania Shirakatsi and other geographs of Medieval Armenia)
History
Moses is considered to be the "father of Armenian history" (patmahayr). It is uncertain whether the work as preserved is correctly attributed to him, and in part appears to date from some time after the 7th century.[1] It covers the time-frame from the formation of the Armenian people to the 5th century.
References
- ^ Robert K. Thomson, "Armenian Literary Culture through the Eleventh Century", in R.G. Hovahanissian (ed.), Armenian People from Ancient to Modern Times(Volume 1, 2004)
External links
- Movses of Chorene, "The History of Armenia" (Russian)
- "Moses of Chorene". Catholic Encyclopedia. (1913). New York: Robert Appleton Company. (English)
