Moses Chorenensis

Moses Chorenensis surnamed "the father of poets and savans," an Armenian theologian, flourished in the 5th century. He was a nephew of Mlsrop (q.v.), and besides being trained by that learned man, enjoyed all the educational advantages which he could secure at Alexandria, where he spent seven years in study under Cyril Alexandrinus, and others equally renowned. He next visited Rome, Athens, and Constantinople, and returned home after years of closest application in those great centres of learning. He entered the service of the Church, and was shortly promoted to the bishopric of Bagrevand. During the rule of the Persians over his native country he refused to occupy any ecclesiastical positions, and retired to the wilderness. He died at the advanced age of 120. His works are numerous. Among his ablest are the History of Anrmenia, written in 481 by request of prince Sabak, which covers the history of that country down to A.D. 441, and a Manual of Rhetoric. He also devoted much time to the writing of hymns, and many of these are still retained in the divine service of the Armenian Church. An edition of his works, excepting only fragments and hymns, was published at Venice in 1843. See Neale, Hist. of the Eastern Church (Armenia); Aschbach, Kirchen-Lexikon, 4:278; Jahrbuch deutsch. Theol. 1868, volume 4. (J.H.W.)