Koriun and Armenian historical literature

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.

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 the time and early history of Armenia. Of these other historical works one such other, "The History of Agathangelos (5th century), is about the struggle against paganism in Armenia, and about the acknowledgement of Christianity as a state religion in 301. This primary source about the first period of Christianity has several editions in different languages. Some of this editions and the Armenian original have been lately translated into Italian (1843), Swedish (1860), French (1867), English (1976)" (Matenadaran, 2003).

Koriun's contribution to Armenian literature is on a small scale compared to these other historical works for the period, but Koriun documented a biography of the man who helped create a future for Armenian literature by creating an Armenian alphabet.

Koriun's other contributions as a "Holy Translator" in church, and in translating the Bible are of equal importance, though without his work about his mentor, history would have lost forever the knowledge of Mashtots and his life.

Christian literature in the 5th Century was limited within Armenia. Elsewhere, church historians contributed their recordings regarding influential changes in Christian literature and relevant translations of doctrines. Writers like the 5th-century church historian Gennadius of Marseilles documented the life of Nicetas of Remesiana and his sacred musical influences to converted Serbians.

Such historians are of value to the period as by the end of the 5th Century, the Roman Empire was split in two, with Milan as one capital and Constantinople as another. During invasions in the east, vandals and Goth invaders destroyed many manuscripts and doctrines.

The value of Korian's work to Christian literature in Armenia is immeasurable, in my opinion, and I am sure to him, was just a measure of his love and devotion to his mentor in creating a written record of Mashtots' virtues and contributions to the Church and the Armenian society.

In the scope of Armenian Christian literature, the Armenians and Armenia are considered to have a special place in the genre. Their work in recording and translating the Holy Scriptures was considered a turning point for the people of Armenia. In essence, "it meant for the Armenian people an entire transfiguration or transformation - if these expressions may be allowed - which was felt not only in the fifth century, but also in the succeeding centuries" (Sarkissian, 1960).