Arakel of Tabriz
Encyclopedia
Arakel Davrizhetsi or Arakel of Tabriz - Առաքել Դավրիժեցի (1590s, Tabriz
- 1670, Echmiadzin
) was a 17th century Armenian historian
, born in Tabriz
, in the province of Atrpatakan of imperial Iran. In 1636 he was the custodian of the Hovhannavank Monastery
, which he left to go to Echmiadzin
. The adjective Davrizhetsi points to Davrezh, Armenian for Tabriz.
Within his life he was already called "the Historian Arakel" and had a reputation of being a very competent and inquisitive person. He wrote the "book of histories", a unique work on the history of Armenia and adjacent countries and peoples in the seventeenth century. He witnessed many events and described them in the book.
Arakel Davrizhetsi was the first Armenian historian whose work was printed. In 1669, the "book of the histories" of the Vardapet Arakel Davrizhetsi was published in Amsterdam
.
Arakel Davrizhetsi died in 1670 and was buried, as he desired, in the cemetery of Echmiadzin's Gayane monastery.
The Armenian
chronicle of Arakel of Tabriz, and the chronicle of the Carmelite missionaries describe in great detail how the persecution of Iranian Jews started in Isfahan and spread to all the major towns of the kingdom.
Tabriz
Tabriz is the fourth largest city and one of the historical capitals of Iran and the capital of East Azerbaijan Province. Situated at an altitude of 1,350 meters at the junction of the Quri River and Aji River, it was the second largest city in Iran until the late 1960s, one of its former...
- 1670, Echmiadzin
Echmiadzin
Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin is a 4th century Armenian church in the town of Ejmiatsin, Armenia. It is also the central cathedral of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin of the Armenian Apostolic Church....
) was a 17th century Armenian historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
, born in Tabriz
Tabriz
Tabriz is the fourth largest city and one of the historical capitals of Iran and the capital of East Azerbaijan Province. Situated at an altitude of 1,350 meters at the junction of the Quri River and Aji River, it was the second largest city in Iran until the late 1960s, one of its former...
, in the province of Atrpatakan of imperial Iran. In 1636 he was the custodian of the Hovhannavank Monastery
Hovhannavank Monastery
Hovhannavank is an Armenian Apostolic Church monastery located in the village of Ohanavan in the Aragatsotn Province of Armenia. It is situated atop a steep gorge carved by the Kasagh river...
, which he left to go to Echmiadzin
Echmiadzin
Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin is a 4th century Armenian church in the town of Ejmiatsin, Armenia. It is also the central cathedral of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin of the Armenian Apostolic Church....
. The adjective Davrizhetsi points to Davrezh, Armenian for Tabriz.
Background
He spent most of his life in the Echmiadzin, the monastic fraternity to which he belonged. Here he was, according to himself, "raised and trained", here he began to work, here he arrived in old age, hoping "to find rest".Within his life he was already called "the Historian Arakel" and had a reputation of being a very competent and inquisitive person. He wrote the "book of histories", a unique work on the history of Armenia and adjacent countries and peoples in the seventeenth century. He witnessed many events and described them in the book.
Arakel Davrizhetsi was the first Armenian historian whose work was printed. In 1669, the "book of the histories" of the Vardapet Arakel Davrizhetsi was published in Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
.
Arakel Davrizhetsi died in 1670 and was buried, as he desired, in the cemetery of Echmiadzin's Gayane monastery.
The Armenian
Armenians
Armenian people or Armenians are a nation and ethnic group native to the Armenian Highland.The largest concentration is in Armenia having a nearly-homogeneous population with 97.9% or 3,145,354 being ethnic Armenian....
chronicle of Arakel of Tabriz, and the chronicle of the Carmelite missionaries describe in great detail how the persecution of Iranian Jews started in Isfahan and spread to all the major towns of the kingdom.