Eznik
Encyclopedia
Eznik, or Yeznik Koghbatsi , was an Armenian
Christian
writer of the fifth century.
, in the province of Tayk
, a tributary valley of the Chorokh, in Northern Armenia. He was a pupil of Isaac, the catholicos
Isaac the Great of Armenia or Isaac of Seleucia
, and of Saint Mesrop. At their request he went first to Edessa
, then to Constantinople
to perfect himself in the various sciences and to collect or copy Syriac and Greek manuscripts of the Bible, and the writings of the Fathers of the Church. He returned to Armenia after the First Council of Ephesus (431).
He is probably identical with Eznik, Bishop of Bagrevand, who took part in the Synod of Artashat
in 449.
.
In the work Eznik displays much acumen and an extensive erudition. He was evidently as familiar with Persian - as with Greek literature. His Armenian diction is of the choicest classical type although the nature of his subject matter forced him to use quite a number of Greek words.
His "Against the Sects" was first published at Smyrna
(now Izmir) in 1762; again, much more correctly and from several manuscripts, by the Mechitarists
at Venice in 1826 and in 1865. An indifferent French translation was made by LeVaillant de Florival, "Réfutation des différentes sectes", etc. (Paris, 1853). A good German translation is that by J. M. Schmid, "Eznik von Kolb, Wider die Sekten" (Leipzig, 1900). Langlois published a general introduction to the whole treatise and a translation of part of book II (section 5, 1-11, containing Magism) in his "Collection des historiens anciens et modernes de l'Arménie", II, pp. 371 sq.
Eznik is also the author of a short collection of moral precepts, printed with his more important treatise.
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....
Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
writer of the fifth century.
Biography
He was born at KoghbTuzluca
Tuzlucа is a town and district of Iğdır Province in the Eastern Anatolia region of Turkey. Part of the district forms the international border between Turkey and Armenia.-Etymology:The town was later renamed Tuzluca, Tuz meaning salt in Turkish...
, in the province of Tayk
Tayk
Tayk was a historical province of the Greater Armenia, one of its 15 ashkars . Tayk consisted of 8 cantons:* Kogh* Berdats por* Partizats por* Tchakatk* Bokha* Vokaghe* Azordats por* Arsiats por....
, a tributary valley of the Chorokh, in Northern Armenia. He was a pupil of Isaac, the catholicos
Catholicos
Catholicos, plural Catholicoi, is a title used for the head of certain churches in some Eastern Christian traditions. The title implies autocephaly and in some cases is borne by the designated head of an autonomous church, in which case the holder might have other titles such as Patriarch...
Isaac the Great of Armenia or Isaac of Seleucia
Isaac of Seleucia
Isaac of Seleucia was a Patriarch of the Persian Church, who is celebrated among the Catholicoi for having reorganized the Persian Church after the terrible persecution that overwhelmed it under Shapûr II.-Biography:...
, and of Saint Mesrop. At their request he went first to Edessa
Edessa, Mesopotamia
Edessa is the Greek name of an Aramaic town in northern Mesopotamia, as refounded by Seleucus I Nicator. For the modern history of the city, see Şanlıurfa.-Names:...
, then to Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
to perfect himself in the various sciences and to collect or copy Syriac and Greek manuscripts of the Bible, and the writings of the Fathers of the Church. He returned to Armenia after the First Council of Ephesus (431).
He is probably identical with Eznik, Bishop of Bagrevand, who took part in the Synod of Artashat
Artashat
Artashat , is a city on Araks River in the Ararat valley, 30 km southeast of Yerevan. Being one of the oldest cities of Armenia, Artashat is the capital of Ararat Province. Modern Artashat is situated on the Yerevan-Nakhichevan-Baku and Nakhichevan-Tabriz railway and on...
in 449.
Works
In addition to his labours in connection with the new version of the Bible and various translations, he composed several works, the principal of which is his remarkable treatise "Against the Sects" or "On God". It was written between 441 and 449, and contains four books or chapters. In the first, against the heathens, Eznik combats the eternity of matter and the substantial existence of evil. In the second he refutes the chief doctrines of Parseeism. The third is directed against the Greek philosophers (Pythagoreans, Platonists, Peripatetics, Stoics and Epicureans), taking his arguments from the Bible rather than from reason. The fourth book is an exposition and refutation of MarcionismMarcionism
Marcionism was an Early Christian dualist belief system that originated in the teachings of Marcion of Sinope at Rome around the year 144; see also Christianity in the 2nd century....
.
In the work Eznik displays much acumen and an extensive erudition. He was evidently as familiar with Persian - as with Greek literature. His Armenian diction is of the choicest classical type although the nature of his subject matter forced him to use quite a number of Greek words.
His "Against the Sects" was first published at Smyrna
Smyrna
Smyrna was an ancient city located at a central and strategic point on the Aegean coast of Anatolia. Thanks to its advantageous port conditions, its ease of defence and its good inland connections, Smyrna rose to prominence. The ancient city is located at two sites within modern İzmir, Turkey...
(now Izmir) in 1762; again, much more correctly and from several manuscripts, by the Mechitarists
Mechitarists
The Mechitarists , are a congregation of Benedictine monks of the Armenian Catholic Church founded in 1712 by Abbot Mechitar of Sebastia. They are best known for their series of scholarly publications of ancient Armenian versions of otherwise lost ancient Greek texts.-History:Their eponymous...
at Venice in 1826 and in 1865. An indifferent French translation was made by LeVaillant de Florival, "Réfutation des différentes sectes", etc. (Paris, 1853). A good German translation is that by J. M. Schmid, "Eznik von Kolb, Wider die Sekten" (Leipzig, 1900). Langlois published a general introduction to the whole treatise and a translation of part of book II (section 5, 1-11, containing Magism) in his "Collection des historiens anciens et modernes de l'Arménie", II, pp. 371 sq.
Eznik is also the author of a short collection of moral precepts, printed with his more important treatise.