Grigor III Pahlavuni
Encyclopedia
Grigor III Pahlavuni (1093–1166) officially became catholicos
of the Armenian Apostolic Church
in the year 1113. He is known for his sharakans, which are collections of hymns, and for the several lays he had written during his lifetime. The sharakans written by Pahlavuni typically have strong doctrinal influences and several relate to either the Feast of the Annunciation or Palm Sunday
. Two of his better known sharakans are Khorhudn Hanchar and Metsahrash. Pahlavuni earned the nickname “the younger lover of martyr
s” because of his love for translating martyrologies from Greek
and Latin
to Armenian
. During his time as catholicos, Grigor III and Pope Innocent II
occasionally had some correspondence with one another. Only one of the letters aforementioned still survives as an Armenian translation of a letter from Pope Innocent II to the catholicos.
Grigor III held office as catholicos for a little more than fifty years, and his younger brother Nerses Shnorhali assisted him greatly during this time. Pahlavuni was able to maintain peace within the Cilician Kingdom and the catholicate during a time of instability due to raids from foreign invaders. Because of these foreign invasions, Grigor III chose to seek refuge and moved the catholicate
two times; once in 1116 from Karmir Vank at Kesun to its new location in Tsovak
, and again in 1149 to Hromgla. Nerses was elected co-catholicos in 1165. After Grigor III retired from his position in office in 1166, Nerses, who would be later referred to as Nerses IV the Gracious or Saint Nerses the Graceful was elected unanimously to succeed him.
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...
of the Armenian Apostolic Church
Armenian Apostolic Church
The Armenian Apostolic Church is the world's oldest National Church, is part of Oriental Orthodoxy, and is one of the most ancient Christian communities. Armenia was the first country to adopt Christianity as its official religion in 301 AD, in establishing this church...
in the year 1113. He is known for his sharakans, which are collections of hymns, and for the several lays he had written during his lifetime. The sharakans written by Pahlavuni typically have strong doctrinal influences and several relate to either the Feast of the Annunciation or Palm Sunday
Palm Sunday
Palm Sunday is a Christian moveable feast that falls on the Sunday before Easter. The feast commemorates Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, an event mentioned in all four Canonical Gospels. ....
. Two of his better known sharakans are Khorhudn Hanchar and Metsahrash. Pahlavuni earned the nickname “the younger lover of martyr
Martyr
A martyr is somebody who suffers persecution and death for refusing to renounce, or accept, a belief or cause, usually religious.-Meaning:...
s” because of his love for translating martyrologies from Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
and Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
to Armenian
Armenian language
The Armenian language is an Indo-European language spoken by the Armenian people. It is the official language of the Republic of Armenia as well as in the region of Nagorno-Karabakh. The language is also widely spoken by Armenian communities in the Armenian diaspora...
. During his time as catholicos, Grigor III and Pope Innocent II
Pope Innocent II
Pope Innocent II , born Gregorio Papareschi, was pope from 1130 to 1143, and was probably one of the clergy in personal attendance on the antipope Clement III .-Early years:...
occasionally had some correspondence with one another. Only one of the letters aforementioned still survives as an Armenian translation of a letter from Pope Innocent II to the catholicos.
Grigor III held office as catholicos for a little more than fifty years, and his younger brother Nerses Shnorhali assisted him greatly during this time. Pahlavuni was able to maintain peace within the Cilician Kingdom and the catholicate during a time of instability due to raids from foreign invaders. Because of these foreign invasions, Grigor III chose to seek refuge and moved the catholicate
Catholicate
A Catholicate or Catholicosate is the area of responsibility of a catholicos, a leader within any of the several churches of Eastern Christianity, especially those regarded as Oriental Orthodoxy...
two times; once in 1116 from Karmir Vank at Kesun to its new location in Tsovak
Tsovak
Tsovak is a town in the Gegharkunik province of Armenia. The town is the site of a large iron age fort atop a hill with a cuneiform inscription of Sarduri II .- References :* – World-Gazetteer.com...
, and again in 1149 to Hromgla. Nerses was elected co-catholicos in 1165. After Grigor III retired from his position in office in 1166, Nerses, who would be later referred to as Nerses IV the Gracious or Saint Nerses the Graceful was elected unanimously to succeed him.
External links
See also
- Seats of the Catholicos of ArmeniansSeats of the Catholicos of ArmeniansSeats of the Catholicos of Armenians is the list of the seats of the Catholicos of Armenians...
- List of Catholicoi of Armenia
- Catholicos of Cilicia