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Moses of Chorene (Armenian Մովսէս Խորենացի Movsēs Xorenac‘i, Movses Khorenats'i) (5th century AD) is traditionally regarded as the author of the most significant mediaeval Armenian history. He is credited with the earliest known historiographical work on Armenia, but is also known as a poet, or hymn writer, and a grammarian.

Life

A native of the village of Khorni in the province of Taron, when young, he was sent by Mesrop, the founder of Armenian literature, to study in Edessa, Constantinople, Alexandria, Athens, and Rome. Upon his return, he is said to have assisted Mesrop (407-433), in the translation of the Bible into Armenian.

Works

The following works are attributed to Moses:

• History of Armenia
• Treatise on Rhetoric
• Treatise on Geography
• Letter on the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
• Homily on Christ's Transfiguration
• Oration on Hripsime, an Armenian Virgin and Martyr
• Hymns used in Armenian Church Worship
• Commentaries on the Armenian Grammarians
• Explanations of Armenian Church Offices

History

Moses is considered to be the "father of Armenian history" (patmahayr). It is uncertain whether the work as preserved is correctly attributed to him, and in part appears to date to the 6th or 7th century. It covers the time-frame from the formation of the Armenian people to the 5th century.

References

1. Robert K. Thomson, "Armenian Literary Culture through the Eleventh Century", in R.G. Hovahanissian (ed.), Armenian People from Ancient to Modern Times(Volume 1, 2004)

External links

• Movses of Chorene, "The History of Armenia" (In Russian)

• Armenian people
• History of Armenia
• Historians
• Armenian historians