Stephen Orbelian

Stepanos Orbelian (Armenian: Ստեփանոս Օրբելյան; c. 1250–1305) was a thirteenth-century Armenian historian^[1] and the Metropolitan bishop of the province of Syunik. He is known for writing his well-researched History of the Province of Syunik.

Biography

Orbelian was a member of the Orbelian family of princes and feudal lords who ruled Armenia's province of Syunik. He received his education at a religious seminary, and in 1285 his father, Tarsayich Orbelian, sent him to Cilician Armenia, where he was consecrated a metropolitan bishop on Easter 1286.^[2] He remained there for three months as a guest of King Levon III and finally returned to Syunik in 1287.^[3] Orbelian died in 1305 and was buried in the family mausoleum in the monastery complex at Noravank.

Works

Orbelian is known to have completed three works during his lifetime: the History of the Province of Syunik (Patmut'yun Nahangin Sisakan), in 1299; the Lament on Behalf of the Cathedral (Voghb i dimats' surb Kat'oghikeyin), where he calls on the Armenians to repopulate historic Armenia, which was at the time under foreign control, in 1300; and the Argument Against Dyophysitism (Hakacharut'iun unndem yerkabnakats'), in 1302, a work criticizing the pro-Byzantine and Westernizing tendencies of Grigor VII Anavarzetsi of Cilicia.^[4]

Of the three, the most prominent is that on the history of Syunik and the Orbelian family.^[2] Before he began writing it, he conducted an extensive amount of research, utilizing a wide variety of sources derived from speeches, letters, colophons, previous histories and chronicles by Armenian historians, as well as works by Georgian authors.^[2][5] Like other Armenian historians and chroniclers, Orbelian's work briefly narrates the beginning of the world starting with Adam and Eve, but then moves on to tell Syunik's and Armenia's history, spanning from the time of king Tiridates I to the end of the thirteenth century. Orbelian's work is especially valuable as it contains many previously unknown details about the province and Armenian history.^[2] In 1864 and 1866, History was translated into French by orientalist Marie-Félicité Brosset.^[6] Some excerpts were also translated into Russian and Georgian.^[2]

Notes

Medieval Armenian historians and chroniclers 5th century Koryun Agathangelos Yeghishe Faustus of Byzantium Movses Khorenatsi Ghazar Parpetsi 6th century Atanas Taronatsi Abraham Mamikoneits 7th century Sebeos John Mamikonean Anania Shirakatsi Anastas Vardapet Narratio de rebus Armeniae 8th century Ghevond Abraham Vanakan 9th century Tovma Artsruni 10th century Hovhannes Draskhanakerttsi Shapuh Bagratuni Ukhtanes of Sebastia Movses Kaghankatvatsi Zenob Glak Aharon Vanandetsi Mesrop Vayotsdzoretsi 11th century Stepanos Asoghik Hakob Sanahnetsi Aristakes Lastivertsi 12th century Matthew of Edessa Grigor Yerets Samuel Anetsi Mkhitar Gosh Mkhitar Anetsi 13th century Vardan Areveltsi Hovhanes Avagerets Kirakos of Gandzak Sempad the Constable Mekhitar of Ayrivank Hayton of Corycus Gregory of Akner Vahram Rabuni Stepanos Episkopos Stephen Orbelian 14th century Nerses Palianents 15th century Thomas of Metsoph Kirakos Banaser Sebastatsi Abraham Ankyuratsi David Merdintsi Martiros Yerznkatsi 16th century Barsegh Arjishetsi Hovhanes Arjishetsi Simeon Aparantsi Andreas Evdokatsi Hovanisik Tsaretsi 17th century Grigor Daranaghetsi Simeon Lehatsi Arakel of Tabriz Khachgruz Kafaetsi Hovhanes Kamenatsi David Baghishetsi Hakob Karnetsi Zakaria Sarkavag Zakaria Aguletsi Minas Amdetsi Yeremia Chelebi Keomurjian Hakob Hisusi Grigor dpir Varagetsi Gabriel Tokhatetsi Vardan Baghishetsi Stepanos Dashtetsi 18th century Esai Hasan-Jalalian Petros di Sargis Gilanents Stepanos Roshka Abraham Kretatsi Simeon Yerevantsi Tovmas Khojamalian Khachatur Jughaetsi Isahak Vardapet Avetik Baghdasarian Abraham Yerevantsi Stepanos Yerets