Object structure

The article deals with a hypothesis developed by the British researcher F. C. Conybeare claiming existence of a new source about the Paulician doctrine, previously overlooked by scholars. F.C. Conybeare refers to a Chalcedonic polemical pamphlet entitled “Accusatory word against Armenians” ascribed to so called “Catholicos Isahak”. In this pamphlet Armenians are accused of a number of monophysite heresies. In Conybeare's opinion, alongside with different monophysite heresies, Armenians are also accused of the Paulician heresy, though the word “Paulician” does not appear anywhere in the pamphlet. The scholar has based his hypothesis on the comparison of a 19th century manuscript “The key of truth” (which Conybeare considers a Paulician / Tondrakian manual) and the 8th chapter of the aforementioned epistle of “Isahak”. He concludes that this chapter contains charges against doctrinal principles specific to Paulicians. The article discusses authorship and date of “Isahak's” pamphlet using previous research on another pamphlet by the same author, “Narratio de Rebus Armenia”. Also, it reveals impact on polemical treatises of the later period, such as anti-monophysite works of Ephtimios Zigaben and Nicetas Choniates. A detailed contextual analysis of the 8th chapter of “Isahak's” pamphlet “Accusative word…” shows that despite formal resemblance its content is not relevant to the Paulician doctrinal principles. Conversely, the contextual study reveals that the pamphlet was written against rituals and “false” ordination of the Armenian Apostolic church and that there cannot be any connection with Paulicians.

Москва-Ереван

Институт языкознания РАН ; Институт археологии и этнографии НАН

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