[37] See Morier, Second Journey, pp. 323 seq. [↑]
[38] See Dubois de Montpéreux, op. cit. vol. iii. p. 213, and Neale’s Holy Eastern Church, vol. i. p. 296. The former of these writers informs us that our church of St. Ripsime “a servi de type à une foule d’autres églises,” and the latter has improved upon this statement by asserting that it is “the norm of all Armenian ecclesiastical buildings” (Dubois, vol. iii. p. 380, and Neale, vol. i. p. 293). Leaving Georgia out of account, both these statements are incorrect. [↑]
[39] Unless we accept Neale’s hypothesis that they served as a narthex. But the narthex is not a feature of the churches of Great Armenia. [↑]
[40] According to Brosset (Voyage Arch., rapp. 3, p. 82) the diameter of the dome is not less than about 35 feet. The height is given by Neale, op. cit. p. 296, as 104½ feet to the top of the cross. [↑]
[41] Sebeos, History of Heraklius (in Armenian), part iii. ch. xxv. [↑]
[42] For the theft and recovery of these relics see Smith and Dwight (Missionary Researches, London, 1834, p. 280), and Brosset (Voyage Arch., rapp. 3, p. 83). [↑]
[43] Brosset, ibid. p. 82. The date reposes upon the authority of the historian, John Katholikos. [↑]
[44] According to Agathangelus the third chapel was built upon the site of the wine-press. Further on we are told that it was situated north of the town, and that in it was buried the unfortunate nun who was left behind owing to sickness. [↑]
[45] Brosset (Bull. Scientifique Acad. Sc. St. Pétersbourg, 1840, pp. 46 seq.) quotes a letter from Nahabet to this effect. [↑]