User:Revolution Saga/Vanakan Vardapet

Vanakan Vardapet (Վանական Վարդապետ; 1181 – 1251) was a medieval Armenian historian, theologian and educator. He was a student of the renowned scholar Mkhitar Gosh and mentor to the historian Kirakos Gandzaketsi.

Biography
Vanakan Vardapet was born to a peasant family in the district of Tavush in the historical province of Utik. He was first educated by his brother Poghos, a celibate priest, in his birthplace. He then went to study at the school of Nor Getik (later Goshavank). He was ordained a priest in 1201 and became a prominent disciple of Mkhitar Gosh. He participated in the church councils of Lore (1204) and Ani (1207) together with his mentor. In 1207/8, he received the rank of (archimandrite) and returned to teach in his home region of Tavush, where he founded Khoranashat Monastery, which soon became a renowned center of learning in Armenai. In 1229, Khoranashat was destroyed by the forces of Khwarazmshah Jalal al-Din. Vanakan Vardapet and his disciples took refuge on a height near the village of Lorut and continued their educational activities. 1235/36, Vanakan Vardapet and students were taken prisoner by the invading Mongols. A few months later, the inhabitants of the fortress of Gag paid a ransom to free him from captivity. Vanakan Vardapet returned to Khoranashat to restore the monastery and resume teaching. In 1240, at the invitation of Hasan Jalal Dawla, Prince of Inner Khachen, he participated in the consecration of Gandzasar Monastery, a major monastery which was to be the seat of the Catholicos of Aghvank (Albania).