Vardapet Karekin Sarkissian: A Brief Introduction to Armenian Christian LiteratureThe Faith Press, London, 1960 (slighty shortened)Part 1. THE ARMENIAN TRANSLATIONSI. TRANSLATION OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURESThe revolutionary age in the Armenian history is not the fourth century which was opened in Armenia with theofficial acceptance of Christianity as the established religion of the country and the State (somewhere betweenA.D. 278 and 313).1 Although this is the greatest moment, the turning point of the Armenian history, it did notmuch affect the life of the people as a whole. It was an official, formal conversion which needed the deepeningof Christian faith and practice in the life of the nation2.This was only possible by means of direct access to the sources or the fountains of the Christian faith, the HolyBible. The Armenian Church Fathers were conscious of the pressing necessity and absolute urgency of thetranslation of the Bible into Armenian. But the instrument - the Armenian alphabet-was lacking.3 It was in thebeginning of the fifth century when a Church divine, St. Mesrop Mashtots, succeeded in inventing an alphabetadequate to render in writing all subtleties of the pronunciation4 that the great work of translation followed un-der the wise guidance of Catholicos St. Sahak. It was soon completed through the enthusiastic collaboration ofthe Church divines - 'Vardapets' - the disciples and assistants of the 2 saints. The translation was first made froma Syriac version. Around 435, it underwent a detailed revision on the basis of the Greek Septuaginta text whichwas brought from Constantinople by Armenian students who were there completing their philosophical, theolo-gical and biblical studies. This new text was considered as a more accurate copy than the Syriac version. It wasalmost a new retranslation following the Septuagint.This meant for the Armenian people an entire transfiguration or transformation, which was felt not only in thefifth century, but also in the su...