Stephen Orbelian

Stepanos Orbelian (Armenian: Ստեփանոս Օրբելյան; c. 1250–1305) was a thirteenth-century Armenian historian 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. He remained there for three months as a guest of King Levon III and finally returned to Syunik in 1287. 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.