MARTYROLOGY OF HIZTBUZIT IN THE HAGIOGRAPHIC CONTEXT

Abstract

It is about martyrdom of Persian magician Makhosh-Hiztbuzit in the VI century
in Dvin city, during the reign of Khosrow I Anushirvan Sasanian, king of Iran (531-579).The
martyrology was created by Nerses Razhik who witnessed the tortures and martyrdom of
Hiztbuzit and decided to write about it. We think that martyrology was written in Assyrian and
was edited by Bishop Petros of Syunik, who participated in the Second Council of Dvin (553-
555). Much likely martyrology was translated into Armenian by Bishop Petros's initiative. We
think that the work was created between the time of the martyrdom of Hiztbuzit and during the
death of Bishop Petros. In VI-VIII centuries, martyrology was widespread among the Assyrian
Nestorians, Monophysite Armenians and Chalcedonian Greeks and Georgians. In this
Hagiographic work many evangelical scenes, even direct repetitions (the episode of
crucifixion, etc.) are used. Hagiographical characteristics of Early Middle Ages have been
preserved. New trends have been manifested in the miracles and visions. The episode of
miracle reflected the ideological position of the Armenian Church, the establishment and the
spread of the cult of the cross. Besides, ideological position has been also an anti-pagan
propaganda in visions. We can see also some motives from new Armenian national epos
(“Daredevils of Sassoun”) that helped martyrology to gain popularity in the environment of
illiterate believers. The aforementioned comes to prove that oral traditions were influenced by
hagiographic ones which gave a new ideological power to them.