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{{short description|Fifth-century Armenian Christian writer}}
'''Eznik of Kolb''' ({{lang-hy|[[wikt:Եզնիկ|Եզնիկ]] [[wikt:կողբացի|Կողբացի]]|translit=Yeznik Koghbatsi}}), was an [[Armenians|Armenian]] [[Christianity|Christian]] writer of the 5th century.
[[File:Eznik Koghbatsi.jpg|thumb|14th-century miniature depicting Eznik of Kolb]]
'''Eznik of Kolb''' ({{lang-xcl|[[wikt:Եզնիկ|Եզնիկ]] [[wikt:կողբացի|Կողբացի]]|translit=Eznik Kołbac῾i}};{{efn|Romanization from modern [[Eastern Armenian]]: {{transliteration|hy|Yeznik Koghbats’i}} {{IPA|hy|jɛzˈnik koʁbɑˈt͡sʰi|pron}}}} {{Circa|380}} – 450) was an Armenian Christian writer of the 5th century. He was one of the students of [[Mesrop Mashtots]], the inventor of the [[Armenian alphabet]]. His only surviving work is an untitled treatise which refutes various religious and philosophical ideas. Scholars refer to this work as ''Refutation of the Sects'' or ''On God''. Travelling to Edessa and Constantinople, Eznik participated in the translation of the Bible and other Christian literature from Greek and Syriac into Armenian. He is believed to be identical with a bishop of [[Bagrevand]] named Eznik.


== Biography ==
== Biography ==
Eznik was born in approximately 380 in [[Tuzluca|Kolb]] (modern-day [[Tuzluca]], Turkey) in the district of Chakatk in the province of [[Ayrarat]], in northern [[Kingdom of Armenia (antiquity)|Greater Armenia]]. He was a pupil of Catholicos [[Isaac of Armenia|Isaac the Great]] of Armenia and of [[Mesrop Mashtots]], who were undertaking the creation of the [[Armenian alphabet]] and the translation of Christian texts into Armenian. Eznik studied at the school of [[Ashtishat]] and participated in the translation of the Bible and other texts into Armenian. At their request he went first to [[Edessa, Mesopotamia|Edessa]], then to [[Constantinople]] to perfect himself in the various sciences and to collect or copy [[Syriac language|Syriac]] and Greek manuscripts of the Bible, and the writings of the [[Church Fathers]]. He returned to Armenia after 434.{{Sfn|Ayvazyan|2002|p=289}}
Eznik was born at [[Tuzluca|Koghb (Tuzluca)]], in the historical province of [[Tayk]], a tributary valley of the [[Chorokh]], in Northern [[Greater Armenia]].
He is probably identical with Eznik, bishop of the region of [[Bagrevand]], who took part in the Synod of [[Artaxata|Artashat]] in 449.
He was a pupil of [[Isaac the Great]] of Armenia and of [[Saint Mesrop]]. At their request he went first to [[Edessa, Mesopotamia|Edessa]], then to [[Constantinople]] to perfect himself in the various sciences and to collect or copy [[Syriac language|Syriac]] and Greek manuscripts of the Bible, and the writings of the [[Fathers of the Church]]. He returned to Armenia after the [[First Council of Ephesus]] (431).
He is probably identical with Eznik, Bishop of [[Bagrevand]] region, who took part in the Synod of [[Artashat (ancient city)|Artashat]] in 449.


== Works ==
== Works ==
In addition to his labors in connection with the new version of the [[Bible]] and various translations, he composed several works, the principal of which is his remarkable [[Apologetics|apologetic]] treatise "Against the Sects" or "On God". It was written between 441 and 449, and contains four parts:
In addition to his labors in connection with the new version of the [[Bible]] and various translations, he composed several works, the principal of which is his remarkable [[Apologetics|apologetic]] treatise ''Against the Sects'' or ''On God''. It was written between 441 and 449, and contains four parts:
*In the first, against the heathens, Eznik combats the eternity of matter and the substantial existence of evil.
*In the first, against the heathens, Eznik combats the eternity of matter and the substantial existence of evil.
*In the second he refutes the chief doctrines of [[Parseeism]]/[[Zoroastrianism]] (particularly [[Zurvanism]].
*In the second he refutes the chief doctrines of [[Zoroastrianism]] (particularly [[Zurvanism]]).
*The third is directed against aspects of the beliefs of the Greek philosophers ([[Pythagoreans]], [[Platonists]], [[Peripatetics]], [[Stoics]] and [[Epicureans]]). This is the only section in which Eznik takes his arguments from the Bible rather than from reason.
*The third is directed against aspects of the beliefs of the Greek philosophers ([[Pythagoreans]], [[Platonists]], [[Peripatetics]], [[Stoics]] and [[Epicureans]]). This is the only section in which Eznik takes his arguments from the Bible rather than from reason.
*The fourth book is an exposition and refutation of [[Marcionism]] as a [[dualistic cosmology|dualist]] [[heresy]].
*The fourth book is an exposition and refutation of [[Marcionism]] as a [[dualistic cosmology|dualist]] [[heresy]].


An essential theme of the work is on the importance of free will in Christian theology. Eznik displays much acumen and an extensive erudition. The book also contains many interesting asides, such as Eznik's refutation of astrology<ref>[https://www.sophenearmeniaca.com/2019/12/02/refutation-of-the-astrologers/ Eznik's Refutation of the Astrologers]</ref> and his diversion to the topic of animal behavior and psychology<ref>[https://www.sophenearmeniaca.com/2019/12/17/eznik-on-foresight/ Eznik on Foresight]</ref>. Eznik was evidently as familiar with the [[Persian language]] ([[Middle Persian]]) as with Greek literature. His Armenian diction is of the choicest classical type, although the nature of his subject matter forced him to use quite a number of Greek words.
An essential theme of the work is on the importance of free will in Christian theology. Eznik displays much acumen and an extensive erudition. Eznik was evidently as familiar with the [[Persian language]] ([[Middle Persian]]) as with Greek literature. His Armenian diction is of the choicest classical type, although the nature of his subject matter forced him to use quite a number of Greek words. The book also contains many interesting asides, such as Eznik's refutation of astrology<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.sophenearmeniaca.com/2019/12/02/refutation-of-the-astrologers/ |title=Eznik's Refutation of the Astrologers (Sophene Armeniaca) |access-date=2019-12-17 |archive-date=2020-09-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200925070406/https://www.sophenearmeniaca.com/2019/12/02/refutation-of-the-astrologers/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> and his diversion to the topic of animal behavior and psychology.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.sophenearmeniaca.com/2019/12/17/eznik-on-foresight/ |title=Eznik on Foresight (Sophene Armeniaca) |access-date=2019-12-17 |archive-date=2020-10-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201018122222/https://www.sophenearmeniaca.com/2019/12/17/eznik-on-foresight/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>


The original manuscript of "Against the Sects" is lost: The work survived due to a single medieval transcription copied at the [[University of Gladzor]]. This manuscript is currently at the [[Matenadaran|Mesrop Mashtots Institute of Ancient Manuscripts]]. A copy of the first printing of "Against the Sects" as a book in [[Smyrna]] (now Izmir) in 1762 is in the collection at the British Library<ref>[https://www.bl.uk/collection-items/bishop-ezniks-refutation-of-the-sects The British Library]</ref>. The [[Mechitarists]] at Venice published an updated edition in 1826 and again in 1865. Most recently, Sophene Books published "Against the Sects" as a paperback. The work can be read freely in its entirety online<ref>[https://www.sophenearmeniaca.com/2019/11/21/%d5%a5%d5%b2%d5%ae-%d5%a1%d5%b2%d5%a1%d5%b6%d5%a4%d5%b8%d6%81-%d5%a1%d5%bc%d5%a1%d5%bb%d5%ab%d5%b6-%d5%b4%d5%a1%d5%bd/ Against the Sects (Full-text in Classical Armenian)]</ref>.
The original manuscript of ''Against the Sects'' is lost. The work survived due to a single medieval transcription copied at the [[University of Gladzor]]. This manuscript is currently held at the [[Matenadaran]] in Yerevan, Armenia. A copy of the first printing of ''Against the Sects'' as a book in [[Smyrna]] (now Izmir) in 1762 is in the collection at the British Library.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.bl.uk/collection-items/bishop-ezniks-refutation-of-the-sects |title=The British Library |access-date=2019-12-17 |archive-date=2021-04-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210419105436/https://www.bl.uk/collection-items/bishop-ezniks-refutation-of-the-sects |url-status=dead }}</ref> The [[Mechitarists]] at Venice published an updated edition in 1826 and again in 1865.


== Translations ==
== Translations ==
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===French Translation===
===French Translation===


A French translation (titled "Réfutation des différentes sectes") by LeVaillant de Florival was published in 1853<ref>[
A French translation (titled {{Lang|fr|Réfutation des différentes sectes}}) by LeVaillant de Florival was published in 1853.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Eznik (Koḷbasti) |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4UVmYRAecjAC&dq=R%C3%A9futation+des+diff%C3%A9rentes+sectes+florival&pg=PP5 |title=Réfutation des différentes sectes des païens, de la religion des Perses, de la religion des sages de la Grèce, de la secte de Marcion |last2=Kolb |first2=Eznik de |date=1853 |publisher=Lecoffre |language=fr}}</ref>
https://books.google.com/books?id=4UVmYRAecjAC&pg=PP5&lpg=PP5&dq=R%C3%A9futation+des+diff%C3%A9rentes+sectes+florival&source=bl&ots=p5qFPIbh0y&sig=ACfU3U38wwHSvfYg8jTT3RiWrDJVk4wtSA&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiXnJW6mL3mAhXCvJ4KHXbjDhwQ6AEwEHoECAoQAQ#v=onepage&q=R%C3%A9futation%20des%20diff%C3%A9rentes%20sectes%20florival&f=false French translation at Google Books]</ref>.


===German Translation===
===German Translation===


A German translation (titled "Eznik von Kolb, Wider die Sekten") by J. M. Schmid was published in 1900<ref>[
A German translation (titled {{Lang|de|Eznik von Kolb, Wider die Sekten}}) by J. M. Schmid was published in 1900.<ref>{{Cite book |last= |first= |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=N3hBAAAAYAAJ |title=Des Wardapet Eznik von Kolb wider die Sekten |date=1900 |publisher=Verlag der Mechitharisten Congregation |language=de}}</ref>
https://books.google.com/books?id=N3hBAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false German translation at Google Books]</ref>.


===English Translation===
===English Translation===


A complete English translation (titled "On God") by Monica Blanchard and Robin Darling Young was published in 1998<ref>[
A complete English translation (titled ''On God'') by Monica Blanchard and Robin Darling Young was published in 1998.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Bagrewand) |first=Eznik (Koghbatsʻi, Bishop of |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3yP-KPTiOJAC |title=A Treatise on God Written in Armenian by Eznik of Kołb (floruit C.430-c.450) |date=1998 |publisher=Peeters Publishers |isbn=978-90-429-0013-4 |language=en}}</ref>
https://books.google.com/books?id=3yP-KPTiOJAC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false English translation at Google Books]</ref>.


An (abridged) retelling of the work in English (titled ''Refutation of the Sects'') by Thomas Samuelian was published in 1986<ref>{{Cite book |last=Eznik |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VbclAQAAMAAJ |title=Refutation of the Sects: A Retelling of Yeznik Koghbatsiʻs Apology |date=1986 |publisher=St. Vartan Press |isbn=978-0-934728-13-3 |language=en}}</ref> and is available to read online.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Yeznik of Kolb: Refutation of the Sects |url=https://www.tertullian.org/rpearse/scanned/yeznik_refutation.htm |access-date=2023-08-29 |website=www.tertullian.org}}</ref> The full text of 'Refutations' was also later published by D.P. Curtin in 2007.<ref>{{Cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qY3rEAAAQBAJ |title =Refutations |isbn = 9798869091161 |last1 = Curtin|first1 = D. P.|date = December 2007}}</ref>
An (abridged) retelling of the work in English (titled "Refutation of the Sects") by Thomas Samuelian was published in 1986<ref>[
https://books.google.com/books/about/Refutation_of_the_sects.html?id=VbclAQAAMAAJ Abridged English Translation]</ref> and is available to read online<ref>[
http://www.tertullian.org/rpearse/scanned/yeznik_refutation.htm An Abridged Retelling in English]</ref>.


==Notes==
{{Notelist}}
== References ==
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
* {{CathEncy|url=http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05739a.htm|title=Eznik}}
== Bibliography ==
*{{Cite book |url=https://etchmiadzinlibrary.am/images/ENCYCLOPEDIA/QristonyaHayastan.pdf |title=Kʻristonya Hayastan hanragitaran |publisher=Haykakan hanragitaran hratarakchʻutʻyun |year=2002 |isbn=9785897000166 |editor-last=Ayvazyan |editor-first=Hovhannes |location=Yerevan |language=hy |script-title=hy:Քրիստոնյա Հայաստան հանրագիտարան |trans-title=''Christian Armenia encyclopedia''}}
*{{cite journal|first=Desmond|last=Durkin-Meisterernst|year=2012|title=Eznik on Manichaeism|journal=Iran and the Caucasus|volume=16|issue=1|pages=1–11|doi=10.1163/160984912X13309560273975}}
*{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=teofAAAAQBAJ|last=Hage|first=Wolfgang|editor1-first=Katharina|editor1-last=Greschat|editor2-first=Gerhard|editor2-last=May|year=2002|chapter=Marcion bei Eznik von Kolb|title=Marcion und seine kirchengeschichtliche Wirkung / Marcion and His Impact on Church History|publisher=De Gruyter|isbn=9783110905595|pages=29–37}}
*{{cite book|last=Orengo|first=Alessandro|editor1-first=Giusto|editor1-last=Traina|editor2-first=Lara|editor2-last=Pagani|editor3-first=Francesca|editor3-last=Gazzano|year=2016|chapter=Eznik of Kołb as a Translator of Methodius of Olympus|title=Greek Texts and Armenian Traditions: An Interdisciplinary Approach|publisher=De Gruyter|isbn=9783110488661|pages=31–45}}
*{{CathEncy|url=http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05739a.htm|title=Eznik}}


== External links ==
== External links ==
*{{Citation |last=Eznik Koghbatsi |title=Eghts aghandotsʻ |others=Translation into modern Armenian and commentary by A. A. Abrahamyan |publisher=Yerevan University Press |year=1994 |trans-title=Refutation of the Sects |script-title=hy:Եղծ աղանդոց |url=https://archive.org/embed/Eznikofkolb}} (Critical Classical Armenian text with modern Armenian translation side by side).
*{{Citation

| last =
* [https://www.tertullian.org/rpearse/scanned/yeznik_refutation.htm Eznik of Kołb, ''Refutation of the Sects'', in English]
| first =
| title = Եզնիկ Կողբացի «Եղծ Աղանդոց» (Eznik of Kołb Refutation of the Sects)
| publisher = Yerevan University Press
| place =
| year = 1994
| url =https://archive.org/embed/Eznikofkolb
}} {{hy icon}}


{{wikiquote|hy:Եզնիկ Կողբացի|Yeznik Koghbatsi (Armenian Wikiquote)}}
{{wikiquote|hy:Եզնիկ Կողբացի|Yeznik Koghbatsi (Armenian Wikiquote)}}


{{Catholic}}
{{Catholic|title=Eznik}}


{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Yeznik Of Kolb}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Yeznik Of Kolb}}
[[Category:Christian writers]]
[[Category:Christian writers]]
[[Category:5th-century writers]]
[[Category:5th-century Armenian writers]]
[[Category:5th-century Christians]]
[[Category:5th-century Christians]]
[[Category:Armenian writers]]
[[Category:Armenian male writers]]
[[Category:Armenian male writers]]
[[Category:Armenian people from the Sasanian Empire]]

Latest revision as of 16:43, 24 March 2024

14th-century miniature depicting Eznik of Kolb

Eznik of Kolb (Old Armenian: Եզնիկ Կողբացի, romanized: Eznik Kołbac῾i;[a] c. 380 – 450) was an Armenian Christian writer of the 5th century. He was one of the students of Mesrop Mashtots, the inventor of the Armenian alphabet. His only surviving work is an untitled treatise which refutes various religious and philosophical ideas. Scholars refer to this work as Refutation of the Sects or On God. Travelling to Edessa and Constantinople, Eznik participated in the translation of the Bible and other Christian literature from Greek and Syriac into Armenian. He is believed to be identical with a bishop of Bagrevand named Eznik.

Biography

[edit]

Eznik was born in approximately 380 in Kolb (modern-day Tuzluca, Turkey) in the district of Chakatk in the province of Ayrarat, in northern Greater Armenia. He was a pupil of Catholicos Isaac the Great of Armenia and of Mesrop Mashtots, who were undertaking the creation of the Armenian alphabet and the translation of Christian texts into Armenian. Eznik studied at the school of Ashtishat and participated in the translation of the Bible and other texts into Armenian. At their request he went first to Edessa, then to Constantinople to perfect himself in the various sciences and to collect or copy Syriac and Greek manuscripts of the Bible, and the writings of the Church Fathers. He returned to Armenia after 434.[1]

He is probably identical with Eznik, bishop of the region of Bagrevand, who took part in the Synod of Artashat in 449.

Works

[edit]

In addition to his labors in connection with the new version of the Bible and various translations, he composed several works, the principal of which is his remarkable apologetic treatise Against the Sects or On God. It was written between 441 and 449, and contains four parts:

  • In the first, against the heathens, Eznik combats the eternity of matter and the substantial existence of evil.
  • In the second he refutes the chief doctrines of Zoroastrianism (particularly Zurvanism).
  • The third is directed against aspects of the beliefs of the Greek philosophers (Pythagoreans, Platonists, Peripatetics, Stoics and Epicureans). This is the only section in which Eznik takes his arguments from the Bible rather than from reason.
  • The fourth book is an exposition and refutation of Marcionism as a dualist heresy.

An essential theme of the work is on the importance of free will in Christian theology. Eznik displays much acumen and an extensive erudition. Eznik was evidently as familiar with the Persian language (Middle Persian) as with Greek literature. His Armenian diction is of the choicest classical type, although the nature of his subject matter forced him to use quite a number of Greek words. The book also contains many interesting asides, such as Eznik's refutation of astrology[2] and his diversion to the topic of animal behavior and psychology.[3]

The original manuscript of Against the Sects is lost. The work survived due to a single medieval transcription copied at the University of Gladzor. This manuscript is currently held at the Matenadaran in Yerevan, Armenia. A copy of the first printing of Against the Sects as a book in Smyrna (now Izmir) in 1762 is in the collection at the British Library.[4] The Mechitarists at Venice published an updated edition in 1826 and again in 1865.

Translations

[edit]

French Translation

[edit]

A French translation (titled Réfutation des différentes sectes) by LeVaillant de Florival was published in 1853.[5]

German Translation

[edit]

A German translation (titled Eznik von Kolb, Wider die Sekten) by J. M. Schmid was published in 1900.[6]

English Translation

[edit]

A complete English translation (titled On God) by Monica Blanchard and Robin Darling Young was published in 1998.[7]

An (abridged) retelling of the work in English (titled Refutation of the Sects) by Thomas Samuelian was published in 1986[8] and is available to read online.[9] The full text of 'Refutations' was also later published by D.P. Curtin in 2007.[10]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Romanization from modern Eastern Armenian: Yeznik Koghbats’i pronounced [jɛzˈnik koʁbɑˈt͡sʰi]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Ayvazyan 2002, p. 289.
  2. ^ "Eznik's Refutation of the Astrologers (Sophene Armeniaca)". Archived from the original on 2020-09-25. Retrieved 2019-12-17.
  3. ^ "Eznik on Foresight (Sophene Armeniaca)". Archived from the original on 2020-10-18. Retrieved 2019-12-17.
  4. ^ "The British Library". Archived from the original on 2021-04-19. Retrieved 2019-12-17.
  5. ^ Eznik (Koḷbasti); Kolb, Eznik de (1853). Réfutation des différentes sectes des païens, de la religion des Perses, de la religion des sages de la Grèce, de la secte de Marcion (in French). Lecoffre.
  6. ^ Des Wardapet Eznik von Kolb wider die Sekten (in German). Verlag der Mechitharisten Congregation. 1900.
  7. ^ Bagrewand), Eznik (Koghbatsʻi, Bishop of (1998). A Treatise on God Written in Armenian by Eznik of Kołb (floruit C.430-c.450). Peeters Publishers. ISBN 978-90-429-0013-4.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  8. ^ Eznik (1986). Refutation of the Sects: A Retelling of Yeznik Koghbatsiʻs Apology. St. Vartan Press. ISBN 978-0-934728-13-3.
  9. ^ "Yeznik of Kolb: Refutation of the Sects". www.tertullian.org. Retrieved 2023-08-29.
  10. ^ Curtin, D. P. (December 2007). Refutations. ISBN 9798869091161.

Bibliography

[edit]
[edit]
  • Eznik Koghbatsi (1994), Eghts aghandotsʻ Եղծ աղանդոց [Refutation of the Sects], Translation into modern Armenian and commentary by A. A. Abrahamyan, Yerevan University Press (Critical Classical Armenian text with modern Armenian translation side by side).

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domainHerbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Eznik". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.