Hovhannes Imastaser

Hovhannes Imastaser was born in {{Circa|1045–50}} into a priest's family.{{Cite book |last1=Martirosian |first1=A. |title=Haykakan sovetakan hanragitaran |title-link=Armenian Soviet Encyclopedia |last2=Grigorian |first2=G. |publisher=Main editorial office of the Armenian Encyclopedia |year=1980 |editor-last=Arzumanyan |editor-first=Makich |volume=9 |location=Yerevan |pages=[https://hy.wikisource.org/wiki/%D4%B7%D5%BB:%D5%80%D5%A1%D5%B5%D5%AF%D5%A1%D5%AF%D5%A1%D5%B6_%D5%8D%D5%B8%D5%BE%D5%A5%D5%BF%D5%A1%D5%AF%D5%A1%D5%B6_%D5%80%D5%A1%D5%B6%D6%80%D5%A1%D5%A3%D5%AB%D5%BF%D5%A1%D6%80%D5%A1%D5%B6_(Soviet_Armenian_Encyclopedia)_6.djvu/565 565]–566 |language=hy |trans-title=Armenian Soviet Encyclopedia |chapter=Hovhannes Sarkavag}} Varying information exists about his birthplace. Vardan Areveltsi writes that he was from the district of Parisos (historically also known as Gardman, in modern-day northwestern Azerbaijan). Kirakos Gandzaketsi reports that Hovhannes was "from the land of Gandzak, like me." Parisos was a part of the Emirate of Ganja (Gandzak) at the time, so these reports may be compatible. An anonymous hagiography of Hovhannes refers to Ani as "his own city" and "the place of [his] upbringing"; thus, Manuk Abeghian thought it possible that Ani was Hovhannes's actual birthplace, or that he was born in Parisos and was raised in Ani. Ashot Abrahamian considers it most likely that Hovhannes was born in the district of Parisos.{{Cite book |last=Abrahamian |first=A. G. |url=http://tert.nla.am/archive/HAY%20GIRQ/Ardy/1951-1980/imastaser.pdf |title=Hovhannes Imastaseri matenagrutʻyuně |publisher=Yerevan University Publishing House |year=1956 |pages=19–21 |language=hy |trans-title=Bibliography of Hovhannes Imastaser |oclc=20513462 |via=National Library of Armenia}}

Hovhannes received his education in theology and science at Haghbat, and possibly also at Sanahin,{{Cite book |last=Abeghian |first=Manuk |author-link=Manuk Abeghyan |url= |title=Erker |publisher=Armenian SSR Academy of Sciences Publishing House |year=1970 |volume=4 |location=Yerevan |pages=[http://serials.flib.sci.am/Founders/Manuk%20Abexyan-%20h.4/book/index.html#page/72/mode/2up 64]-65 |language=hy |trans-title=Works |chapter=Hovhannes Sarkavag Vardapet}} two important monastic centers of Armenian medieval scholarship.{{cite book |last1=Hacikyan |first1=Agop Jack |title=The Heritage of Armenian Literature: From the Sixth to the Eighteenth Century |last2=Basmajian |first2=Gabriel |last3=Franchuk |first3=Edward S. |last4=Ouzounian |first4=Nourhan |publisher=Wayne State University Press |year=2002 |isbn=9780814330234 |location=Detroit |pages=350–362}} His teacher was his maternal uncle, who was nicknamed Urchetsi vardapet (archimandrite, Doctor of Theology).Abrahamian, Hovhannes Imastaseri matenagrutʻyuně, p. 23. He was probably ordained as a sarkavag (deacon) early on in Haghbat. Hovhannes eventually rose to become a vardapet of the Armenian Church. But it was the title sarkavag, however, that became attached to his name, probably because he had held that rank for a long time.Abrahamian, Hovhannes Imastaseri matenagrutʻyuně, p. 24. (In some manuscripts of his works, he is called by both titles: "Hovhannes Sarkavag vardapet.")Abrahamian, Hovhannes Imastaseri matenagrutʻyuně, p. 30.

After completing his education,Abrahamian, Hovhannes Imastaseri matenagrutʻyuně, p. 25. Hovhannes moved to the former Armenian capital city of Ani, where he taught philosophy, mathematics, music, cosmography and grammar. One of his students was the chronicler Samuel of Ani.Abrahamian, Hovhannes Imastaseri matenagrutʻyuně, p. 29. He also served as the parish priest at the cathedral of Ani.Abrahamian, Hovhannes Imastaseri matenagrutʻyuně, p. 27. For his learnedness, he received the epithets Imastaser ('the Philosopher/Scholar'), Poetikos ('the Poet'), and Sophestos ('the Wise'); the latter appears on the inscription on his gravestone.Abrahamian, Hovhannes Imastaseri matenagrutʻyuně, p. 25. Hovhannes is said to have been a respected figure at the court of Georgia and among the Georgian clergy.{{Cite book |url=https://etchmiadzinlibrary.am/images/ENCYCLOPEDIA/QristonyaHayastan.pdf |title=Kʻristonya Hayastan hanragitaran |publisher=Armenian Encyclopedia Publishing House |year=2002 |editor-last=Ayvazyan |editor-first=Hovhannes |location=Yerevan |pages=631 |language=hy |trans-title=Christian Armenia encyclopedia |chapter=Hovhannes Sarkavag}} After many years in Ani, Hovhannes returned to Haghbat and headed the school there. Ashot Abrahamian suggests that Hovhannes wrote most of works in his old age, while at the monastery. He died in Haghbat in 1129.

While Hovhannes Imastaser was recognized as a master of Armenian literature, his works acquired wider publicity only in the 19th century when they were published by Abbot Ghevont Alishan, a member of the Mekhitarist Congregation in Venice. Imastaser's innovative approach to literature, for which he is often referred to as a key representative of the medieval Armenian literary renaissance, is fully demonstrated in his poem Ban Imastutian (Discourse on wisdom). In the poem, written as a dialogue between the author and a blackbird, the bird symbolizes nature, which, per the author, is the main inspiration behind art. In Imastaser's time, artistic inspiration was usually attributed to divine reasons.Hacikyan et al., The Heritage of Armenian Literature, p. 353.

As a hymnologist, Imastaser wrote several important sharakans (hymns): Tagh Harutean (Ode to the Resurrection), Paytsaratsan Aysor (They brightened on this day), Anskizbn Bann Astvatz (God, the infinite word), Anchareli Bann Astavatz (God, the inexpressible word). The latter two are acrostic compositions, each encompassing within their ten stanzas thirty-six letters of the Armenian Alphabet. In them, Imastaser glorifies heroes and martyrs who sacrificed their lives defending Armenian homeland and their Christian faith. Imastaser also introduced another patriotic theme to Armenian literature and music: emigration. In his hymns Imastaser prays to God so that Armenians who left their country could find strength to return home.

Hovhannes Imastaser also contributed to the standardization of the Armenian prayer book and Psalter.

Hovhannes Imastaser's work in mathematics is represented by the volume Haghaks Ankiunavor Tvots (Concerning Polygonal Numbers). This work indicates a profound knowledge of all important ancient and medieval mathematicians, including Pythagoras, Euclid and Aristotle. Hovhannes Imastaser translated into Armenian the works of the following classical scholars: Philo of Alexandria, Dionysius the Areopagite, Gregory of Nyssa, Porphyry, and, as mentioned, Aristotle and Euclid.{{cite book |last=Chaloian |first=V. K. |title=Istoriia armianskoĭ filosofii |publisher=Armenian SSR Academy of Sciences Publishing House |year=1959 |location=Yerevan |language=ru |trans-title=History of Armenian philosophy |oclc=1039224159}}

In 1084, Hovhannes Imastaser became involved in the project of developing so-called Minor Armenian Calendar, which included all 365 days plus one additional day. Eventually, his work on calendars led to the invention of a perpetual or eternal calendar.{{cite book |last=Kirakos Gandzaketsi |title=Istoriia Armenii |publisher=Nauka |year=1976 |location=Moscow |language=ru |translator-last=Khanlarian |translator-first=L. A. |trans-title=History of Armenia |oclc=469698402}}

Hovhannes Imastaser recognized the importance of the empirical method in science. 150 years before Roger Bacon, he noted: "Without experimentation, no opinion can be considered probable and acceptable; only experiment produces confirmation and certainty."Hacikyan et al., The Heritage of Armenian Literature, pp. 351–352.

{{notelist}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{Cite journal |last=Cowe |first=S. Peter |date=1994–1995 |title=Armenological Paradigms and Yovhannēs Sarkawag's 'Discourse on Wisdom'—Philosophical Underpinnings of an Armenian Renaissance? |journal=Revue des Études Arméniennes |volume=25 |pages=125–56|doi=10.2143/REA.25.0.2003778 }}
• {{Cite book |last1=Hovhannes Sarkavag Imastaser |title=Tagher ev hogevor erger |last2=Yeghiazaryan |first2=Vano |publisher=Armav hratarakchʻutʻyun |year=2017 |isbn=978-9939-863-49-8 |location=Yerevan |language=hy |trans-title=Taghs and spiritual songs |ref=none}}

{{Armenian literature}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Armenian musicologists

Category:Armenian philosophers

Category:Armenian mathematicians

Category:12th-century Armenian writers

Category:12th-century mathematicians

Category:11th-century Armenian writers