Մեր Հոգեւոր Երգասացութեան Սկզբնաւորումը Եւ Զարգացումը
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1970
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The author makes a study of the origin and development of Armenian church hymnody. Based on the testimonies of Armenian narrators, whom he quotes extensively, he confirms the fact that early Eastern Christian churches - Assyrian, Coptic, Ethiopian, Armenian - have been swayed by the benedictory chants of the Hebraic temple, and that the first Christians and Apostles were Jews, keeping the "Law" and frequently attended the religious ceremonies, at the Temple of Solomon. Later, subjected to persecution, they withdrew from the Temple and established their own places of worship, without relinquishing the traditions and chants of the Jewish Temple. To these traditions, however, they gave a Christian imprint. This new religion and its art, which was borrowed from the Hebraic Temple, were established in the Diaspora.
The author then indicated that area of Armenia which was under Persian rule, was subject to Assyrian influences. The prayer and praise chants of Bardadzan the Assyrian and Yeprem Khouri were translated into Armenian and were sung in the Armenian Church.
The Greek Church too has left its impress on the Armenian Church, Armenian youths who were sent to Athens, Alexandria, and other cultural centers for higher studies, brought with them to Armenia the spirit and inspiration of the Greek arts.
The author then explains at some length the origin of the Armenian Mass which he relates to the Hebraic ceremony of the Paschal Feast.
Armenian Church hymnody, in its pure strain, begins to take form as of the 12th century, through efforts of NERCES SHNORHALI, who was at once poet and hymnologist. To free the Armenian Church from alien influence, Shnorhali resorts to the expressions of popular art; namely, its prosody, rythm, and diction. With these elements he composes Church hymns, in a completely novel style, which meets with great popularity, for in these new hymns the people finds the genuine ring and inspiration that moved the heart.
After the pattern set by Shnorhali, successions like Krikor Degha, Hovhannes Yerzinkatzi, Frig, and others, begin to write secular poetry also.
Shnorhali ushers in the Armenian Renaissance of the 12th century; noteworthy, Europe experiences her own four centuries later, in the 16th century.
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Պատմագրեան, Ա., «Մեր Հոգեւոր Երգասացութեան Սկզբնաւորումը Եւ Զարգացումը», Հայկազեան Հայագիտական Հանդէս, 1970, Պէյրութ, էջ 93-112