Koryun

Who is Koryun?

Koryun was the earliest Armenian-language historian. Writing in the fifth century, his "Life of Mesrob" contains many details about the evangelization of Armenia and the invention of the Armenian alphabet. Some Armenian and European scholars, such as G.Alishan, O.Torosyan, G.Fintigliyan, A.Sarukhan, G.Ter-Mkrtchyan, S.Weber and others, have speculated that Koryun could have been an ethnic Georgian or Georgian-Armenian. Having received his early education under Mesrob Mashtots, Koryun went to Byzantium for higher studies, returning to Armenia with other students in 432. He was close friend of Eznik Koghbatsi and Ghevond. Later, he was appointed Bishop of Georgia. He has been listed among the junior translators. His style is original, but somewhat obscure due to grammatical irregularities. To him have been attributed the translations of the three apocryphal books of the Maccabees. Koryun was the origin of the claim that the Georgian alphabet was created by Mesrob Mashtots.

After death of Mashtots, Koryun was tasked by Hovsep Hoghotsmetsi, one of spiritual leaders at that time, to start writing Mesrop's biography. Now his work is known as "Varq Mashtotsi". He finished his work before Avarayr battle in 451 and new political developments in the region. In modern period it was translated in Russian, English, French and Germany.