A special messenger was sent to Jerusalem for the ceremonies observed in that church, and brought thence eight canons regulating the sacraments and other rites.

For a similar object, a correspondence was carried on with the Bishop of Nisibis.

One Catholicos, who had been educated at Constantinople in the influence of all the secular ideas and regulations introduced into the Church under the patronage of Constantine and his successors, brought from thence 'various observances, which, like precious stones, he inlaid into the old.' And several who followed him distinguished themselves by their _improvements_ in the services and laws of the Church.

So that when, by rejecting the Council of Chalcedon, A.D.491, the Armenians cut themselves off from the communion of the great body of Christians, they were doubtless in possession of all the legendary dogmas and observances which had then been adopted by the Christian world."1 1 _Researches in Armenia_, Amer.

Edition, vol.ii.pp.