He was a native of the place, and was once a deacon in the old Armenian Church, and a candidate for the offices of vartabed and bishop.

His first knowledge of the truth was gained while in the Armenian monastery at Jerusalem.

From thence he came to Bebek, where he studied theology.
He was an exception to the rule, that a prophet has no honor in his own country, for without compromising the truth, he had gained the respect of all.

He showed his missionary friend a list of eighty families, upon which he called in regular order.

Though most of them belonged to the old Armenian Church, they received him kindly.