Appeal of Gandzasar Catholicos Hovhannes to Catherine II

Appeal of Gandzasar Catholicos Hovhannes to Catherine II

Appeal of Catholicos Hovhannes of Gandzasar to Catherine II Requesting Confirmation of the Patronage Status Granted to the Armenians by Peter I and Catherine I January 22, 1783 We, the Armenians residing in Karabakh and Hamsa, I—an unworthy patriarch and servant—Melik Atam, together with the bishops, priests, five meliks, yuzbashis, the entire army, and all inhabitants—thirty thousand households—prostrate ourselves as the most faithful servants …