Open this text page in a new tab Open earthquake page in a new tab

Chronicle of Sembat

Background and Biography
Background and Biography

Excerpts
English from Ambraseys (2009)

a.Arm. 563 [21 February 1114 to 20 February 1115]. The earth trembled, because God was wrathful. This was in the month of Mareri, for the Feast of the Finding of the Cross. In the middle of the night, the shocks were felt. A rumble and terrible roars came from the depths of the earth. The sea got up, and the mountains and hills made terrifying sounds. A great number of cities were ruined: Antioch collapsed, as well as Mecis, Hisn-Mansur, Kayˇsum, Ablastha, R’aban and Samosata. Marash was completely overturned, and 40000 people were found dead.

On the Black Mountain, at the monastery of the Basilians, some doctors (vartabeds) and monks had assembled to celebrate the blessing of the church; this building collapsed around them, and thirty monks and two doctors were killed. In that year the doctor Geoge Megh’rig, author of the rule established at Trazarg, died in Jesus Christ; he was buried in that monastery. (Sembat, ad ann. 563/RHC 614)

English from Bedrosian (2005)

[65] In the year 563 A.E. [1114] Tap'ar, sultan of the Persians, designated al-Bursuki (Brzux) as his military commander, gave his troops to him, and then [al-Bursuki] went as far as Edessa, taking the sultan's small son with him. They remained there for some days and then arose and encamped opposite Hromkla, destroying everything in its borders. Then they went against Bira. The Franks assembled on the far bank of the river and did not dare to cross over. Al-Bursuki left off and went on to Nisibis where he fought against Il-Ghazi and Balik (Xazi Palak) who defeated them and seized the sultan's son [g142]. But they freed him and returned to their own land. In the same year the ground trembled from God's wrath, on the night of the feast of the Discovery of the Cross in the month of Marer. There was a booming sound that issued from the depths of the earth. The sea also was agitated and the sea and land together presaged God's anger. Mountains and hills heaved and in places the earth was split asunder. In numerous cities the Christians were destroyed. Antioch, Mamistra, Hisn Masnsur (Harsnmsun), Aplast'ayn, R'apan, Samosata, and Marash collapsed and 40,000 people perished. At the Basilian [monastery] on Black Mountain vardapets and clerics had gathered in the church for blessing, and the church collapsed on them, killing 30 monks and two vardapets. Similarly among the Jesuits, the entire rank of clerics was killed, while the great vardapet [called] Mashkewor died at Vardku. In the same year the blessed vardapet Ge'org, who was nicknamed Meghrik, was translated to Christ in the land of Vaspurakan. He was a blessed, virtuous, and diligent ascetic who toiled for fifty years, spending every Sunday night in standing vigils, establishing the same practise among the blessed monks of Drazark [monastery] which had been rennovated by prince T'e'odoros, son of Kostandin. The blessed vardapet [g143] established canons for them in written form which are in effect to this day. After a life of goodly deeds, he was translated to Christ and was buried there.

English from Dulaurier (1869)

563 (February 21, 1114 — February 20, 1115).

The earth trembled, because God was angry. It was in the month of Mareri, for the feast of the invention of the Cross. In the middle of the night, the shocks were felt. A horrible murmur and crash came from the depths of the earth. The sea rose; the mountains and hills made lamentable noises. A great number of cities were ruined; Antioch collapsed, as well as Mecis, Harsen-Mecour (Hisn-Mansour), K'ecoun, Ablastha, R'aban and Samosata. Marasch was overthrown from top to bottom, and 40,000 people died there. In the Black Mountain, at the Basilian monastery, doctors [vartabeds] and monks had gathered to celebrate the blessing of the church; this building fell on them, and thirty monks and two doctors were crushed3.

This year, Doctor George Megh'rig, author of the rule established at Trazarg, died in Jesus Christ. He was buried in this monastery4.
Footnotes

3 Cf. Matthew of Edessa, chap i.xvii, p. 110-113

4 Cf. the same, chap, i.xviii, p. 113-114.

French from Dulaurier (1869)

563 (21 fevrier 1114 — 20 fevrier 1115).

La terre trembla, parce que Dieu etait irrite. Ce fut dans le mois de mareri, pour la fete de I'lnvention de la Croix. Au milieu de la nuit, les socousses se fircnl sentir. Uu murmure et un fracas horribles sortaient des profondeurs de la terre. La mer se souleva; les montagnes et les collinos faisaient entendre des bruits lamonlables. Un grand nombre de villes furent ruinees; Antioche s'ecroula, ainsi que Mecis, Harsen-Mecour (Hisn-Mansour) , K'ecoun, Ablastha, R'aban et Samosate. Marasch fut renversee de fond en comble, et 40,000 personnes y trouverent la mort. Dans la Montagne-Noire, au couvent des Basiliens, des docteurs [vartabeds] et des moines s'etaient rassembles pour celebrer la benediction de l'eglise; cet edifice tomba sur eux, et trente moines et deux docteurs furent ecrases3.

Cette annee, mourut en Jesus-Christ le docteur Georges Megh'rig, auteur de la regie etablie a Trazarg. Il fut enterre dans ce couvent4.
Footnotes

3 Cf. Matthieu d'Edesso, chap i.xvii, p. 110-113

4 Cf. le meme, chap, i.xviii, p. 113-114.

Chronology
Year Reference Corrections Notes
Nighttime - Sunday 29 November 1114 CE a.Arm. 563 - in the month of Mareri, for the Feast of the Finding of the Cross ... In the middle of the night eve of the feast of Saint Andrew was likely meant instead of the Feast of the Discovery of the Cross.
  • Mareri in Armenian year 563 converted to a Gregorian date range of 25 November - 24 December 1114 CE using planetcalc.com

  • Gregorian date range of 25 November - 24 December 1114 CE converted to a Julian Date of 18 November - 17 December 1114 CE using CHRONOS

  • This date range is not compatible with the Feast of the Discovery of the Cross - According to wikipedia, the Armenian Apostolic Church and other Armenian Christians celebrate the day of the Feast of the Discovery of the Cross on 15 September. According to wikipedia, in Byzantine liturgical observance, the Feast of the Discovery of the Cross also appears to date to 15 September. Episteme Academy calendar lists Sunday 25 October 1114 CE as the holiday for [Ap.C.] Discovery of the Cross.

  • Ambraseys (2009) opined that the account in the Chronicle of Sembat ... is based in part on Matthew of Edessa’s record, from which it takes the date of the Finding of the Cross and Armenian year 563. Thus, like Matthew, Sembat may have specified the wrong celebration. If the celebration was the eve of feast of Saint Andrew, then the date works out to nighttime 29 November 1114 CE in agreement with other authors.
Seismic Effects
  • The earth trembled
  • In the middle of the night, the shocks were felt
  • A rumble and terrible roars came from the depths of the earth
  • The sea got up, and the mountains and hills made terrifying sounds
  • A great number of cities were ruined
  • Antioch collapsed, as well as Mecis, Hisn-Mansur, Kaysum, Ablastha, R’aban and Samosata
  • Marash was completely overturned, and 40000 people were found dead
  • On the Black Mountain, at the monastery of the Basilians ... this building [the church] collapsed around them, and thirty monks and two doctors were killed
Locations
Footnotes

1 Ambraseys (2009) speculated that this might have referred to Mamistra aka Mopsuestia.

2 unsure of location. Basilian means they followed the rights of St. Basil. Ambraseys (2009) refers to the Black Mountain(s) as Shughr. The following comes from the houshamadyan.org website:

Monastery (Hermitage) of Shughr

One of the prominent monasteries of Cilicia, it was a center of learning. Its specific location is unknown. Writers give contradictory claims as to its location, and they often equate it with the Garmir (Red) Monastery of Kesun. Ghevont Alishan writes, “Someone says it is in Marash or Sis, another, in Kesun…” [12] In his “History”, Vartan the Historian writes the following: “The hermitage of Shughr is probably southwest of Marash.” [13] On the other hand, Father Ghazarian regards it as part of the Red Monastery of Kesun. “It is located in the Andiroun/Andırın-Dongala mountain valley, between Marash and Sis (…), on a promontory in the village of Shughr”, and he adds that until recently “the semi-circular arches of the altar and a portion of the roof were visible.” [14]

Sources
Sources

Online Versions and Further Reading
References