jects, and has helped to attach to his name the
epithets of "Al-Khasha," "the Harsh," and "Al-Athim," "the Wicked." But
the' persecution did not continue long. The excessive zeal of Abdaas
after a while provoked a reaction; and Isdigerd, deserting the cause
which he had for a time espoused, threw himself (with all the zeal of
one who, after nearly embracing truth, relapses into error) into the
arms of the opposite party. Abdaas had ventured to burn down the great
Fire-Temple of Ctesiphon, and had then refused to rebuild it. Isdigerd
authorized the Magian hierarchy to retaliate by a general destruction
of the Christian churches throughout the Persian dominions, and by
the arrest and punishment of all those who acknowledged themselves to
believe the Gospel. A fearful slaughter of the Christians in Pergia
followed during five years; some, eager for the earthly glory and the
heavenly rewards of martyrdom, were forward to proclaim themselves
members of the obnoxious sect; others, less courageous or less inclined
to self-assertion, sought rather to conceal their creed; but these
latter were carefully sought out, both in the towns and in the country
districts, and when convicted were relentlessly put to death. Nor was
mere death regarded as enough. The victims were subjected, besides,
to cruel sufferings of various kinds, and the greater number of them
expired under torture. Thus Isdigerd alternately oppressed the two
religious professions, to one or other of which belonged the great mass
of his subjects; and, having in this way given both parties reason to
hate him, earned and acquired a unanimity of execration which has but
seldom been the lot of persecuting monarchs.

At the same time that Isdigerd allowed this violent persecution of the
Christians in his own kingdom of Persia, he also sanctioned an
attempt to extirpate Christianity in the dependent country of Armenia.
Varahran-Sapor, the successor of Chosroes, had ruled the territory
quietly and peaceably for twenty-one years. He died A.D. 413, leaving
behind him a single son, Artases, who was at his father's death aged no
more than ten years. Under these circumstances, Isaac, the Metropolitan
of Armenia, proceeded to the court of Ctesiphon, and petitioned Isdigerd
to replace on the Armenian throne the prince who had been deposed
twenty-one years earlier, and who was still a prisoner on parole in the
"Castle of Oblivion"--viz. Chosroes. Isdigerd acceded to the request;
and