GIOVANNI MANDAKUNI. - Celebrated Armenian katholikós of the 5th century. Born c. 400, he was a disciple of St. Sahak the Great and of Mesrop, also ranking among the “holy translators” of the Bible. He took part in the Synod of Sahapivan (447) and later, c. 452, suffered severe torments for the faith, earning the title of “confessor.” Finally, he was elected katholikós of Armenia (480–87, or 484–98) and, though advanced in years, accompanied King Vahan in the war against the Persians. Once the conflict ended, G. devoted himself to the restoration of churches and of Christian spirit.
Many sermons have been attributed to G. in ancient liturgical books, the authenticity of which is not easy to determine. Twenty-five of the thirty published under his name in Venice in 1836 and 1860 appear to be his. A German translation by J. Blatz and S. Weber appears in Ausgewählte Schriften der armenischen Kirchenväter (Munich 1927).