GIOVANNI MANDAKUNI. - Celebrated Armenian katholikos of the fifth century. Born about 400, he was a disciple of St. Sahak the Great and of Mesrop, and is also counted among the “holy translators” of the Bible. He was present at the Synod of Sahapivan (447) and later, about 452, suffered severe tortures for the faith, which earned him the title of “confessor.” Finally he was elected katholikos of Armenia (480-87, or 484-98), and although advanced in years he accompanied King Vahan in the war against the Persians. Once this was over, G. devoted himself to the restoration of the churches and of the Christian spirit.
Many sermons have been attributed to G. in the ancient liturgical books, though their authenticity is not easy to determine. Twenty-five of the thirty published under his name at Venice in 1836 and 1860 appear to be his. A German version was made by J. Blatz and S. Weber in Ausgewählte Schriften der armenischen Kirchenväter (Munich 1927).