LAZZARO of PARB (PHARPI; PARBETZI). - Armenian author, priest, b. c. 440, author of a history of the Armenian people, continuing that of Fausto di Bisanzio, namely from 384 to 485.
Included in this work is the account of the vision of St. Sahak the patriarch, whose genuineness and historicity are doubted by scholars. At the end there is L.’s letter addressed to Prince Vahan, defending himself against calumnies inflicted upon him, in which the society of the time is described in sombre colours of moral decay, especially because of the ignorance of the clergy.
L.’s work is a valuable source for Armenian history in his time, because of the realistic and sincere character of the narrator, who drew upon eyewitnesses and reliable traditions.
BIBL.: The work of L. was published in Venice (latest ed. 1891). A French version in V. Langlois, Collection des historiens anc. et mod. de l'Arménie, II, Parigi 1869, pp. 253-368; P. Somalian, Quadro della storia letteraria di Armenia, Venezia 1829 (v. indice); G. Khalashian, L. di Parb e le sue opere (in armeno), Mosca 1885; C. Kibarian, Storia della letteratura armena, Venezia 1944, pp. 93-103. Elia Pecikian