Mechitar (called Gosh, "Imberbe") of Cantzag (MECHITAR (DETTO GOSH, «IMBERBE») DI CANTZAG)

Machine translation of the 1948–1954 Italian original. The original text is authoritative.

MECHITAR (called GOSH, «beardless») of CANTZAG. — Armenian priest of the 12th century, d. in 1213; founder of the religious community of Ghedik (monastery). He enjoyed great esteem for his virtue and learning. Among other works, he wrote Il Nomocanone, his masterpiece, which, although lacking properly speaking in juridical value, met with wide acceptance and is preserved in many manuscripts.

The Nomocanon consists of three parts: Introduction, Ecclesiastical Law, Civil Law. M. places the pope at the supreme summit of the Church’s hierarchy. He holds views opposed to Chalcedon and admits divorce; but, tormented by remorse, he begs to be corrected; indeed, he asks those with authority to consign his book to the flames if anything in it should disagree with the teaching of the Church.

BIBL.: Works: Il Nomocanone, critical ed., Vahan Bastamiantz, Vagarshabad 1880; J. Karst, Sempadischer Kodex, aus dem 13. Jahrhundert in Verbindung mit dem Grossarmenischen Rechtsbuch des M. Gosch aus dem 12. Jahrhundert, II, Strasbourg 1905.

Article illustration — (courtesy of Msgr. A. P. Frutazi)

MECHITAR VARTAPET, abbot — Portrait of Abbot M., attributed to Pietro Longhi: on the table is the plan of the monastery — Venice, monastery of S. Lazzaro.

Studies: J. Mecérian, M. Kosch, in Mélanges de l'Université de St-Joseph (Beirut), 27 (1947-48), pp. 202-34.

Gregorio Sarkissian