Hovhannes Draskhanakertsi headed the catholicos throne during an epochal historical period, when the newly created Armenian statehood faced difficult external and internal challenges, and the church was severely tested. The conflicts of the ruling houses, characteristic of the era of developed feudalism, divided Armenia and undermined its political integrity. This situation posed a real threat to the independence and confessional independence of the Armenian Church. Therefore, the Armenian Patriarch supported the efforts aimed at preserving the political unity of Armenia at any cost.

Keywords Ovannes Draskhanakertci Smbat I Ashot the Iron Yusouf solidarity conciliatory mediation princes inter-princely confrontations political integrity ideologist persecution correspondence Byzantium Dvin Vaspurakan Arab raids.

In the VIII-IX centuries, feudal landownership, which constituted the economic basis of the Armenian Church, underwent structural changes. Newly built monasteries form their infrastructure and acquire large plots of land. In the context of interfaith disputes and attacks from Islam, the church strengthens its theoretical foundations and creates its own legislation. A clear definition of the ritual-religious and theological principles of the Armenian Church contributes to the development of awareness of national and religious identity.

KeywordsArmenian church Arab rulers monastery religious persecution Bagarat Bagratuni David II Kakaghetsi Hovhannes IV Ovaetsi Mutavaqqil apostasy rebellion Tondrakian movement martyrdom.