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.

The comparative analysis of the results of investigations based on archaeological and written sources, as well as the new data of mythology and ethnography enable to reveal the cultic sacrament of fortress-sanctuary Dvin. Near the main route Vagharshapat–Artashat the multilayer traditional sanctuary Dvin and the oracle Yerazamuyn (according to Agatangeghos – the historian of the 5th c., – god Tir was worshipped here at the 3rd century BC) were interconnected as a complete cultic complex. In this sanctuary during the Classical period in the actual process of syncretization the cult of the guardian deities of light was manifested in the image of the luminous triad Tir-Apollo-Mithra.

Keywordsmultilayer site Dvin traditional sanctuary world-view perceptions religious syncretization luminous triad Tir-Apollo-Mithra St. Gregory the Illuminator eternal sacrament cult of light.