For children were ravished from the embraces of their mothers and mercilessly hurled against rocks, while the mothers drenched them with tears and blood. One could see there the grief and calamity of every age of humankind. As for those who were holed up within the city, when the enemy saw that they were unprepared, lacking fighting men, food or drink, surrounded them and terrified them so much that unwillingly they came forth. Now the multitude of men and women applied to the kings' palace as if they could save themselves there, while others fled to the stronghold called Nerk'i fortress. Putting the Persian sword to work, they spared no one. When the armed troops which were fighting outside saw this, they made way over the wall, and poured into the city like the foaming billows of the sea. Just then, leaving off fighting, took to flight and, confused by fear, no one looked with concern upon his relatives or important friends. He did not know that the Lord had implanted discord, disunity and chaos between the guards and the princes. He tried and devised stragems to destroy that gate of iron and the locks of copper which opposed his kingdom, but because he grew disheartened because of the fortification, although the battle was growing more intense, he wanted to depart. He pitched his tent opposite the city of Ani and spread his army throughout the breadth of the country. He trampled on and overturned many lands until he reached the city which had reached the limit of sinfulness. Now the king came with many myriads of armed troops and entered our land, spreading dread and terror among those far and near. There was warfare in the country of Armenia for wanted to enlarge their holdings and rule the borders of the other kingdom. especially so for the fortress of Ani and her daughters surrounding which had learned arrogance even more, and clapped their hands against Heaven while God moved the king of Persia to come in His place and to see what was going on there. did not understand or remember the Lord's dread and threats, nor the dregs of His rage and wrath, He lowers for sinners to drink from. However, they revolted and rebelled not against mankind, but against God Who levels to the ground those lofty towers and transforms secure cities into mounds of earth. Many had witnessed them with their own eyes and had no need to listen, for many districts and cities had been saved from that raiding. The calamitous events which took place regarding Arcn had not occurred long ago, nor had much time passed that they became clouded over. The cypress must weep for the pine, the buck-thorn for the olive, because it is not that all upon whom the Tower collapsed, according to the Lord's command, were without distinction worthy of death, but rather that kin and others understand the sins, while those at a distance learn from them and take care. Let it not be considered few or insignificant the sins of those who will not repent or regret, or who fail to see the punishment of people close to them and neighbors-punishment which occurs according to the crime. Now let us return to our former narration. The tower on the mountains of Lebanon which David built and fortified with swords and shields against Damascus, did not withstand Solomon's adversary Eder, nor did it impede his attack, because the fortress is holiness, while the choice wall, is pious action. For it is the Lord who builds and destroys, makes strongholds tremble and lofty towers collapse. Some, fortified with towers, regarding their height as impregnable, did not want to taste from the cup of the Lord's goodness-resembling the foolish builders of that first structure which was built with great difficulty but easily demolished or like the residents of Jericho, who, because of the fortification of towers, did not consider themselves Caananites and did not think that the right hand of the Lord ruled them too, or that the sword of the Omnipotent would near them. The powerful, tall giants who could not be withstood or competed against, styled themselves gods. The human race, subject to many delusions and illusions, because of lust and impropriety, has sought refuge in its deeds. Armenian, Byzantine, Iranian, Persian, Turkish, History, Historical, Medieval, Byzantium, Empire, invasion, Turco-Mongol, Altaica, Armenian Highlands, Iberia, Iberian, Georgia, Georgian, Armenia, Ani, exploitation, poor, usury, luxury, urban life, desertion, army, military, conversion to Islam, heterodox religion, slavery, slave trade
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