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Catholicos Mashdotz I was the
Catholicos A catholicos (plural: catholicoi) is the head of certain churches in some Eastern Christian traditions. The title implies autocephaly and, in some cases, it is the title of the head of an autonomous church. The word comes from ancient Greek ( ...
of the
Armenian Apostolic Church The Armenian Apostolic Church () is the Autocephaly, autocephalous national church of Armenia. Part of Oriental Orthodoxy, it is one of the most ancient Christianity, Christian churches. The Armenian Apostolic Church, like the Armenian Catholic ...
between 897 and 898. He was a monk of
Sevanavank Sevanavank (; meaning ''Sevan Monastery'') is a monastic complex located on a Sevan Island, peninsula at the northwestern shore of Lake Sevan in the Gegharkunik Province of Armenia, not far from the town of Sevan (city), Sevan. Initially the mon ...
monastery and regarded as a very holy man. While a monk, he was asked by sparapet Abas to assist in overthrowing the current Catholicos, George II, and was promised the Catholicosate throne in return. Mashdotz wrote a long letter in response, rejecting the offer to rebel against the Catholicos, and chided Abas for his attempt. The plot failed and Mashdotz continued to be respected for his piety.
Hovhannes Draskhanakerttsi Hovhannes Draskhanakerttsi (, John of Drasxanakert, various spellings exist), also called John V the Historian, was Catholicos of Armenia from 897 to 925, and a noted chronicler and historian. He is known for his ''History of Armenia.'' He is also ...
reports that Mashdotz refused to even maintain a diet of bread and water, only eating vegetables. Upon the death of George II, King
Smbat I Smbat I (; 850–912/14), sometimes Smbat A Martyr () was the second king of the medieval Kingdom of Armenia of the Bagratuni dynasty, and son of Ashot I. He is the father of Ashot II (known as Ashot Yerkat) and Abas I. Rule Smbat I was cro ...
and his associates elected Mashdotz the new Catholicos as they were impressed with him. He was known as a holy man and excellent teacher, but died after seven months as Catholicos. The same historian Hovhannes Draskhanakerttsi was asked by the king to be his replacement. Catholicoi of Armenia Mashdotz I Year of birth unknown 9th-century Armenian people 9th-century Oriental Orthodox archbishops {{Armenia-reli-bio-stub