Armenia and its sorrows

46 ARMENIA AND ITS SORROWS
doctrines of purgatory, indulgences, and the supremacy
of the Pope. At the same time, there is much to be
desired. The public services are conducted, and the
Bible is read, in the old Armenian tongue, which is
not now understood by the common people, and
something very much like the worship of saints and
images is largely practised.
Seven sacraments are recognised both in the United
and in the Gregorian Churches. In Baptism, tlie child
is immersed three times, anointed with holy oil,
confirmed, and permitted to receive tlie Communion.
The Lord's Supper is administered in both elements
to all Church members ; the bread is unleavened, but
the wine is not mixed with water. Confession must
precede Communion, except in tlie case of very young
children. Ordination is administered by anointing
with holy oil, and onl}' the priests receive extreme
unction, which is administered immediately after
death.
The liturgy is believed to date from the first
century, and to have been an adaptation of that which
was in use at Jerusalem. It is probably tlie oldest in
the world, and was certainly used long before the
time of Gregory the Illuminator, who considerably
revised and enlarged it. Prayers are offered for the
greater bliss of the pious dead, but the idea of
purgatory is utterly repudiated.
The clergy include bishops, priests, and deacons,
but the episcopal order is further subdivided into
archbishops, bishops, and vartaheds, or doctors of
theology. The clergy are also divided into black
clergy, or monks, and white clergy, or parish priests.
They ma}^ marry before ordination, but not aftei'wards.
The priesthood is hereditary, the lieir usually following
some secular emj)l()yment during his father's
lifetime, and only receiving holy orders at his predecessor's
death. None of the clergy are paid, but