The Armenian classical language, known as grabar or "literary," was highly developed by the time it came to be
written at the dawn of the fifth century. All early Armenian literature, through the eighteenth century, is in the
classical language. Command of the language is therefore a must for the study of the Armenian literary heritage,
and for its renaissance from ancient manuscripts. Classical Armenian continues to be the liturgical language of
the Armenian Church; it is the ecclesial language par excellence. Moreover, Biblical, Intertestamental, and
Patristic scholars devoted to textual studies are often drawn to learning it (several Intertestamental and Patristic
writings survive in Classical Armenian translation only). Likewise, this ancient language has long attracted the
attention of linguists studying Indo-European roots, for the majority of whom it is requisite for the discipline.
CA 101 Beginning Classical Armenian I
A course for beginning students dealing with the fundamentals of Classical Armenian grammar.
CA 102 Beginning Classical Armenian II
A more intensive introduction to the fundamentals of Classical Armenian: vocabulary, morphology, and syntax.
Exercises include translation of biblical passages.
CA 203 Intermediate Classical Armenian I
A continuation of Beginning Classical Armenian with more emphasis on grammar. An overview of early Armenian
literature. Exercises include reading in the literature of the Fifth Century, parsing and translation.
CA 204 Intermediate Classical Armenian II
Completes the coverage of grammar and the survey of the major literary works. Exercises include reading in
the literature of the Cilician Period, parsing and translation.
CA 305 Advanced Classical Armenian I
Reading, analysis and translation of passages from religious masterworks, from various periods. Special
attention is given to the spiritual and liturgical character of these texts.
CA 306 Advanced Classical Armenian II
Reading, analysis and translation of passages from documents attributed to the Hellenizing School.
Special attention is given to the philosophical and theological content of these texts.
CA 407 Classical Armenian Texts I
Selected readings in and translation of various, hitherto untranslated sources.
CA 408 Classical Armenian Texts II
Selected readings in and translation of various, hitherto untranslated sources.
