the world.[14] [1] According to Assemanni, Christianity was once professed by the horde of Koraites; and their chief, who received ordination, which probably gave rise to the legend of Presbyter, or Prester, John. [2] Some modern theorists have severely reprehended the Paulicians, or Armenians, for the part they bore in these sanguinary scenes. But so long as the principle of patriotism is cherished; so long as the names of home and country are accounted sacred; and so long as the memories of Tell, and Wallace, and Washington, are held up to general emulation, the laity, at least, may be excused for recognising the legitimacy of self-defence. [3] Those who desire a more detailed account of the Armenians may consult La Croza, Galanus, Olearius, Chardin, Fabricius, in Lux Evangelii, and, above all, Tavernier. [4] I am aware that the truth of this statement has been questioned, but after all there is nothing so very improbable in it. Alfred was a prince of an enterprising disposition, and might have sent an embassy to India for several reasons, and their performance of the journey was no impossibility. [5] The Trisagion is the hymn supposed to be chanted by the Cherubim before the throne of glory, and commences with Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord God Almighty. [6] Authors are far from being unanimous in their accounts of this people and their origin. It has been maintained by not a few that they are of Syriac extraction, and that the St. Thomas, from whom their appellation is derived, was an Armenian merchant and missionary who flourished as their leader in the fifth century. Others, with equal plausibility, contend that they originated from a colony of Abyssinians. Dr. Buchanan maintains an opinion different from either. He supposes them to be natives of India, whose ancestors were converted by St. Thomas, the Apostle. He says, that "we have as good reason for believing that St. Thomas died in India, as that St. Peter died at Rome." According to a tradition of the natives, the Apostle came first to Socotara, an island in the Arabian Sea, and thence departed to Cranganor, where he founded several churches. The next scene of his labours was Coromandare, and preaching in all the towns and villages he came to Melsapour, the chief city, where he converted the prince and a great part of the nobility to the Christian faith. This so enraged the Brahmins, that one of them secretly followed him into a solitary place, where he retired for prayer, and stabbed him in the back with a spear. [7] According to another account, their conversion to this creed was effected by the missionaries of the Empress Theodora, which, however, has been disputed by Assemanus. [8] Gibbon says that "two abunas had been slain in battle." [9] It has been supposed, and with reason, that many of these customs were introduced by the Jesuits, and that previous to the partial subjection of this church to the Romish authority, it was much more pure than it has since been.