Classical Armenian (Grabar)

Classical Armenian (Grabar, Գրաբար "written [language]", 5th-12th c. CE) is the standardized literary form of Armenian established by Mesrop Mashtots's creation of the Armenian alphabet (~405 CE) and the Bible translation (~410-430s CE) — the "Mother of Translations" (Թարգմանչաց Մայր) which gave Armenia direct scriptural access in their own language at a time when most Christian nations relied on Greek or Latin. The classical canon includes Eznik of Kolb's Refutation of the Sects (5c.), Movses Khorenatsi's History of Armenia (likely 8c., self-claimed 5c.), Gregory of Narek's Book of Lamentations (~1003), and the medieval grammars and theological corpus. Grabar continues as the liturgical language of the Armenian Apostolic Church (Etchmiadzin, Cilicia), the Armenian Catholic Church, and partially the Armenian Evangelical Church. Distinct from Modern Eastern Armenian (hye) and Modern Western Armenian (hyw) — taught alongside but as a separate language register in Armenian-medium schools and seminaries.