Ananias of Shirak

Also: Anania Shirakatsi

Born perhaps between 600 and 615, perhaps in Shirak Province, Armenia. Died perhaps between 685 and 690; the place is not known.

Armenian mathematician, astronomer and geographer of the seventh century.

Wrote in Armenian.

Places lived

625 to 645Trapezus (now Trabzon, Turkey)studiedyears not sure, place probable

Works

2 works, in the order they were written. 2 works can be read here.

On Christmasseventh century · place not known · homilyA discourse that defends the Armenian custom of keeping the birth and the baptism of Christ on one day, 6 January.6,101 words
Autobiography; On Easterabout 660 · place not known · treatiseA short account of his own schooling at Trebizond, with a tract on how to find the date of Easter.6,357 words

How we know the dates and places

Born not sure: Ananias of Shirak, Autobiography (tr. Conybeare 1897), https://www.tertullian.org/fathers/ananias_of_shirak_autobiography.htm; R. H. Hewsen, "Science in Seventh-Century Armenia: Ananias of Širak", Isis 59 (1968)
About 610.
Place of birth not sure: Ananias of Shirak, Autobiography (tr. Conybeare 1897), https://www.tertullian.org/fathers/ananias_of_shirak_autobiography.htm; R. H. Hewsen, "Science in Seventh-Century Armenia: Ananias of Širak", Isis 59 (1968)
A region. The village (Anania or Ani) is disputed.
Died not sure: Ananias of Shirak, Autobiography (tr. Conybeare 1897), https://www.tertullian.org/fathers/ananias_of_shirak_autobiography.htm; R. H. Hewsen, "Science in Seventh-Century Armenia: Ananias of Širak", Isis 59 (1968)
Place of death not known: Ananias of Shirak, Autobiography (tr. Conybeare 1897), https://www.tertullian.org/fathers/ananias_of_shirak_autobiography.htm; R. H. Hewsen, "Science in Seventh-Century Armenia: Ananias of Širak", Isis 59 (1968)
Trapezus, years not sure: Ananias of Shirak, Autobiography (tr. Conybeare 1897), https://www.tertullian.org/fathers/ananias_of_shirak_autobiography.htm; R. H. Hewsen, "Science in Seventh-Century Armenia: Ananias of Širak", Isis 59 (1968) (eight years with the teacher Tychicus; the years are not known)
Trapezus, place probable: Ananias of Shirak, Autobiography (tr. Conybeare 1897), https://www.tertullian.org/fathers/ananias_of_shirak_autobiography.htm; R. H. Hewsen, "Science in Seventh-Century Armenia: Ananias of Širak", Isis 59 (1968) (eight years with the teacher Tychicus; the years are not known)