Hovhannes Imastaser (Armenian: Յովհաննէս Իմաստասէր, lit. 'John the Philosopher/Scholar', c. 1045–50 – 1129), also known as Hovhannes Sarkavag (Յովհաննէս Սարկաւագ, 'John the Deacon'), was a medieval Armenian multi-disciplinary scholar known for his works on philosophy, theology, mathematics, cosmology, and literature. He was also a gifted hymnologist and pedagogue.^[1]

The most extensive historical account of Hovhannes Imastaser’s life and work is in the 12-13th century Armenian historian Kirakos Gandzaketsi’s History of Armenia.^[2] There also exists a 13th-century anonymous biography of Hovhannes Imastaser which is sometimes attributed to Kirakos Gandzaketsi.

Hovhannes Imastaser was born in c. 1045–50 into a priest's family.^[3] Varying information exists about his birthplace. Vardan Areveltsi writes that he was from the district of Parisos. Kirakos Gandzaketsi reports that Hovhannes was "from the land of Gandzak, like me." Parisos was a part of the Emirate of Ganja (Gandzak) at the time, so these reports may be compatible. An anonymous hagiography of Hovhannes refers to Ani as "his own city" and "the place of [his] upbringing"; thus, Manuk Abeghian concluded that Ani was Hovhannes's actual birthplace. Ashot Abrahamian considers it most likely that Hovhannes was born in the district of Parisos.^[4]

Hovhannes received his education in theology and science in Haghbat and Sanahin, two important monastic centers of Armenian medieval scholarship.^[5] His teacher was his maternal uncle, who was nicknamed Urchetsi vardapet (archimandrite, Doctor of Theology).^[6] He was probably ordained as a sarkavag (deacon) early on in Haghbat. Upon the completion of his studies, Hovhannes moved to medieval Armenia's capital city of Ani, where he taught philosophy, mathematics, music, cosmography and grammar. He eventually rose to become a vardapet of the Armenian Church. But it was the title sarkavag, however, that became attached to his name,^[5] probably because he had held that rank for a long time.^[7] For his learnedness, he also received the epithets Imastaser ('the Philosopher/Scholar'), Poetikos ('the Poet'), and Sophestos ('the Wise'); the latter appears on the inscription on his gravestone.^[3][8]

While Hovhannes Imastaser was recognized as a master of Armenian literature, his works acquired wider publicity only in the 19th century when they were published by Abbot Ghevont Alishan, a member of the Mekhitarist Congregation in Venice. Imastaser's innovative approach to literature, for which he is often referred to as a key representative of the medieval Armenian literary renaissance, is fully demonstrated in his poem Ban Imastutian (Discourse on wisdom). In the poem, written as a dialogue between the author and a blackbird, the bird symbolizes nature, which, per the author, is the main inspiration behind art. In Imastaser's time, artistic inspiration was usually attributed to divine reasons.^[9]

As a hymnologist, Imastaser wrote several important sharakans (hymns): Tagh Harutean (Ode to the Resurrection), Paytsaratsan Aysor (They brightened on this day), Anskizbn Bann Astvatz (God, the infinite word), Anchareli Bann Astavatz (God, the inexpressible word). The latter two are acrostic compositions, each encompassing within their ten stanzas thirty-six letters of the Armenian Alphabet. In them, Imastaser glorifies heroes and martyrs who sacrificed their lives defending Armenian homeland and their Christian faith. Imastaser also introduced another patriotic theme to Armenian literature and music: emigration. In his hymns Imastaser prays to God so that Armenians who left their country could find strength to return home.^[5]

Hovhannes Imastaser also contributed to the standardization of the Armenian prayer book and Psalter.

Hovhannes Imastaser's work in mathematics is represented by the volume Haghaks Ankiunavor Tvots (Concerning Polygonal Numbers). This work indicates a profound knowledge of all important ancient and medieval mathematicians, including Pythagoras, Euclid and Aristotle. Hovhannes Imastaser translated into Armenian the works of the following classical scholars: Philo of Alexandria, Dionysius the Areopagite, Gregory of Nyssa, Porphyry, and, as mentioned, Aristotle and Euclid.^[10]

In 1084, Hovhannes Imastaser became involved in the project of developing so-called Minor Armenian Calendar, which included all 365 days plus one additional day. Eventually, his work on calendars led to the invention of a perpetual or eternal calendar.^[2]

One of the most important citations of Hovhannes Imastaser reflects his understanding of the role of the empirical method in science. 150 years before Roger Bacon, Hovhannes Imastaser famously noted: "Without experimentation, no opinion can be considered probable and acceptable; only experiment produces confirmation and certainty."^{[citation needed]}