The analysis of some data from a colophon of Anania Shirakouni (Shirakatsi) gives the exact date of his coming back to Armenia after completing his studies in Trebizond as 666 AD. Thus we know the dates when he completed his studies in Armenia (657) and went abroad for further studies (658). The comparison of these dates with the chronology of catholicoses of Armenia and the main historical events of that period gives us a new understanding of the circumstances of the creation of Anania’s main work – the K’nnikon.

In 647, the 95-year Easter list created by Athanas Taronatsi in 552 was completed. Although it was necessary to compose a new Easter list, historical events did not allow the Armenian Church to accomplishthat task. In 658, just as the Armenian-Arab peace treatywas negotiated, Anastas Akoretsi, who wasthe coadjutor of Catholicos Nerses Tayetsi, sent young Anania abroad for further education to study the quadrivium (arithmetic, geometry, music, and astronomy). In 665, the first “false Easter” happened when the Easter of Western churches took place a week before Easter in Armenia. Catholicos Anastas Akoretsi called Anania back and ordered him to write the famous K’nnikon – the new textbook for Armenian universities containing all the sciences of the time. Anania’s K’nnikon contained both the trivium and quadrivium and some applied sciences as well. A large section of this work was devoted to the calendar. In his calendar (tomar) Anania also theoretically proved the credibility of the position of the Armenian Church for determining the dates for both Easter and Christmas. Anania’s K’nnikon was not approved by the council of bishops and, after Anastas Akoretsi passed away, his successor Israyel Otmsetsi heldopposing attitudes to suchissues. Anania’s K’nnikon was forbidden for about four centuries until the time of Grigor Magistros and Catholicos Petros Getadardz.