Christianity. The city originated as Vardkesavan or Vardgesavan in the 4th or 3rd century BC. King Vagharsh (117-140) had the name changed to Vagharshapat ( Armenian : Վաղարշապատ), which still persists as the official appellation of the city. The original name, as preserved by Byzantine historian, Procopius ("Persian Wars"), was Valashabad--"Valash/Balash