Classical Armenian (,
grabar;
krapar in
Western Armenian, meaning "literary [language]"; also
Old Armenian or
Liturgical Armenian) is the oldest attested form of the
Armenian language. It was first written down at the beginning of the 5th century, and all Armenian literature from then through the 18th century is in the Grabar Armenian language. Many ancient
Greek,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Syriac, and
Latin manuscripts survive only in their Armenian translation. Classical Armenian continues to be the liturgical language of the
Armenian Apostolic Church and is often learned by
Biblical,
Intertestamental, and
Patristic scholars dedicated to textual studies. Classical Armenian is also important for the reconstruction of the
Proto-Indo-European language, since it preserves many archaic features.