 789, it was made the second alternate capital (after Dvin) of the governor ("ostikan") of the province of Arminiya.Its governors strengthened the defenses of the city in order to counter the invasions of the Khazars attacking from the north.In 768, the Catholicos of All Armenians, Sion I Bavonats'i, convoked an ecclesiastical council at Partav, which passed 24 canons that addressed issues relating to the administration of the Armenian Church and marriage practices.