 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.In Ani, Hovhannes received the ecclesiastical rank of "sarkavag" (deacon), and eventually rose to become a vardapet (archimandrite, Doctor of Theology) of the Armenian Apostolic Church.But it was the title "sarkavag", however, that became attached to his name.