sentences:  There he raised an army, but David Saharuni defeated and then slew Mjej Gnuni and, by uniting various local princes, declared himself ruler of Armenia.Faced with such a fait acompli, and recognizing Armenia's strategic importance, in 638 Heraclius confirmed David in his position and awarded him the titles of curopalate, sparapet, and prince of Armenia and Syria.He is also known to have approached the Armenian Catholicos Ezra for a union of the Armenian and Greek Churches, who initially refused, but later yielded to the menaces of the general.