In the early tenth century, many regions of Armenia were enduring ceaseless uprisings from the peasant classes. These protests began to form a violent crescendo, and eventually resulted in the adoption of new religious tenets, straying away from the overbearing Orthodox Church.

In 906 CE, the Tatev Monastery was completed, and an edict granted the monks ownership of contiguous villages. Naturally, this edict met sharp objection from the residents of these villages, and another struggle with the church began. The Monastery was able to control two of the villages, but one single village remained in protest. A bloody war resulted as the peasants attacked the Monastery. Despite a brief suppression, the uprising quickly regained its strength. These revolts continued throughout the tenth century. In 990, Vasak, the King of Syunik burned down this rebellious village, and disarmed the in habitants. This led to widespread acquiescence of the Tondrakian people.

However, after the suppression of these revolts, the Tondrakians eventually suffered a major declivity. In the eleventh century, the Tondrakian movement gained enthusiasm in Armenia. Tondrakian villages slowly began to appear on the Armenian landscape.

Such acceptance began to worry secular, feudal and spiritual authorities; even the Byzantine officials and Muslims. Eventually, these worried groups joined forces in an effort to persecute the Tondrakians. Subsequently, this led to the defeat of the Tondrakians in Armenia.

After the defeat, the Byzantine authorities had many Tondrakians deported to Thrace in the tenth century. The Byzantine Empire conquered the Bagratuni Kingdom of Ani in 1045, causing the Tondrakians to experience a resurgence of support in larger cities (such as Ani). Eventually, the Tondrakians even began appealing to the lower ranked nobility and clergy.

Ultimately, the Tondrakians broke into three separate groups in their final years. One group drew sharp criticism upon themselves for advocacy of atheism, the immortality of the soul and even doubt of an afterlife. Bu the middle of the eleventh century, the Byzantine governor Gregory Magistros managed to eliminate any remnants of the Tondrakians.