St. Gregory the Enlightener

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Feastday: September 30

Gregory the Enlightener was also surnamed the Illuminator. He is of unknown origins, but unreliable tradition has him the son of Anak, a Parthian who murdered King Khosrov I of Armenia when Gregory was a baby. The infant Gregory was smuggled to Caesarea to escape the dying Khosrov's order to murder the entire family, was baptized, married, and had two sons. When King Khosrov's son, Tiridates, regained his father's throne, Gregory was permitted to return, but he incurred the King's displeasure by his support of the Armenian Christians and his conversion activities. In time, Tiridates was converted to Christianity by Gregory and proclaimed Christianity the official religion of Armenia. Gregory was consecrated bishop of Ashtishat, set about organizing the Church in Armenia and building a native clergy, and worked untiringly to evangelize the Armenians. Curiously enough, he set into motion the process that was to make his See a hereditary episcopate when he consecrated his son Aristakes to succeed him. He then retired to a hermitage on Mount Manyea in Taron and remained there until his death. Many extravagant legends and miracles were attributed to him, many of which are celebrated as feasts by the Armenians. He is considered the apostle of Armenia. His feast day is September 30th.

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1 - 1 of 1 Comments

Shantal
9 months ago
Tiridates III the son of the late King Khosrov II, reigned was very much Influenced by the fact that Gregory was the son of his father's enemy and due to that fact he ordered Gregory imprisoned for (Thirteen years) years in a pit on the Ararat Plain under the present day church called "Khor Virab" located near the historical city Artashat in Armenia. Gregory was eventually called forth from his pit in c. 297 by Tiridates's sister, Khosrovidhukt, who had repeated visions in the night, where an angel told her about the prisoner Gregory to be called forth from the pit to restore to sanity of Tiridates III, who received Divine punishment for the persecution and murder of St. Rhipsime,St. Gaiaine and many Christians.
Please note after that In 301 St. Gregory the Illuminator baptized Tiridates III along with all members of the royal court and upper class as Christians. Thus, Tiridates III issued a decree by which he granted St. Gregory full rights to begin carrying out the conversion of the entire nation to the Christian faith. Accordingly Armenia became the first country to adopt Christianity as its state religion in 301.

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