7.4 Armenian Historical Figures (Saints)

St. Nerses the Great

The great-grandson of St. Gregory the Illuminator, he gathered the first council of the Armenian Church in Ashtishat to pass canons about family life, public, welfare...

St. Gregory of Narek

Author of the Prayer Book Narek or Speaking With God from the Depths of The Heart

Komitas Catholicos (Aghtetsi)

He attended the Council of Ctesiphon organized by the Persians, he reconstructed Holy Etchmiadzin and St. Hripsime Monastery, earning him the name Builder

St. Khosrovidookht

King Trdat’s sister, side by side with Trdat’s wife, Queen Ashkhen, they worked to build the first Cathedral, Etchmiadzin

St. Gregory of Tatev

A scholar and teacher, whose rich legacy of theological works, such as the Book of Questions

St. Mesrob Mashdots

First a soldier, then a priest and scribe in the royal court, the founder of Armenian Alphabet, with Catholicos St. Sahag

Khrimian Hayrig

Catholicos, Patriarch of Constantinople, the author of “iron ladle” sermon, on Armenians’ right to self-defense

St. Bartholomew

The second of Jesus’ apostles to travel to Armenia to preach and evangelize, in the mid-1st century. He is also known as Nathanael

St. John of Odzun

Catholicos, led the Armenian Church in the difficult time right after the Arab invasion of Armenia. The compiler of the first Canon Book of the Armenian Church

St. Movses Khorenatsi

The Father of Armenian History, was a student of Sts. Sahag and Mesrob. His History of Armenia told the story of Armenia from its origins through his day

St. Nerses Shnorhali

Catholicos of the Armenian Church (1166-1173), he revised and recompiled the Armenian Book of Hours and wrote many of the key hymns and chants of our daily prayer services

St. Thaddeus or Tateos

One of Jesus’ 12 disciples, he was invested with the gift of language by the Holy Spirit on Pentecost and traveled to Armenia

St. Vartan Mamikonian

St. Sahag’s grandson, he stood up for the Christian faith of his fathers. Tensions came to a tragic end at a battle on the field of Avarayr

Gomidas Vartabed

Churchman, musician, (Soghomon Soghomonian). His polyphonic rendering of the Armenian Divine Liturgy is one of the two basic settings in use in Armenian churches world-wide

St. Santookht

Daughter of the Armenian King Sanadroog, She converted to Christianity and when her father discovered what he considered her treachery, he threw her into prison

St. Grigor, the Illuminator or Enlightener

Patron saint of Armenia, The first Catholicos of the Armenian Church, he is the true founder of Armenian Christianity