Baptism of Our Lord Jesus Christ by

John the Baptist

Vartanank: St. Vartan and 1036 Martyrs (451 AD)

In 451 AD the Persians waged war against the Armenian princes after a series of attempts to force the Armenians to follow Mazdaism. For a number of decades, this confrontation had been looming and with the refusal of the Armenian princes to conceal, it was brought to a peak. Under the leadership of St. Vadan Mamigonlan, the princes fought with their armies against the might of the Persian Empire. Armenia's terrain was to the advantage of her brave sons but the vast numbers of the Persians brought victory to their side (60,000 Armenians against 200,000 Persians excluding the armored elephant brigade).

This battle, known as the Battle of Avarayr (the field where it was fought) is the first recorded battle in defense of Christianity. As the historian Yeghisheh states, the Armenians fought "for the freedom of religion and for the Fatherland." The battle became a spiritual victory for the Armenian nation in that the Persian kings henceforth recognized the Armenian claims for freedom of worship. St. Vartan and the 1036 martyrs are held in special respect by the Armenian people who have continued for centuries to hold fast to their Christian faith and to their national identity.

This confession has served as a supreme example of the faith, which has sustained the Armenian nation for more than fifteen hundred years through persecution, massacre, and finally attempted genocide. Until today, you may hear Armenian children In every part of the world reciting a treasured poem: "1 am Armenian, Armenian; I am the grandchild of Brave Vartan."

Krikor Datevatzi (Gregory of Datev) (1346-1410 AD)

St. Krikor was born in 1346 in the province of Vaiotz Tzor. He was one of the famous students of Hovhannes Vorodnetzi and while on a pilgrimage with his mentor to Jerusalem in 1373, received the Holy Orders. Later he was to receive from his teacher the degrees of Doctor of the Church (Vartabed) and finally Supreme Doctor of the Church (Dzayrakooyn Vartabed). Like Vorodnetzi, he was well versed in Latin and had studied all the great Greek philosophers. In that style, he wrote the famous "Kirk Hartzmantz" (Book of Questions), a work of practical theology, and two collections of sermons, the style and depth of which set a new standard for Armenian preaching. Although Krikor spent most of his life in the Monastery of Datev, he did travel to other monasteries where he taught and gathered students. Men marveled at his genius and clarity of thought and wherever he went students and admirers followed him. He increased the number of students and novices in each monastery that he visited. St. Krikor added the granting of the doctoral staff to celibate priests and the prayers for the granting of the Veghar (hood) as well as the degree of Supreme Doctor of the Church to the Book of Ritual (Mashdotz). A great defender of the faith, intellectual, spiritual leader, wonderful preacher, and pious and humble believer, St. Gregory of Datev is often called the "Second Gregory the Illuminator."

Nerses Shnorhali (Nerses the Graceful), Catholicos (1102-1173)

St. Nerses was born in 1102, his father being Prince Abirad and his grandfather, the great church writer, Krikor Makisdros. He studied under Stepanos Vartabed in Garmir (Red) Monastery and was ordained at 18 years of age by his brother, Catholicos Krikor III Balavouni in the City of Hromgla. By the age of thirty, he was consecrated a bishop. He served as the personal aide and right hand man to his brother, the Catholicos, whom he succeeded in 1166.

Merely to list all St. Nerses' works would be a tedious task. He is most famous for his 'General Epistle' which was directed to the Armenian people, eloquently guiding them in their faith, for his many letters, orations, poems, such as "Lament for Edessa," a moving masterpiece on the destruction of that city, commentaries and ecclesiastical studies. A great musician as well as writer and poet, St. Nerses enriched the Book of Hours with many songs and the Book of Sharagans with a wealth of sacred hymns, adding almost a third to their number. His book, Jesus, Son is used by devout Armenians and is second only to Nareg. St. Nerses was an ecumenist as well as an astute theologian and beloved leader. The title 'graceful' was previously an educational rank but Nerses added a new dimension to that title and is remembered for his loving nature and paternal care of his flock, the members of the Armenian Church. Along with St. Gregory of Nareg, he is a pillar of Armenian literature, especially of the Silver Age. St. Nerses is perhaps the most beloved of all Armenian saints and is respected not only nationally but also universally. His final resting-place has been a place of pilgrimage for all Christians without distinction who referred to him as "Lord Nerses."

Famous church songs from him are:.

Aravod Looso

NorasdeghzyaI

Krikor Naregatzi Vartabed (Gregory of Nareg) (950-1010 AD)

Born in the city of Nareg, he received his education under the guidance of his father, Bishop Khosrov (Antzevatzi, author of the earliest commentary on the Divine Liturgy) and from Anania Vartabed, Abbot of Nareg Monastery. At an early age, he and his two brothers entered the monastic life. Naregatzi launched his writings with a commentary on the Song of Songs, which was commissioned by an Armenian prince. Krikor felt he was too young for this assignment, yet he wrote this commentary which is famous for its clarity of thought and language as well as excellence of theological presentation. He wrote a number of famous letters, sharagans, treasures, odes, melodies and a wealth of church writings but his masterpiece is his Book of Lamentations called Nareg in which his universal genius is displayed. (Nareg has been translated into at least thirty languages.) St. Krikor Naregatzi is considered the greatest poet of the Armenian nation and the first and greatest. Mystic. His style and command of the Armenian language cannot be excelled and his saintly person has been an inspiration to the Armenian faithful for centuries. Numerous miracles and traditions have been attributed to the saint and perhaps that is why he is referred to as "the watchful angel in human form."

Catholicos Hovhan Mantagooni

&

Vahan Mamigonian

St. Sarkis

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St. Mesrob returning with the Armenian Alphabet

Sahag Bartev, Catholicos (437 AD)

St. Sahag was the son of St. Nerses the Great and received his primary and higher education in Caesarea and Byzantium. He married and had one daughter, Sahaganoosh who married into the Mamigonlan family and was the mother of Vartan, Hmayak, and Hamazasbyan. St. Sahag was elevated to the Catholical throne in 387 AD This period was one of the most tragic in Armenian history in that in 390 AD Armenia was divided between Persia and Byzantlum. St. Sahag witnessed the coming and going of many kings and the political situation of Armenia deteriorated into that of being a Persian province. He was not popular with the Armenian princes because he would not aid them in their acts against the monarchy, and blamed them for its fall. Prior to this period, he had worked with the peace-loving and farsighted King Vramshabooh during whose reign the Armenian alphabet was invented. Because of the political situation, St. Sahag was replaced as Catholicos by two Assyrlan bishops successively. Their terms were very short because of the animosities they caused by being pro-Persian and foreign to the Armenian people. Although the Assyrian bishops had the political power, the populace as a spiritual leader respected St. Sahag,

Aside from his strong leadership in the dark hours of Armenian history, St. Sahag is also remembered for his literary works; he was the guiding force of the Golden Age. It was he who encouraged St. Mesrob in his works. After the discovery of the alphabet, St. Sahag set to work on the first translation of the Holy Bible. He established schools and improved upon those already existing. He formulated the first books of ritual and translated the works of the Holy Fathers into Armenian. He wrote a number of canons, hymns, and prayers and is recognized as one of the founders of Armenian ecclesiastical and national literature. His fruitful life ended in 437 AD at the ripe old age of 89. With the death of St. Sahag, the line of St. Gregory the Illuminator was also ended. St. Sahag is remembered as one of the greatest saints of the Armenian Church. His work, together with St. Mesrob and King Vramshabouh, granted the Armenian nation the key necessary for its survival, the establishment of Armenian literature. He ushered in the Golden Age, and was responsible for Armenia becoming ecclesiastically and nationally autonomous, giving it the strength to withstand centuries of political division and subservience.

Mesrob the Vartabed (known as Mashdotz) (438 AD)

St. Mesrob was born in the village of Hatzegatz in the province of Daron. In his early years, he learned both Greek and Persian and served in the Armenian Royal Court. Later, he decided to enter the ranks of the clergy and with some other young men, he went to preach in the province of Koghtn around 395 AD During this period he felt the great need of the Armenian people for an alphabet of their own so he petitioned the Catholicos Sahag and together they requested the aid of King Vramshabouh.

After much research and many travels, Mesrob was able to come up with the skeleton of an alphabet. However, it did not meet the needs of the Armenian language. According to tradition, while meditating in a cave near the village of Palu, the saint had a vision in which, "the hand of God wrote the alphabet in letters of fire." Upon his return to the Catholicos and king, the saint was received with great honors and much joy.

Immediately after the discovery of the alphabet, the Holy Translators worked to translate the Bible and the first words in the Armenian language were from the Book of Proverbs, "To know wisdom and Instruction; to perceive the words of understanding." They also opened schools to teach the newly discovered alphabet, among whose students were the famous translators Yeghisheh, Movses, Tavit and Saint Vartan.

After the discovery of the alphabet, St. Mesrob spent many years translating and writing literary and ecclesiastical works. He went to many provinces where paganism still existed and preached the word of God in the people's own language, with the light of the Holy Gospels. During this period, he was invited to Georgia and Caucasian Albania where he likewise invented alphabets to suit their languages. His life's works have been recorded by one of his famous students, Goriun, in his book, The Life of Mashdotz. St. Mesrob was buried in Oshagan in the province of Vaspouragan where a beautiful cathedral has been built in his honor and where one may go and pay homage at the saints tomb to the present.

The book of ritual used in the Armenian Church bears the name 'Mashdotz' and is dedicated to this great saint. Although it had been compiled at a later date, it was based on a sacramental anthology attributed to Mashdotz.

St. Mesrob gave the Armenian people the most precious of gifts and continues to serve as an inspiration to all generations. Beloved by all, St. Mesrob is a special inspiration to Armenian writers and poets.

King Drtad is being baptised by Sourp Krikor Lousavorich

King Drtad was sent to Caesarea and then Rome after the assassination of his father and other members of the royal family as described in the entry under St. Gregory the Illuminator. After condemning St. Gregory to the pit and because of his responsibility for the martyrdom of the Hripsimeyan nuns, the King lost his sanity. His wife, Queen Ashkhen - daughter of the King of the Alans, and his sister, Princess Khosrovitookht, had most probably already accepted Christianity through the efforts of the Hripsimeyan nuns and others in the Christian underground in Armenia. It was the Princess who suggested that Gregory be brought out of the pit to cure the king. Upon King Drtad's recovery, he, his wife, and his sister all helped to lay the foundations of the Hripsimeyan martyria. When St. Gregory returned from Caesarea where he was ordained a bishop, the king, his family, and his entire court and army met St. Gregory en route and was baptized in the Euphrates River.

During the construction of Holy Etchmladzin, the king aided physically, spiritually, and financially. He encouraged St. Gregory in spreading the Gospel throughout Armenia. Queen Ashkhen and the Princess went together to the fortress of Garni to live the remainder of their lives in dedication to the Lord. The King did likewise, retiring to St. Gregory's place of retreat, Mt. Sebouh, where hostile princes who wished to reestablish paganism martyred him.

Thirty-three nuns under the leadership of Kayaneh escaped to Armenia hoping to find refuge from the Roman Emperor who desired to wed one of them, Hripsimeh, because of her unusual beauty. The Armenian King Drtad, being in contact with Rome, heard of their entry into Armenia and likewise desired Hripsimeh. After many efforts to convince her, the king saw that it was useless and that she would not consent to his desires, nor would she leave her companions, nor the worship of Christ. The king became enraged and had Hripsimeh's tongue cut out first, then her body burned with great torches. Her womb was torn from her body. After all this, she was dismembered. The following day, Gayaneh and her companions were tied to stakes where they were skinned alive. After that, their Intestines were torn from their bodies and finally they were decapitated.

Upon his delivery from the pit, St. Gregory built chapels over the relics of the holy nuns. Later, during the time of St. Sahag Barter (4th c), these chapels were rebuilt and, during the Catholicate of Gomidas (7th c), two beautiful cathedrals were erected --the Cathedral of St. Hripsimeh being a monument of Armenian architecture. The Catholicos also wrote a beautiful sharagan in their memory, "Antzink Nviryalk."

Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ

Crucifixion of Our Lord Jesus Christ