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Our father among the [[saint]]s '''Gregory the Enlightener''' also '''Gregory the Illuminator''' (Armenian: Գրիգոր Լուսաւորիչ translit. ''Grigor Lusavorich'', Greek: ''Γρηγόριος Φωστήρ or Φωτιστής'', ''Gregorios Phoster'' or ''Photistes''), Equal of the Apostles and Enlightener of Armenia, was the religious leader credited with forging the Christian identity of Armenia through conversion from [[paganism|pagan]] beliefs. Armenia became the first country to establish itself as a Christian nation, an event traditionally dated to 301 though now believed by most scholars to have occurred somewhat later, but before 314. He is commemorated on [[September 30]].

Gregory was born about 257. His father Anak, a Parthian prince, was put to death for assassinating his kinsman King Khosrov while Gregory was still an infant. To escape execution, Gregory was taken by his nurse to [[Caesarea]] in Cappadocia where he was raised as a Christian. He married and had two sons. One son, Orthanes, would later become a [[priest]] and the other, Aristaces became, first, an [[monk]], then later a [[bishop]] who attended the [[First Ecumenical Council|Council]] in [[Nicea]]. About 280, Gregory returned to Armenia and entered the service of King Tiridates III, the son of the assassinated Khosrov. However, Tiridates was intolerant of Christianity and demanded that Gregory renounce his Christian faith which he refused to do. Gregory was imprisoned and subjected to many tortures during his imprisonment of some thirteen years including enduring imprisonment in a pit with venomous snakes. In the meanwhile Tiridates continued to pursue his anti-Christian campaign. He executed St. [[Rhipsime of Armenia|Rhipsime]], the [[abbess]] Gaiana, and 35 virgins of a [[monastery]] in Asia Minor. During these times, Tiridates developed a serious ailment and suffered disfiguration. However, his heart soften after he was cured through Gregory’s prayers.

In 302, Gregory was [[consecration of a bishop|consecrated]] bishop of all the Armenians, to be their [[Catholicos]], by Leontius of Caesarea. In 303, Gregory built the [[Cathedral]] of Etchmiadzin near Mount Ararat which still is the [[see|seat]] of the Amenian Catholicos. In 318, Gregory named his son, Aristaces, as his successor and charged his grandson, Grigoris, to spread the [[Holy Gospel|Gospel]] of Christ throughout the Caucasus and Anatolia. Gregory then retired to a [[monastery]] near Mount Sebuh in the Daralia province of Upper Armenia where he reposed about 331.

[[Troparion]] (Tone 4)

interceding with Christ that our souls may be saved!

*[[w: Gregory_the_Illuminator]]

*[http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsLife.asp?FSID=102818 Hieromartyr Gregory the Bishop of Greater Armenia]