Saint Gregory the Enlightener, Bishop of Armenia 10/13/2013
Born of noble family, relatives of the Persian royal family of the King Arbatan and of the Armenian royal family of the King Kursar. When these two royal families started a war between them, Gregory exiled to Caesarea in Cappadocia, where he learnt of the holy doctrines of the Christians and was baptized, and afterwards married. From this marriage he had two sons: Verthanes and Aristakes. Both of them he gave in service of the Church. Following the death of his wife, he returned to Armenia and entered in service of King Tiridates. And Gregory served loyally to his King, and the King loved him. But, when the King learnt that Gregory was a Christian, he was greatly enraged and began counselling him to denounce the faith of Christ and worship the idols. When his endeavours failed, he put Gregory to the torture and after many various torments he threw him in a deep pit full of all kinds of venomous creatures to die. Yet, God preserved him in this pit for fourteen years. Then Tiridates continued the persecution of Christians in his kingdom and struck a monastery where lived thirty-seven sisters and their abbess Gaiana. When he had killed them all in atrocious tortures, Tiridates lost his reason and lived as a wild bore. His sister saw in her dream a man, radiant with light, who told her that her mad brother would not be cured until Gregory was taken out of the pit. When he was brought out of the pit, Saint Gregory cured him and baptised him. Then, according to the will of Tiridates, Gregory became the Bishop of Armenia and with the King's assistance, he enlightened the whole country and the neighbouring areas in the faith of Christ. Saint Gregory completed his laborious life in his old age, in 335. In his place, his son Aristakes was consecrated a Bishop. He continued his father's work and was one of the 318 fathers that took part in the First Ecumenical Council.
