Η Armenia it was an important cradle of Christianity during the first Christian centuries. According to tradition, the first to bring the Christian message to the countries of the Caucasus were the apostles Thaddeus and Bartholomew. But the persecutions on the part of the pagan rulers of the region did not allow the Christian communities there to develop particularly. That is until his appearance Saint Gregory, who received his nickname Illuminator of Armenia.
He lived in the years when he was emperor Diocletian (284-305), the most fanatical and religious Roman emperor, the greatest persecutor of Christians. It was Parthus in origin and scion of an illustrious family. His father's name was Ref and he was a relative of the king of Armenia Kusaro, a fanatical pagan and fierce persecutor of Christians. Thousands of Christians were arrested, tortured and met a tragic death by his executioners.
Gregory was indoctrinated in the Christian faith and baptized a Christian. At the same time, he did not receive a great education, due to his kind and rich family. He was also distinguished for his piety and his virtuous life and for this reason he was highly esteemed by his compatriots.
In Kusaro succeeded to the throne by his son Tiridates, a fanatic and a heathen, who renewed his father's order against the Christians of his kingdom. His soldiers invaded the towns and villages and arrested those they denounced as Christians. Grigorios was also arrested with them, who was dragged to the king in irons. The brave Christian stood boldly and defiantly before the beastly ruler and professed his faith in the true Triune God and civilized idolatry, as the worship of evil spirits. Any other worship, apart from the Triune God, revealed to us by His incarnate Word, Jesus Christ, is the worship of demons, as the Holy Bible expressly states, "all the gods of the nations (are) demons" (Psalm 95,5).
Tiridates was so angry that his countenance was disfigured by the apology of Christian Gregory. He threatened him that he would subject him to horrible tortures and that he would kill him if he did not sacrifice to his "gods". But he remained unconvinced and firm in his faith in Christ. Then the king ordered him to be tortured by the most painful and horrible means. Someone informed him of Gregory's identity, that he was his son Ref of Partho, who had murdered his father Kusaro. This enraged him even more and he thought of killing him in a slow and torturous way in order to get revenge for his father. He ordered a deep pit to be dug in the city Artaxa and having bound Gregory, they threw him into the ditch to be eaten by the beasts and poisonous reptiles, which they threw in with him.
No one bothered with him anymore, because they considered his death certain. But the saint was not harmed, the beasts and reptiles did not cause him the slightest harm. There he lived forgotten for fifteen whole years, with a little bread and water secretly taken to him by a pious Christian widow. Aunt harris overshadowed and protected him all these years. On the occasion, we point out that these wonderful narratives "astound" the rationalists and unbelievers, as
mythical events. But for believers it is the dynamic manifestation of God's uncreated actions in the world. According to the apostle Paul: "Believe the understanding that the word of God is established forever, in the fact that the things that are seen do not come from appearances" (Heb.11,3), Because it is "great feats of faith" and "where God does not will, nature is defeated"!
But the following paradoxical event happened. The beastly king Tiridates had gone mad and ran about the mountains and mountains keeping company with swine, grazing grass like animals and often eating the flesh of his own body. His relatives the Palatians were in despair at the ruler's tragic condition. One night the miracle happened. The sister of Tiridates Kusaroducts she had a strange dream and heard an otherworldly voice, which informed her that "as long as Grigorios is in the pit and you don't get him out of there, your brother is not going to find a cure"!
The strange dream disturbed the princess, who related it to the palace officials. They did not know of any Gregory, who is in a pit, because this case had been forgotten. But an old man remembered the event and led them to the place where the athlete of Christ was lying. There indeed the rulers found Gregory perfectly healthy and the beasts and reptiles worshiping him! They took him out of the pit and led him to the palace, to the royal quarters of the sick Tiridates. Gregory, after praying, crucified him and the king was immediately healed!
Then Tiridates kept Gregory close to him, to indoctrinate him in the faith of Christ. After the catechism was finished, Gregory baptized him. The former persecuting king became a fervent Christian and protector of the Church and Christians. He suggested that Gregory be ordained Bishop of Greater Armenia. He accepted and since then he opened a new page for the Armenian people.
Saint Gregory was distinguished for his virtues, his unwavering faith in God and his missionary zeal. He preached and worked miracles, as evidence of the true faith he taught his countrymen. He organized numerous missions throughout the country, so that in a short period of time the great majority of the Armenian people were converted to Christianity.
Saint Gregory belongs to the great Fathers of the Church. For the Armenians, he is considered their illuminator and that is why they call him Ausavoric, that is illuminator, because he brought them out of the darkness of idolatry and led them to the true Light, the Sun of Justice, the Redeemer of the world, Jesus Christ. He was therefore the essential founder of the Armenian Church and the great enlightener of the Armenian people, and for this reason he is highly honored by Armenians. His missionary interest extended to other neighboring countries of the Caucasus. According to St. Nicodemus the Saint, St. Gregory baptized over four million in the Euphrates River Armenians, Assyrians and Persians. Tiridates with them. He built three magnificent temples in her honor Saint Martyr of Gaiana and its pluses Holy Virgins.
When he had completed his titanic missionary work, he wanted to retire to the desert to devote time to his own perfection. Before leaving, he ordained three Bishops to continue his work, the Olviano, Utthalio and Bass. In total, he ordained, in the areas he Christianized, more than four hundred Bishops.
He slept peacefully on September 30, 325. His memory is commemorated on this day.
Unfortunately, however, the Armenian Church, "he planted the vine" St. Gregory deviated from the Orthodox faith 5ο century, rejected her decisions Holy Fourth Ecumenical Synod (451) and joined the heretics Monophysites, following a moderate Monophysitism, whom he follows to this day. It is our wish that our brother martyred Armenian people, who experienced incredible persecutions and martyrdoms throughout their history, will find the true faith again and join the bosom of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church, our Orthodoxy , the true Church of Christ.
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