Apostles St. Thaddeus and St. Bartholomew were two of the twelve Apostles of Christ, who came to Armenia and preached Christianity in Armenia deserving the title “the first illuminators”. Still at the dawn of Christianity they were martyred in Armenia. It was the result of their preaching and martyrdom that the Armenian people, being the first nation in the world, proclaimed Christianity as the state religion. Indeed, Apostles St. Thaddeus and St. Bartholomew played an important role in the history of 2000-year-old Christian Armenian nation which has unshaken faith and keen love towards its Mother Church.

Each year a Divine Liturgy is celebrated in the Cathedral of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin in the memory of St. Apostles.

The name “Genarius” is the equivalent of the Latin name “Januarius” and the Italian name “Chenaro”. It is supposed that St. Genarios was born in the beginning of the third century. His parents were rich and well-known persons. He has been the Bishop of the city Benevent of Italy. Genarius was imprisoned during the period of reign of the emperor Dioclethianus and was martyred in 305. The saint’s blood is up to date kept in a special small bottle in the Church of Naples.

St. Merkerius was one of the brave soldiers of the Roman Army. Like his father he believed in true God. Once king Dekos called him and ordered to offer sacrifice in the temple on the occasion of the victory but Merkerius refused to obey the king’s order. The soldiers put his hands into chains and burnt him on the fire. However, the next day they found out that Merkerius was alive and healed and he told that God had saved him. The king ordered to burn his body by means of heated skewers and beheaded him. The saint was martyred in 250 AD.

By this feast the Armenian Apostolic Church commemorates the memory of all those saints, whose names are not included in the Church Calendar, but whose names are registered in the sacred book of the Heavenly Kingdom.

Many people have been subjected to severe torments and have been martyred during the wars for the sake of faith. Unfortunately, we do not know their names. So the Church has established this feast in the Church Calendar in order to commemorate their memory. They are persons who shed their blood for the sake of Christ and His Church.

The Pontiff of Rome St. Stepannos (Stephen) was born in Rome. He was the Bishop of Rome since 254 AD. He has been the deacon of the martyred Pope of Rome Lukianos and after the Popes’ death has been his successor. According to the Armenian collection book “Haysmavourk”, St. Stepannos has been a courageous and zealous Pontiff leading his flock, encouraging the faithful during the persecutions and exhorting them to remain loyal to their faith. He has converted many heathens to Christianity, and among the converted were the Prince Nemesios and his blind daughter. After the latters’ baptism the daughter of the Prince Nemesios becomes able to see, and the prince, witnessing that miracle, asks the Pontiff to ordain him as a deacon. Becoming aware of that fact, the King calls the Prince to him and orders him to offer sacrifice to the idols. But the Prince refuses, and for the refusal he is martyred together with his daughter. Another Prince and his servants, who also were pious Christians, are martyred. According to “Haysmavourk”, 12 clergymen are subjected to torments and are martyred, and the memory of those blessed clergy is commemorated with the memory of the Pontiff St. Stepannos.

Once, when the pontiff St. Stepannos was celebrating a Divine Liturgy, the soldiers surround the Church and wish to break the door. At that time the Pontiff was giving Holy Communion to the faithful in attendance. After his taking the Holy Communion the soldiers rush in and kill the Pontiff in 257 AD.

Bishop Akipsimos (Aquiphsimeus), Priest Hovsep (Joseph) and Deacon Ayitala (Ayethalus) have been martyred in the fourth century. Akipsimos was Persian. Together with the Priest Hovsep (Joseph) and the Deacon Ayitala he has been imprisoned during the persecutions against Christians realized by the King Shapouh II. Bishop Akipsimos, Priest Hovsep (Joseph) and Deacon Ayitala are taken to the town Arbela to stand trial by the heathen supreme priest of sun - Ardakh. However, they refuse to worship the sun and the fire. They are thrown into a deep and dark dungeon, where they remain for three years. Later the saints are sent to Media to stand trial by the King Shapouh II, where they are martyred. According to the hagiographers St. Akipsimos is beheaded, Priest Hovsep (Joseph) and Deacon Ayitala are stoned.

St. Platon (Plato the Martyr) was born in Ankuria, in the family of a Christian pious priest. Since childhood he was brought up and educated in Christian spirit. After his parents’ death Platon sells all his property and distributes the sum to the poor and the needy and dedicates himself to converting the heathens to Christianity and spreading of the Word of God. Because of being Christian he is imprisoned and subjected to severe torments. The judge does not manage to force Platon to renounce Christianity and to offer sacrifice to the idols, therefore he orders to behead the saint. St. Platon has been martyred in the first quarter of the fourth century.

The Pontiff Metropanos (Metrophanes) was the junior son of the King Probios. He has been ordained by the Bishop Titos of Byzantine and has succeeded him in his office. Bishop Metropanos was known for his deep faith and good reputation, who was able to influence even King Kostandianos the Great to decide that the site of the new capital city to be built should be in the place of Byzantine. He was appointed by the same king to be the first Bishop of Constantinople. Because of his old age the Pontiff Metropanos has not participated in the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea, in 325, sending instead of him Alexander, who later succeeded him. He passed away in 236 AD.

The Pontiff Alexandros (Alexander) has succeeded the Pontiff Metropanos. According to the tradition he has been ordained by the Pontiffs participating in the Ecumenical Council of Nicaea, when they had arrived to Nicaea to attend the previous Pontiff’s burial ceremony. St. Alexandros has participated in the First Ecumenical Council of Christ’s Church. He has been a generous, eloquently speaking, fair and pious pontiff, who has always struggled against the Arianism and the heathen philosophers. According to the Church tradition it is thanks to his prayers and the prayers of the Pontiff St. James of Nisibis that Arius has died. The Pontiff Alexandros has passed away in 326 AD. (According to some sources – in 327 AD.)

The Pontiff St. Paul the Confessor was born in Selanik. He was a pious man and very well knowing the Holy Bible. He has succeeded the Pontiff Alexander of Constantinople. For his strict attitude against Arians St. Paul has been exiled by the King Kostantdianos to Pontos. He returns to Constantinople in 338 AD. But it was fated that the Pontiff should be exiled for three more times. For the last time the Pontiff Paul has been exiled to the town Kokison (Armenia), where he has been martyred by the Arians, who strangled him during the Divine Liturgy in 350 AD.

Markianos (Marcian) and Martiron (Martyrius) were senior scribes, who served in the Patriarchate of Constantinople and assisted the Pontiff Paul the Confessor who was the Patriarch during that period. When they become aware of the Pontiff’s being strangled, they spread among the people the fact that the reason for the Pontiff Paul’s death are the Arians. For making them to keep silent the Arian Eparkos living in Constantinople orders to behead the scribes in about 350 AD.

According to the Angelology of the Armenian Church the angels are unfleshly, spiritual, independent, always moving, asexual, immortal creatures and God’s servants. According to Church Fathers, the angels, as luminous creatures, have been created the first day of Creation, together with the light. By the God’s order they are servants, they have been created to serve the human being. Therefore, they are servants who despite their being dyophysite, participate in the earthly life, act together with the human being living in time and space, they act for the human being. The angels are called the messengers and agents of God, who realize God’s will. According to Dionysius of Areopagus (Areopagite), there are nine orders of angels – Angels, Archangels, Virtues, Powers, Principalities, Dominations, Throne, Cherubim and Seraphim.

 Archangel Gabriel, whose name means “God’s man”, is God’s direct servant, who is granted the grace to evangelize the Lord’s mysteries. It was Archangel Gabriel, who was sent by the Lord to bring the good news to the Virgin about the birth of the Savior, and to Zechariah – to bring the good news about the birth of John the Baptist.

Archangel Michael, whose name means “Who is like God?”, is the advocate for the Heavenly King’s glory and His people’s protection, who is granted the virtue to govern and rule. The name of Archangel Michael is mentioned in the Holy Scriptures for four times (The Book of Daniel,10:13, 12:1, The Letter from Jude 1:9, The Revelation to John 11:7).

The Pontiff Melitos (Meletius, Bishop of Antioch) was born in the town Melitene of Pokr Hayk (Armenia Minor). In 358 AD he becomes the Bishop of the town Sebastia of Pokr Hayk (Armenia Minor) and in 360 AD he is elected the spiritual leader of the Antioch.
Being righteous, gentle, honest and sincere in worshiping the God, Bishop Melitos avoided the theological disputes typical to that time period. And the people expected that he would manage to establish peace in Antioch split and disunited because of religious disputes. And indeed, he succeeds to satisfy the population of that turbulent town Staying aside from discussing theological controversial issues, he delivers sermons, tries to realize some gradual reformations.

However, during the Council of Antioch, organized by the Arian King Kostandianos and the purpose of which was to reveal the doctrinal convictions of Melitos, the fact of his being orthodox is revealed. By the instigation of the Arians Melitos is exiled for three times.

Bishop Melitos is the author of the theological work “Exposition of faith”. The saint has participated in the Second Ecumenical Council of Constantinople and has presided the Council. Unfortunately he has passed away before the conclusion of the Council, in 381 AD.

Minas (Menas the Egyptian) was an officer from Egypt, who served in the Roman Army. Seeing the dirty tricks, injustice and malice existing in the surrounding world, Minas decides to devote himself to ascetic life, and goes to the mountains in Phrygia.
During one of the heathen feasts he comes to the people and condemns the heathen idols and preaches the Christian faith. For that deed Minas is subjected to torments and is beheaded in 304 AD. The place of martyrdom of Minas is considered to be a sacred place and his image – always depicted sitting on the camel, becomes very popular especially in the Middle Ages.

Melitos (Meletius, Bishop of Persia) was a Persian Christian officer serving in the Persian Army. Giving up military service he devotes himself to spiritual life and is ordained as the Bishop of the town Bitrazan. Despite the repeated persecutions by the heathens he continues to preach the Gospel and reaches even to the capital city of Persia – Tizbon. Refusing to worship the sun Melitos is martyred in Tizbon during the reign of the Persian King Shapouh (331-378). Two of his disciples – Priest Bouras (Buras) and Deacon Shinou (Sennen) are martyred together with Melitos.

St. Demetrios (Demetrius) was born in Persia. He has lived during the period of reign of the King Kostandianos the Great. Believing in Christ, he has lived a secluded life in the Monastery on Nisibis, Mesopotamia and then he has moved to the Monastery of Theodosopolis, where he has been ordained as a deacon. Not agreeing with the Archimandrite, who wished to ordain him as a priest and considering himself undeserving of priesthood, Demetrios has gone to live in a cave near the river Euphrates. 

When the King Julianos the Betrayer and his army go to fight against the Persians and pass by the cave where the saint lived and where many people had gathered waiting to be healed, the king orders to block the entrance to the cave with large stones. The saint and his two disciples are martyred in the cave. Later the martyrs’ relics are brought out of the cave and buried.

Priest Basilikos (Basil) has been martyred in 362 AD, by the order of the King Julianos the Betrayer. Basilikos blames the King for renouncing Christ. The king orders to cut daily seven pieces from the martyr’s skin. After lasting severe treatments the saint’s body is swabbed by heated metal sticks.

Gurias and Samunas were priests from Yedessia living during the period of reign of the Roman Emperor Dioklethianos (284-305). Gurias and Samunas are imprisoned because of being Christians, they are brought to the judge of Yedessia and are ordered to burn incense before the idols and to worship the picture of the emperor. When they refuse to obey the order they are subjected to severe torments and are thrown into the deep pit. Gurias and Samunas are beheaded at the beginning of the 4th century.

Deacon Abib served in the Church of Yedessia at the beginning of the 4th century. During the period of Christians’ persecutions he went from one village to another and preached the Word of God and encouraged those who were subjected to torments. Emperor Likianos, becoming aware of his activity, orders to imprison him. Becoming aware of his mother’s and relatives’ imprisonments Deacon Abib voluntarily surrenders himself to the authorities. The judge seeing that he is unable to force the Deacon to renounce Christ, ordered to burn him over the fire. The saint first prays and then is burnt in the fire in 312. He is buried in the same tomb where the bodies of Gurias and Samunas martyred during the same period were buried.

During the period of reign of the Roman Emperor Dioklethianos when Christians were persecuted, a clergyman named Romanos, who was imprisoned because of his faith, said the judge: “Even if you ask a child what is right – to worship the only God – the Creator of the sky and the earth, or to many gods, the child will give the right answer”. And really, the judge calls a child and asks that question, and that child answers: “The people’s God should be the only one God. The God we worship has Only Begotten Son, who is one with God.” The annoyed judge immediately orders to kill the innocent child. This event happened in 304.

The soldier Husikos has been subjected to torments during the period of reign of the Roman Emperor Dioklethianos. Husikos has served in the royal army. He was drowned in the water because of his faith in Christ.

efore becoming Christ’s disciple Apostle Andrew has been the disciple of St. John the Baptist. He was the brother of the Apostle Peter and was a fisherman. After the Ascension of the Lord and the Descend of the Holy Spirit Apostle Andrew has preached in Northern Greece and in Scythe.

Apostle Phillip was from the town Bethsaida. Perhaps he also has been the disciple of St. John the Baptist. He has preached in Asia Minor. Apostle Philip has been martyred and crucified in the town Heliople.

This is the beginning of Advent - the period of “Fifty Days” (Hisnak or Yisnak) beginning with the Sunday nearest to the 25th of November and ending with the Saturday next after the Sunday nearest to the 6th of January, the Feast of Holy Nativity and Theophany of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Thus it covers a period of seven constant days.

One of the feasts dedicated to the Holy Virgin is the presentation of three-year-old Mary (Holy Mother of God) to the temple. All Christian Churches celebrate this feast of November 21.

According to the Holy Tradition of the Church, after Mary’s becoming three-year-old, the parents of the Holy Virgin, Jehoiakim and Anna, fulfilling their promise, bring Mary to the Temple and present her to God. Mary remains in the Church till her engagement.
Establishment of the feast is related to the Cathedral, which was built by the King Justinianos in honor of St. Mary, the Holy Mother of God, in the place of the old Jewish temple, on the hill Moria. The cathedral had been consecrated on November 21, 543 AD.

After 638 AD, when the Cathedral, built by the King Justinianos, is converted into a Moslem temple, the celebration of the feast spreads throughout the entire Christian world. The Feast of presentation of St. Mary to the Church has been included in the Armenian Apostolic Church Calendar in the nineteenth century.

In Church calendars there are many virgins named Juliane and Vasilouhie. However, the virgins commemorated according to the Armenian Church Calendar, are from the town Nikomedia.

St. Juliane (Juliana) had made the vow of celibacy since childhood. During the period of Christians’ persecutions by the King Dioklethianos she refuses to marry a young heathen man and because of it is taken to the court. When after many torments and trials the saint is taken to be burnt, the fire goes out. St. Juliane is beheaded at the age of 19, in 304 AD.

St. Vasilouhie (Basilla) was a nine-year-old girl. She is subjected to torments during the period of Christians’ persecutions by the King Dioklethianos. However, she survives all torments and trials and remains unharmed, and the judge, witnessing this, is converted the Christianity. She passes away in 309 AD.

Priest St. Lukianos (Lucian) has lived in the last decades of the third century and the first decades of the fourth century. After his parents’ death Lukianos presents all their property to the poor and dedicates himself to the study of the Holy Scriptures. It is supposed that St. Lukianos has edited the presently used New Testament. The saint founds a theological school in Antioch. St. Lukianos is imprisoned during the period of Christians’ persecutions by the King Maximinos Dazh and is exiled to Nikomedia, where remaining for nine years, he is beheaded in 312 AD.

Martyrs Taragros (Trachus), Probos (Probus) and Andronikos (Andronicus) were soldiers and close friends. During the period of Christians’ persecutions by the King Dioklethianos they are imprisoned for believing in Christ and are subjected to torments in the towns Tarson and Anabarza (Anavarz). They are beheaded in the town Anabarza (Cilicia) in 304 AD.

Vonesimos (Onesimus) was a runaway (fugitive) slave, who is caught in Rome and put into the prison. There he is acquainted with the Apostle St. Paul, who baptizes him. The Apostle St. Paul gives Vonesimos a letter, by means of which he is forgiven and receives freedom from his former master. Vonesimos follows the Apostle St. Paul everywhere, and after his death preaches in Spain, Grace and Asia Minor. In his old age he is ordained as the Bishop of Ephesus, and during the period of Christians’ persecutions by Trayanos he is imprisoned, stoned and beheaded.

Pontiff St. Klemes (Clement) is known as the first among the “Apostolic Fathers” by means of whose works we become aware of the traditions, every-day life of the Christians, theology and church history of the first-second centuries AD.

Klemes met the Apostle St. Paul in Rome, thanks whose preaching he was baptized, ordained and became the Bishop of Rome in 92 AD. He is the author of the 85 canons known as “Second Apostolic Canons” or “Canons of Klemes”.

There is very little information about St. Klemes in “Haysmavourk”. He was taken to the King Dioclethianus, and courageously confessed the divine nature of Christ. He was martyred in 98 AD, when stones were put around the saint’s neck and he was thrown into the sea.

Bishop St. Bagrat of Toromena (Taormina) was the illuminator of Silikia. Being the disciple of the Apostle St. Paul and being ordained by the Apostle, he was sent to Silikia. Later he became the Bishop of Toromena. Thanks to his preaching he managed to put an end to idolatry in Toromena. However, once one of the rich citizens of the town, who was a determined heathen swabbed the saint while he was praying. The mayor punished the murderer, and the saint’s remains were buried with all honors in the tabernacle “in order to be intercessor and helper for all of us”.