RELIGIOUS FIGURE

Gregory the Illuminator

257 - 331

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Gregory the Illuminator (c. 257 – c. 331) was the founder and first official head of the Armenian Apostolic Church. He converted Armenia from Zoroastrianism to Christianity in the early fourth century (traditionally dated to 301), making Armenia the first state to adopt Christianity as its official religion. He is venerated as a saint in the Armenian Apostolic Church and in some other churches. Gregory is said to have been the son of a Parthian nobleman, Anak, who assassinated the Arsacid king of Armenia Khosrov II. The young Gregory was saved from the extermination of Anak's family and was raised as a Christian in Caesarea of Cappadocia, then part of the Roman Empire. Read more on Wikipedia

His biography is available in different languages on Wikipedia. Gregory the Illuminator is the 443rd most popular religious figure (down from 390th in 2019), the 3rd most popular biography from Armenia and the most popular Armenian Religious Figure.

Gregory the Illuminator is most famous for being the first Christian missionary to preach in Armenia.

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Among RELIGIOUS FIGURES

Among religious figures, Gregory the Illuminator ranks 443 out of 3,187. Before him are Pope Sabinian, Habakkuk, Judas Maccabeus, Pope John V, Abd Allah ibn Abbas, and Sathya Sai Baba. After him are Pope John XVIII, Pope Zephyrinus, Ruqayyah bint Muhammad, Pope Nicholas I, Pope Anterus, and Pope Stephen VII.

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Contemporaries

Among people born in 257, Gregory the Illuminator ranks 1.  Among people deceased in 331, Gregory the Illuminator ranks 1. After him is Micheon of Goguryeo.

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In Armenia

Among people born in Armenia, Gregory the Illuminator ranks 3 out of 163. Before him are George Gurdjieff (1866), and Tigranes the Great (-140). After him are Leo V the Armenian (775), Anastas Mikoyan (1895), Artem Mikoyan (1905), Shirkuh (1100), Tiridates III of Armenia (255), Hayk (410), Vologases V (130), Najm ad-Din Ayyub (1100), and Servatius of Tongeren (400).

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Among RELIGIOUS FIGURES In Armenia

Among religious figures born in Armenia, Gregory the Illuminator ranks 1. After him are Servatius of Tongeren (400), Sebeos (700), Karekin II (1951), and Eznik of Kolb (380).

Armenian born Religious Figures

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