Gregory the Illuminator

(240-332) Spreader of Christianity in Armenia and founder of the Armenian Church. Offspring of a noble Armenian family, he was brought up as a Christian in Caesaria in Cappadocia. After he arrived in Armenia, he was imprisoned by Tiridates III and thrown into a pit where he spent 13 years. He survived, and then in 300, he converted Tiridates, who then imposed Christianity as a sole religion in Armenia making it the first Christian State in the world.
According to Agathangheghos, Gregory was son of a Parthian named Anak, who had murdered King Khosrov of Armenia, by order of Ardashir I, founder of Sassanid dynasty. Tiridates, son of Khosrov, escaped. He then persecuted Gregory. Later, seized with an incurable illness, he was told to release Gregory. The latter then converted Tiridates and the whole of Armenia.

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