From the Pastor

This coming Tuesday the Armenian Church will celebrate the feast of the Holy Leontine (Ghevontian) Priests. The following account is from “Domar.”

Catholicos Hovsep of Hoghotsim; Bishops Sahag and Tatig; Priests Levontius (Ghevont), Mousheh, Arshen, Manuel, Abraham, Khoren; Deacons Kachach and Abraham (454 AD). After the battle of Vartanantz (Avarayr) (451), the above saints were abducted by the Persian king. During a later battle the Persians suffered a greater loss and under the evil influence of the pagan priests, their losses were attributed to the fact that the Armenian priests had not been punished. Some were taken separately and others in groups, tortured mercilessly and then martyred. Historians have recorded the martyrdom of each of the saints.

Ghevont the priest serves as a particular inspiration as he was an advisor to St. Hovsep and St. Vartan and delivered an inspiring homily to the troops prior to the Battle of Avarayr. He was born in the last part of the fourth century in the village of Ichevan, was highly educated and assisted Sts. Sahag and Mesrob in the translation of the Bible into Armenian. After the battle of Avarayr, Father Ghevont was taken to Persia and exiled with Catholicos Hovsep to the land of Vergan (south of the Caspian Sea), where he was tortured and martyred.

St. Hovsep the Catholicos was born in 396 AD and was educated by Mesrob Mashdots. He was an excellent administrator and was known as a gentle servant of Christ. He became Catholicos in 444 AD and served for eight years until he was exiled and martyred. He died in 454 AD at the age of 58.

These saints are especially loved and honored by the Armenian people because they were martyred for their strength of faith and love of Jesus Christ.

There are two other important commemorations, which fall during the up-coming week: Wednesday, February 14 is the feast of the Presentation of our Lord to the Temple (see Luke 2:22-40) and Thursday, February 15 is the feast of Saints Vartan our Commander and his 1036 Martyrs who died in the Great Battle of Avarayr.

Through the intercession and prayers of the Holy Leontine Priests and the Vartanantz Martyrs, may the Lord receive our supplications and save us. Amen.


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