30 ВЕРЕСНЯ – СВЯЩЕННОМУЧЕНИКА ГРИГОРІЯ, ЄПИСКОПА ВЕЛИКОЇ ВІРМЕНІЇ.

September 30 marks the feast of Saint Gregory, the Holy Martyr and Bishop of Greater Armenia. Recognized in the Byzantine liturgical calendar and the Roman Martyrology, Gregory is often referred to by Armenians as the Illuminator.

Originally from Persia, Gregory survived an assassination attempt on the Armenian king that killed his entire family. After being raised in Caesarea in Cappadocia, he embraced Christianity and later returned to Armenia to serve at the court of King Tiridates. Because Gregory was a Christian and the son of the man who killed the king's father, Tiridates ordered him to undergo torture and imprisonment, where he remained for fourteen years.

Gregory preached the Christian faith among tribes along the Caspian coast and in the Caucasus. He eventually appointed his son as bishop in Armenia before living in solitude until his death around 326. Armenian tradition states that his relics were moved to Constantinople during the reign of Emperor Zeno, leaving only his right hand in Armenia. Texts of his sermons, used to explain the Christian faith to the queen and the people, are still preserved in Armenia.