Description: (Patron Saint of the Armenian Apostolic Church)
Gregory the Illuminator founded and served as the first official head of the Armenian Apostolic Church. He played a pivotal role in converting Armenia from Zoroastrianism to Christianity, marking it as the first state to adopt Christianity as its official religion. Gregory endured torture for his faith under King Tiridates III and spent 14 years in a deep pit. Eventually, he successfully converted the King to Christianity, baptized the Armenian people, and passed on the patriarchate to his son Aristaces after becoming a hermit.