SAINT GREGORY THE ILLUMINATOR "Shine we pray thee, in our hearts" The accounts of Gregory, known as the Illuminator and as Apostle of the Armenians, are a mixture of legend and fact. He was born about 257 A.D. After his father assassinated the Persian King Chosroes the First, the infant boy was rescued and taken to Caesarea in Cappadocia, where he was brought up as a Christian. About 280 A.D., he returned to Armenia and succeeded, after experiencing various fortunes of honor and imprisonment, in converting King Tiridates to his faith. With the help of the King, the country was Christianized and paganism was rooted out. About 300 A.D., Gregory was ordained a bishop at Caesarea. He established his cathedral at Valarshapat and it is still the spiritual center of Armenian Christianity. Saint Gregory the Illuminator was donated by: Edward and Irene Sarian and Rose and Frank J. Zamiska in memory of Armenouhi and Dikron Sarian - Sarkis Barsamian Mildred and Robert Henderson - Anna and Frank L Zamiska