Constantine I of Cilicia
Encyclopedia
Catholicos Constantine I was the Catholicos
of the Armenian Apostolic Church
between 1221 and 1267.
A native of Barzrberd, he was said to have come to office not by nobility or riches but by his piety. He officiated at the forced wedding of Queen Zabel to Hetoum I which made them joint Armenian Cilician King and Queen. In 1259 Constantine visited the Mongol warlord Hulegu who had conquered Mesopotamia
and blessed him. This was part of an alliance between Cilician Armenia and the expanding Mongol Empire. Hulegu is said to have been sympathetic to Christians, having been the son of one, and did not harm them during his campaigns.
The last years of Constantine's reign were very difficult ones. The Mamlukes of Egypt declared war on Cilician Armenia and invaded the country in 1266. The chronicler Vardan Areweltsi wrote that Constantine suffered greatly due to seeing his country ravaged and it caused his health to decline. Especially grievous was the Battle of Mari
in which the king's sons, who had been nurtured by the Catholicos, his heir was captured and his other young son was killed. Chronicler Vardan wrote a beautiful dedication in memory of the Catholicos, who died the following year, saying "He was the sharer of grief and the fellow-mourner to many in our sinful and anger-filled age. In this time of pain and sobbing he bore it all himself and made things more mild as he was able, generously and unsparingly giving encouragement, advice, and treasure."
Catholicos
Catholicos, plural Catholicoi, is a title used for the head of certain churches in some Eastern Christian traditions. The title implies autocephaly and in some cases is borne by the designated head of an autonomous church, in which case the holder might have other titles such as Patriarch...
of the Armenian Apostolic Church
Armenian Apostolic Church
The Armenian Apostolic Church is the world's oldest National Church, is part of Oriental Orthodoxy, and is one of the most ancient Christian communities. Armenia was the first country to adopt Christianity as its official religion in 301 AD, in establishing this church...
between 1221 and 1267.
A native of Barzrberd, he was said to have come to office not by nobility or riches but by his piety. He officiated at the forced wedding of Queen Zabel to Hetoum I which made them joint Armenian Cilician King and Queen. In 1259 Constantine visited the Mongol warlord Hulegu who had conquered Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia is a toponym for the area of the Tigris–Euphrates river system, largely corresponding to modern-day Iraq, northeastern Syria, southeastern Turkey and southwestern Iran.Widely considered to be the cradle of civilization, Bronze Age Mesopotamia included Sumer and the...
and blessed him. This was part of an alliance between Cilician Armenia and the expanding Mongol Empire. Hulegu is said to have been sympathetic to Christians, having been the son of one, and did not harm them during his campaigns.
The last years of Constantine's reign were very difficult ones. The Mamlukes of Egypt declared war on Cilician Armenia and invaded the country in 1266. The chronicler Vardan Areweltsi wrote that Constantine suffered greatly due to seeing his country ravaged and it caused his health to decline. Especially grievous was the Battle of Mari
Battle of Mari
The Battle of Mari, also called the Disaster of Mari, was a battle between the Mamluks of Egypt and the Armenians of Cilician Armenia on August 24, 1266....
in which the king's sons, who had been nurtured by the Catholicos, his heir was captured and his other young son was killed. Chronicler Vardan wrote a beautiful dedication in memory of the Catholicos, who died the following year, saying "He was the sharer of grief and the fellow-mourner to many in our sinful and anger-filled age. In this time of pain and sobbing he bore it all himself and made things more mild as he was able, generously and unsparingly giving encouragement, advice, and treasure."