St. Vrtanes I
Encyclopedia
St Vrtanes was Armenian Catholicos
in Armenia's Holy Apostolic Church
immediately after St. Gregory I the Enlightener
and his son St. Aristaces I
as third in line in the-then hereditary Parthia
n line of catholicoi. He reigned from 333 to 341 AD.
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...
in Armenia's Holy 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...
immediately after St. Gregory I the Enlightener
Gregory the Illuminator
Saint Gregory the Illuminator or Saint Gregory the Enlightener is the patron saint and first official head of the Armenian Apostolic Church...
and his son St. Aristaces I
St. Aristaces I
St Aristaces was assigned by St. Gregory I the Enlightener as the next Armenian Catholicos in line of Armenia's Holy Apostolic Church, to stabilize and continue strengthening Christianity not only in Armenia, but also in the Caucasus and Anatolia...
as third in line in the-then hereditary Parthia
Parthia
Parthia is a region of north-eastern Iran, best known for having been the political and cultural base of the Arsacid dynasty, rulers of the Parthian Empire....
n line of catholicoi. He reigned from 333 to 341 AD.