Aristaces or AristakesI (Armenian: Արիստակէս Ա, romanized: Aristakēs) was the second Catholicos of the Armenian Church from 325 until his death in 333. He was the younger son and successor of Gregory the Illuminator, the founder and first head of the Armenian Church.
Most of the information about Aristaces's life comes from the fifth-century Armenian history attributed to Agathangelos. Aristaces was born in Caesarea of Cappadocia to Gregory the Illuminator and his wife (called Julitta in one version of Agathangelos and Mariam by Movses Khorenatsi).[1] He is said to have entered a monastery with his mother as a child after his father left for Armenia. When Aristaces grew up, he went under the tutelage of a monk called Nicomachus, who sent him to live as an ascetic in the desert.[1] Around 325, when Gregory wished to give up the Catholicosate in favor of a life as a hermit, King Tiridates III of Armenia sent for Aristaces and his brother Vrtanes and had them brought to Armenia to take over leadership of the Church.[2]
In 325, Aristaces was sent as the Armenian representative to the First Council of Nicaea and brought back the Nicene canons; his signature appears among those of the bishops who participated in the council.[3] Aristaces is also said to have participated in an embassy together with Gregory and King Tiridates to the newly converted Roman emperor Constantine the Great, although this is considered "purely legendary" by scholar Robert W. Thomson.[4]
Agathangelos writes nothing about Aristaces's death. Faustus of Byzantium writes that Aristaces died "a confessor's death" but gives no further details, while Movses Khorenatsi claims that he was murdered in Sophene (Copʿkʿ) by a governor named Archilaeus in retaliation for being reprimanded by the Catholicos.[5] According to Khorenatsi and Faustus, Aristaces was buried in the town of Tʿil in the district of Ekełeacʿ, although in a different chapter Faustus gives the alternative burial site of Tʿordan in the district of Daranałi, where Gregory is said to have been buried.[5][6]
Garsoïan, Nina G. (1989). The Epic Histories Attributed to Pʻawstos Buzand (Buzandaran Patmutʻiwnkʻ). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press. ISBN0-674-25865-7.
aristaces, aristaces, aristakes, armenian, Արիստակէս, romanized, aristakēs, second, catholicos, armenian, church, from, until, death, younger, successor, gregory, illuminator, founder, first, head, armenian, church, most, information, about, aristaces, life, c. Aristaces or Aristakes I Armenian Արիստակէս Ա romanized Aristakes was the second Catholicos of the Armenian Church from 325 until his death in 333 He was the younger son and successor of Gregory the Illuminator the founder and first head of the Armenian Church Most of the information about Aristaces s life comes from the fifth century Armenian history attributed to Agathangelos Aristaces was born in Caesarea of Cappadocia to Gregory the Illuminator and his wife called Julitta in one version of Agathangelos and Mariam by Movses Khorenatsi 1 He is said to have entered a monastery with his mother as a child after his father left for Armenia When Aristaces grew up he went under the tutelage of a monk called Nicomachus who sent him to live as an ascetic in the desert 1 Around 325 when Gregory wished to give up the Catholicosate in favor of a life as a hermit King Tiridates III of Armenia sent for Aristaces and his brother Vrtanes and had them brought to Armenia to take over leadership of the Church 2 In 325 Aristaces was sent as the Armenian representative to the First Council of Nicaea and brought back the Nicene canons his signature appears among those of the bishops who participated in the council 3 Aristaces is also said to have participated in an embassy together with Gregory and King Tiridates to the newly converted Roman emperor Constantine the Great although this is considered purely legendary by scholar Robert W Thomson 4 Agathangelos writes nothing about Aristaces s death Faustus of Byzantium writes that Aristaces died a confessor s death but gives no further details while Movses Khorenatsi claims that he was murdered in Sophene Copʿkʿ by a governor named Archilaeus in retaliation for being reprimanded by the Catholicos 5 According to Khorenatsi and Faustus Aristaces was buried in the town of Tʿil in the district of Ekeleacʿ although in a different chapter Faustus gives the alternative burial site of Tʿordan in the district of Daranali where Gregory is said to have been buried 5 6 See also EditGregoridsReferences Edit a b Thomson 1976 pp xxxi xxxiii Thomson 1976 p lxx Thomson 1976 p lxxii Thomson 1976 pp lxxiii a b Garsoian 1989 p 351 Thomson 1978 p 249 Sources EditGarsoian Nina G 1989 The Epic Histories Attributed to Pʻawstos Buzand Buzandaran Patmutʻiwnkʻ Cambridge Massachusetts Harvard University Press ISBN 0 674 25865 7 Thomson Robert W 1976 Agathangelos History of the Armenians Albany SUNY ISBN 0 87395 323 1 Thomson Robert W 1978 Moses Khorenatsʻi History of the Armenians Cambridge Massachusetts Harvard University Press ISBN 0 674 39571 9 Preceded bySt Gregory the Enlightener Catholicos of the Holy See of St Echmiadzin and All Armenians325 333 Succeeded bySt Vrtanes I This biographical article about an Armenian religious figure is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title St Aristaces I amp oldid 1138067849, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
