The Church in Armenia is ancient. It’s claimed that both Apostles Bartholomew and Thaddeus preached and was martyred there. Modern day Armenia is a landlocked nation bordering Turkey, but much of eastern Turkey once formed ancient Armenia before the ancient kingdom divided into several different nations. It was the first Christian state with the first Christian king, Abgar V of Edessa. King Abgar was converted by Apostle Thaddeus who healed the king of leprosy with the Mandylion (believed to be the Shroud of Turin).
February has several feast days dedicated to some great Armenian saints.
Saint Blaise, physician and Bishop of Sebaste, is the patron of wool-combers, presumably, because he was martyred in A.D. 316 under the reign of Emperor Licinius by being beaten, flesh torn by iron combs, and beheaded (according to the Acta Sanctorum). He’s famous for a miraculous cure of a boy choking on a fishbone. Growing up, the blessing of St. Blaise on his Feb. 3 feast day had a profound affect on me. Two candles are held at the throat and the blessing, “Through the intercession of Saint Blaise, bishop and martyr, may God deliver you from every disease of the throat and from every other illness” is given by the priest. It’s one of my favorite feast days and he’s one my favorite saints. I named my son after him.
Saint Chrysolius is another fascinating saint. Under the persecution of Diocletian, he was sent to Gaul by Pope Marcellus I and became a bishop. Roman soldiers cut off the top of his skull, which broke into 3 pieces. Miraculous springs welled up from the skull fractures. He continued journeying across the Deule River without the top of head before dying. The spring waters are believed to cure ailments of the throats and eyes. A church is built in his honor. His feast day is Feb. 7.
Saint Isaac of Armenia (Catholicos or Patriarch of Armenia (388-439), also known as Isaac the Great was the son of Armenian St. Narses and descended from the family of the Armenian patron saint Gregory the Illuminator. During his lifetime, Armenians were forbidden to use of the Syriac language except for the Divine Liturgy. Therefore, Greek was substituted. In the Persian districts, Greek was prohibited, and Syriac was used. Armenians were losing their national identity and unity. St. Isaac, with St. Mesrop Mashtots invented the Armenian alphabet and translated the Bible and the Liturgy of St. Basil of Caesarea. He lived to the ripe old age of 110. Feb. 10 is one of the several feast days attributed to him.
Saint Mesrop Mashtot (d. A.D. 441) is one of the greatest figures in Armenian history. He was a priest, linguist, composer, theologian, statesman, and hymnologist. He invented the Armenian, Caucasian Albanian, and Georgian alphabets. He practiced extreme asceticism and lived a holy life. He’s listed in the Roman Martyrology and his feast day is Feb. 17.
Saint Leontius (d. A.D. 337) was a 4th century Father of the Council of Nicea. He was the Bishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia. St. Athanasius praised him and the Greeks described him as “an Angel of Peace.” He was childhood friends with St. Gregory the Illuminator and later consecrated Gregory to become the patriarch of the Armenians. St. Leontius lived to a ripe old age and his body was found incorrupt after 300 years. His feast day is Jan 13, but the Apostolic Armenian Church celebrates it on Feb. 18.
Saint Lazarus Zographos (A.D. 810-867) was a holy priest and monk who practiced asceticism. He became renowned as a fresco painter in Constantinople during the reign of Theophilos (A.D. 829-842), one of the Iconoclast Emperors. St. Lazarus worked tirelessly at restoring art destroyed by heretics, but was thrown into prison by Theophilos and then tortured. His hands were burned to the bone and his right hand burned off. Miraculously, his hand was restored and the Empress Theodora helped him escape to the monastery of St. John the Baptist on the shore of Bosporus. Miracles are attributed to one of his frescos of St. John the Baptist at the monastery. St. Lazarus was twice sent as an emissary to Pope Benedict III by Emperor Michael III but died on his second visit. His feast day is Feb. 23. [1]
Other great Armenian saints are found throughout the liturgical calendar and I encourage you to look them up and read about them as well. Every saint of our Holy Faith is a light of the world (Matt. 5:14) and we all are called to be saints like them.
“Again therefore, Jesus spoke to them, saying: I am the light of the world: he that followeth me, walketh not in darkness, but shall have the light of life (John 8:12).”
Other Armenian Saints:
Saint Emilianus of Trevi
Saint Minias of Florence
Saint Simeon of Mantua
Saint Nerses I
Saint Nerses of Lambron
Saint Parthenius
Saint Peter of Sebaste
Footnote
Speray's Catholicism in a Nutshell 
