Tiridates III of Armenia
King
Father	Chosroes I of Armenia

Tiridates III (or Trdat III, Armenian: Տրդատ Գ.) was a king of Arsacid Armenia (286-330), and is also known as Tiridates the Great. (Some scholars incorrectly refer to him as Tiridates IV as a result of the fact that Tiridates I of Armenia reigned twice.) In 301, Tiridates proclaimed Christianity as the sole religion in Armenia, making that nation-state the second (after Edessa) in history to do so. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... The Arsacid Dynasty (Arshakuni Dynasty) ruled the Kingdom of Armenia from AD 54 to 428. ... This article is about the year 286. ... Events May 11 - Constantine I refounds Byzantium, renames it New Rome, and moves the capital of the Roman Empire there from Rome. ... Tiridates, was the youngest brother of the Parthian king Vologases I., who with interruptions from 53 to 68 or 72 was king of Armenia and founder of the Armenian line of the Arsacid Dynasty known as the Arshakuni Dynasty in Armenia. ... Events September 3 - The republic of San Marino is established (traditional date). ... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations · Other religions Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Luther Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Archbishop of Canterbury · Catholic Pope Coptic Pope · Ecumenical Patriarch Christianity Portal This box:      Christianity is... The heritage of Roman Edessa survives today in these columns at the site of Urfa Castle, dominating the skyline of the modern city of Åžanlı Urfa. ...

Early Childhood

Tiridates III was the son of Chosroes I of Armenia , the latter being assassinated in 287 by a Parthian agent named Anak under orders from Ardashir I. Anak was captured and executed along with most of his family, while two of his sons one of whom was Saint Gregory the Illuminator were sheltered in Ceasaria. Being the only surviving heir to the throne, Tiridates was quickly taken away to Rome soon after his father’s assassination, while still an infant. He was educated in Rome and was well learned in languages and military tactics; in addition, he firmly understood and appreciated Roman law. A coin of Khosrau I. Khosrau I or Khosrow I (Chosroes I in classical sources, most commonly known in Persian as Anushirvan, Persian: انوشيروان meaning the immortal soul), also known as Anushiravan the Just (انوشیروان عادل , Anushiravān-e-ādel or انوشيروان دادگر, Anushiravān-e-dādgar) (ruled 531–579), was the favourite son... Events Diocletian and Maximian become Roman Consuls Births Deaths Categories: 287 ... Parthia[1] (Middle Persian: اشکانیان Ashkâniân) was a civilization situated in the northeast of modern Iran, but at its height covering all of Iran proper, as well as regions of the modern countries of Armenia, Iraq, Georgia, eastern Turkey, eastern Syria, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Pakistan, Kuwait, the Persian Gulf... Silver coin of Ardashir I with a fire altar on its verso (British Museum London). ... Saint Gregory the Illuminator (in Armenian Gregor Lusarovitch, in Greek Gregarios Phoster or Photistes), the founder and patron saint of the Armenian Orthodox Church, was born about 257 AD. He belonged to the royal race of the Arsacides, being the son of a certain Prince Anak, who assassinated Chosroes of... For other uses, see Rome (disambiguation). ... Using the term Roman law in a broader sense, one may say that Roman law is not only the legal system of ancient Rome but the law that was applied throughout most of Europe until the end of the 18th century. ...

Baptism of Tiridates III.

Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ...

Kingship

In 270 AD the Roman emperor Aurelian reengaged the Sassanids on the eastern front and he was able to drive them back. Tiridates, as the true heir to the Parthian-occupied Armenian throne, came to Armenia and quickly raised an army and drove the enemy out in 287 AD. The Roman-Armenian relationship grew stronger, especially while Diocletian ruled the empire. This can be attributed to the upbringing of Tiridates III, to the consistent Parthian aggressions and to the murder of his father by Anak. Diocletian left the Armenian state in a quasi-independent and protectorate status possibly to use it as a buffer in case of a Parthian attack. Events Quintillus briefly holds power over the Roman Empire, and is succeeded by Aurelian Vandals and Sarmatians driven out of Roman territory Romans leave Utrecht after regular invasions of Germanic people. ... Lucius Domitius Aurelianus[1] (September 9, 214–September 275), known in English as Aurelian, Roman Emperor (270–275), was the second of several highly successful soldier-emperors who helped the Roman Empire regain its power during the latter part of the third century and the beginning of the fourth. ... Head of king Shapur II (Sasanian dynasty A.D. 4th century). ... Events Diocletian and Maximian become Roman Consuls Births Deaths Categories: 287 ... Gaius Aurelius Valerius Diocletianus (c. ... This article is about states protected and/or dominated by a foreign power. ...

Conversion and Rest of Reign

The story of the conversion of the king and the nation is historically true^{[citation needed]}, but the actual details could possibly be rooted in legend. Gregory the Illuminator, the son of Anak, was a Christian convert who, feeling guilt for the father’s sin, joined the Armenian army and worked as a secretary. Christianity in Armenia had a strong footing by the end of the 3rd century AD but the nation by and large still followed Armenian pagan beliefs. Tiridates III was no exception as he too worshipped various gods. During a pagan religious ceremony Tiridates III ordered Gregory to place a flower wreath at the foot of the statue of the goddess Anahit in Eriza. Gregory refused, proclaiming his Christian faith. This act infuriated the king. His fury was only exacerbated when several individuals declared that Gregory was the son of Anak; the traitor who had killed Tiridates’s father. Gregory was tortured and finally thrown in Khor Virap, a deep underground dungeon. Saint Gregory the Illuminator or Saint Gregory the Enlightener (Armenian: translit. ... Goddess Anahit in Hellenistic style with the likeness of Aphrodite, the brass head bronze sculpture (2nd/1st century BC) was found in the 19th century in the district of Yerznka (Satala) and is currently kept at the British Museum (a replica can be seen at the State History Museum of... The Khor Virap (Ô½Õ¸Ö€ ÕŽÕ«Ö€Õ¡Õº in Armenian, meaning deep dungeon) monastery is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Armenia. ...

During the years of Gregory’s imprisonment, a group of virgins, lead by Gayane, came to Armenia as they fled the Roman persecution of their Christian faith. Tiridates III heard about the group and the legendary beauty of one of its members, Hripsime. He brought them to the palace and demanded to marry the beautiful virgin; she refused. The king had the whole group tortured and killed. After this event, he fell ill and according to legend, he adopted a pig-like behavior and was aimlessly wandering around in the forest. The king’s sister, Xosroviduxt, had a dream wherein Gregory was still alive in the dungeon and he was the only one able to cure the king. At this point it had been 13 years since his imprisonment, and the odds of him being alive were slim. But they retrieved him and despite being incredibly malnourished he was still alive. He was kept alive by a kindhearted woman that threw a loaf of bread down in Khor Virap everyday for him. Xosroviduxt (Armenian: Õ­Õ¸Õ½Ö€Õ¸Õ¾Õ«Õ¤Õ¸Ö‚Õ­Õ©), sometimes called Khosrovidukht, was an Armenian composer and poet. ...

Tiridates III was brought to Gregory, and was miraculously cured of his illness in 301 AD. Tiridates III immediately proclaimed Christianity the official state religion. And so, Armenia became the first nation to officially adopt Christianity. Tiridates III appointed Gregory as the first Catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church. From 301 to 428 the Episcopal office was hereditary. Catholicos (plural Catholicoi) is a title used by the head/regional head bishop of any of certain Eastern churches. ... Official standard of Karekin II Catholicos of Armenia The Armenian Apostolic Church (Armenian: Հայ Առաքելական Եկեղեցի, Hay Arakelagan Yegeghetzi), sometimes called the Armenian Orthodox Church or the Gregorian Church, is the worlds oldest national church[1] [2] and one of the most ancient Christian communities [3]. // Baptism of Tiridates III. The earliest... Events April 10 - Nestorius is made Patriarch of Constantinople. ...

The switch from the traditional pagan Armenian religion to Christianity was not an easy one. Tiridates III often used force to impose this new faith upon the people and many battles ensued, because polytheism was deeply rooted in the Armenian people. An actual battle between the king's forces and the polytheists took place, which resulted in their subjugation. Tiridates thus spent the rest of his life trying to eliminate all old beliefs and in doing so destroyed countless statues, temples and texts. As a result, little is known of ancient Armenian history and culture. He worked feverously to spread the faith and died in 330 AD. Events May 11 - Constantine I refounds Byzantium, renames it New Rome, and moves the capital of the Roman Empire there from Rome. ...

References

• Translated from the Armenian: Mihran Kurdoghlian, Badmoutioun Hayots, A. hador [Armenian History, volume I], Athens, Greece, 1994, pg. 96-105.
• The Library of Congress - Armenia - A Country Study
• Yuri Babayan - Tiridates the Great

See also

• Armenian Orthodox Church