The Leontine Martyrs (Old Armenian: Ղեւոնդեանք, romanized: Łewondeank῾, Ղևոնդյանք Ghevondyank’ in modern Armenian) were a group of nine Armenian clergymen who were who were killed after a long period of captivity in Persia in the 5th century AD. They were executed by the order of the Sasanian king Yazdegerd II in 455, five years after the insurrection led by Vartan Mamikonian. The group is named after Leontius of Vanand (Ghevond Vanandetsi).[1]

Martyrs

Leontius of Vanand

A high level priest also known as St. Ghevond (in Armenian Սուրբ Ղևոնդ)

Joseph I of Armenia

Joseph I of Armenia or St. Hovsep I (in Armenian Սբ. Հովսեփ Ա Հողոցմեցի), catholicos of Armenia (437–452)

Sahak of Syunik Rshtuni

Sahak of Syunik Rshtuni (in Armenian Սահակ եպս. Ռշտունյաց) - a bishop

Tatik of Basen

Tatik of Basen (in Armenian Բասենյաց Թաթիկ եպիսկոպոս) - a bishop

Mushegh

Mushe or Mushegh (in Armenian Մուշեղ քահանայ) - A priest

Arshen

Arshen (in Armenian Արշեն երեց) - a priest

Samuel

Samuel (in Armenian Սամուէլ քահանայ) - a priest

Plus a number of deacons

Survivors

Abraham of Arazd

Abraham of Arazd was an Armenian priest and a disciple of the Leontine martyrs. Like his teachers, he was subjected to prolonged torture, but unlike them, was eventually set free.

He afterward left society to become a hermit, remaining one until his death in the 5th century. He is regarded as a saint by the Armenian Church, with a feast day of December 20.

Veneration

St. Ghevond the Priest and His Companions are commemorated as saints in the Armenian Apostolic Church. The day of the Feast of St. Ghevond the Priest and His Companions is July 31. It is also considered the day of the clergy in the Armenian Church and their office is celebrated on the Tuesday after the western Sexagesima, as they are regarded as the patron saints of the Armenian clergy.

References

  1. ↑ Ter-Davtyan, Knarik (2002). "Ghevondyankʻ". In Ayvazyan, Hovhannes (ed.). Kʻristonya Hayastan hanragitaran [Christian Armenia encyclopedia] (PDF) (in Armenian). Yerevan: Haykakan Hanragitaran hratarakchʻutʻyun. p. 656.


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