Gregory the Illuminator

Gregory was born around 257, the son of Anak, a Parthian nobleman who assassinated Armenia's King Khosrov II. While Anak's family was wiped out in retribution, the boy was smuggled to safety and raised Christian in Caesarea of Cappadocia. He returned to Armenia as an adult and entered the service of King Tiridates III - the dead king's son. When Gregory refused to sacrifice to a pagan goddess, Tiridates had him tortured; when the king learned who Gregory's father was, he had him thrown into a deep pit called Khor Virap and left for dead. Fourteen years later, with the king's sister interceding, Gregory was pulled out alive. He converted Tiridates, healed him of what the sources call madness brought on by sin, and in 301 baptized the king and the Armenian people - making Armenia the first state to adopt Christianity. Consecrated bishop, Gregory traveled the country destroying pagan temples and raising churches. He eventually withdrew to live as a hermit, passing the patriarchate to his son Aristaces.