The Feast of St. Gregory the Illuminator’s Sons & Grandsons

The calendar of the Armenian Church singles out four members of St. Gregory’s family—his two sons, Sts. Arisdagés and Vrtanés, and his grandsons, Sts. Krikoris and Husig—and assigns them a special day of commemoration called “The Feast of the Sons and Grandsons of St. Gregory.”

The day of commemoration (according to the present calendar in force since 1774-75) falls on the Saturday before the Third Sunday of Transfiguration. Originally it was observed on the Tuesday following the Fifth Sunday after Pentecost. The feast of the discovery of the relics of St. Krikoris, however, is observed separately on the Monday following the Fifth Sunday of the Exaltation. Excluded from this group of saints are the rest of the members of the Gregorid family, namely Sts. Nersés the Great, Sahag the Parthian, Vartan and his daughter Shushanig. The latter are commemorated on different days during the year.

Excerpt from "The Holy Feasts of Saint Gregory the Illuminator" by Fr. Krikor Maksoudian.