ABGAR DPIR. - Also called Safar, an Armenian noble of Senekerim king of Sebaste, b. in Eudocia (Tokat). In the year 1561, A., in a meeting with the katholikos Michael I, received the assignment of a politico-religious mission to Rome, where he was received kindly by Pope Pius IV, who through him invited the Armenian patriarch to Rome, in order to discuss Armenian questions.

A., at the Pope's wish, put into writing the profession of the Armenian faith, with a clear exposition of dogma and discipline, finally drawing the Pontiff's attention to the Armenian people groaning under the yoke of the Turco-Persian Muslims.

His son Sultanšah (called Marcantonio by the Pope) enjoyed the Pontiff's favors and filled delicate offices in Rome. A. has had the merit of inaugurating the use of the printing art for Armenian editions.

Bibliography2 works

BIBL.: Alishan, Memorie armene, II (in arm.), Venezia 1922; Theodik, Tiputar (stampa e caratteri armeni), Costantinopoli 1912 (in arm.).

Giacomo Ciantian

@incollection{ec1_abgar_dpir, author = {Ciantaian, Giacomo}, title = {Abgar Dpir}, booktitle = {Enciclopedia Cattolica}, volume = {I}, pages = {75}, note = {Cited by column}, publisher = {Ente per l’Enciclopedia Cattolica e per il Libro Cattolico}, address = {Città del Vaticano}, year = {1948}, url = {https://azioneromana.com/article/abgar-dpir} }

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