GREGORIO VII, ANAWARZETZI (of ANARZABA). - Armenian Katholikós
(1294–1307), celebrated for learning, virtue, and attachment to the See of Rome, to the point of sacrificing, perhaps somewhat hastily, the disciplinary peculiarities to the ideals of Catholic unity. Proof of this is furnished by the Acts of the Armenian Council of Sis of 1307, convened by him, over which, however, he was unable to preside, being overtaken by death; but the synod members, 25 bishops and 17 vartapet, inspired by his memorandum, adopted, in addition to the definitions of Chalcedon, the disciplinary reforms.
Although he had lifted the excommunication from the autocephalous see of Althamar, C. was opposed, because of his excessively innovative ideas, by the ultraconservative Eastern faction. Archbishop Stefano Orbelean was its leader. But G.’s faith was approved by Pope Bonifacio VIII in 1298 and by Clemente V in 1306; likewise, the Acts of the Council of Sis (1307) were approved by the Armenian Council of Adanà in 1316.
In 1294 G. was the first to transfer the residence of the Armenian patriarchate to Sis, capital of Armenian Cilicia.