LEONTIUS VANANDETZI, Saint, Martyr. - Armenian priest, one of the foremost disciples of Sts. Mesrob and Sahak, sent by them to Byzantium with other companions for sacred studies in the period 431-34.

Having returned to his homeland, he devoted himself to the translation of Sacred Scripture and of the works of the Fathers. L. was the moving spirit of the insurrection of the Armenian people against the decree of de-Christianization of Yazdegerd II of Persia and therefore encouraged the army of Armenian volunteers at the battle of Avarayr (451). L. was arrested together with the prelates and other Armenian priests and, after atrocious tortures, received the crown of martyrdom together with five other companions: Joseph the Katholikos (patriarch), Sahak bishop and Muscé, Arsen and Kaciac priests. Their feast is celebrated by the Armenian Church on the Tuesday that falls eight days before Ash Wednesday.

Bibliography3 works

BIBL.: For the life and martyrdom of St. L. cf. Elishē and Lazarus of Parb, Armenian historians of the 5th century (ed. of the Mechitarists of Venice); G. B. Aucher, Vite dei santi della Chiesa armena, II, Venice 1810, pp. 225-77; L. Alisan, Ararat, ibid. 1890, pp. 90-106 (Armenian).

Paolo Hamelian

@incollection{ec7_leonzio_vanandetzi_santo_marti, author = {Hamelian, Paolo}, title = {Leonzio Vanandetzi, santo, martire}, booktitle = {Enciclopedia Cattolica}, volume = {VII}, pages = {1169--1170}, note = {Cited by column}, publisher = {Ente per l’Enciclopedia Cattolica e per il Libro Cattolico}, address = {Città del Vaticano}, year = {1951}, url = {https://azioneromana.com/article/leonzio-vanandetzi-santo-martire} }

One of some 20,000 entries brought back from the twelve printed volumes (1948–54). Spotted something? Help us improve it.

Leontius Vanandetzi, Saint, Martyr

About this entry