VARTAN (Vardan), Saint, called the GREAT. — Maimonian prince, d. in 451.
He ruled Armenia from 415 to 418, and later, defeated by the Persian emperor Bahram, obtained that Armenia be governed by the prince Ardaš; however, in 428, the latter was replaced by a Persian administrator. V., elected leader of the army, rebelled because the Persians sought to force the Armenians to embrace Mazdaism. V. won an epic battle that made him a national hero. Later, however, he fell in battle near Teghmut. V. is venerated as a saint by the Armenians: feast on 7 Aug.
Bibl.: F. Tournebize, Hist. polit. et relig. de l'Arménie, Paris n.d., pp. 517-31.