Vartan (Vardan), Saint, Called the Great

VARTAN (VARDAN), saint, called THE GREAT. – Mamikonian prince, d. in 451.

He governed Armenia from 415 to 418 and then, after being defeated by the Persian emperor Bahram, obtained that Armenia be governed by Prince Ardaš; the latter, however, was replaced in 428 by a Persian administrator. V., elected commander of the army, rebelled because the Persians wanted to compel the Armenians to embrace Mazdaism. V. hero. Later, however, he fell on the battlefield near Teghmut. V. is venerated as a saint by the Armenians: feast on 7 August.