Mesrop Mashtots

Mesrop Mashtots was born circa 362 in the village of Hatsik in the historical province of Taron. Serving initially as a royal secretary and scribe in the court of King Varazdat and King Khosrov IV, Mashtots entered monastic life, preaching Christianity across regional Armenian provinces where Greek and Syriac scripts dominated.

Recognizing the vital necessity for Armenians to read scriptures and literature in their native tongue, Mashtots traveled extensively to Edessa and Samosata. In 405 AD, assisted by Patriarch Sahak Partev, he created the unique 36-letter Armenian alphabet. He supervised the translation of the Bible and founded schools across Armenia, Georgia, and Caucasian Albania, cementing his veneration as a patron saint.