[375]

thou didst astound all. By thine exemplary ascetic struggle thou didst amaze the fiery [hosts]; who, bending down from heaven to earth troop by troop, hastened to behold the spectacle of thy martyrdom. And by thine incomparable endurance thou didst subdue beneath thy feet the haughty king with his hosts. And by thy God-pleasing prayers thou didst enlighten their blinded minds and made them ministers of the Gospel of CHRIST. Likewise, by a new spiritual birth, thou didst lead the nation of the Armenians into the light of the knowledge of God. Wherefore thou didst especially shine forth with light amidst all the saints, and didst receive the apostolic see and honor, and with them wast crowned by CHRIST God. Now, O our father and illuminator of our souls: we beseech thee with united vows of thy Church, that on the day of thy wondrous feast, thou mayest especially intercede before CHRIST our God, that He may preserve the churches and the remnant of thy people in peace, delivering [them] from spiritual and carnal enemies; so that we too, always celebrating thy memory, may glorify the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit unto eternity. Amen. Holy Hierarch (*kʿahanayapet*) Gregory, who didst teach the faith and disperse the armies of demons...