Vatican Honors Armenians, Issues Stamps

VATICAN CITY — The Philatelic and Numismatic Office of the Vatican City State announced that it is issuing stamps in honor of St. Gregory of Narek and Blessed Ignatius Maloyan, CatholicCulture.org reports.

The Philatelic and Numismatic Office honors this year two prominent figures of the Armenian Church, Blessed Ignatius Maloyan and Saint Gregory of Narek, according to Vatican official website.

2015 marks the centenary of the martyrdom of Blessed Ignatius Maloyan, who was Archbishop of Mardin, Turkey, and known for his closeness to the faithful of his diocese and alertness to their material, social and spiritual needs. He encouraged devotion to the Sacred Heart and to the Mother of God in all the parishes. He showed his witness of faith in the Risen Christ when he called on his priests to pray and remain strong in the faith, given the tragic news and threats against the Armenian people in 1915 which deeply marked not only Turkey, but all of Europe.

“I’ve told you I shall live and die for the sake of my faith and religion. I take pride in the Cross of my Lord and God,” Maloyan told his executioner, who was trying to make him renounce his faith in order to save his life.

In April, 2015, Pope Francis declared Saint Gregory of Narek a Doctor of the Church. Gregory of Narek lived most of his life in the monastery of Narek, Armenia, where he led an existence marked by great humility and charity. He is celebrated as one of the greatest poets of Armenian literature. After his death, his tomb immediately became a pilgrimage site for the Armenian people.