Saint Mesrob facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mesrop Mashtots
Painting by Stepanos Nersisian (1815–84), kept at the Pontifical Residence at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin
Born	c. 362 Hatsik, Taron Province, Kingdom of Armenia
Died	February 17, 440 Vagharshapat, Armenia
Venerated in	Armenian Apostolic Church Armenian Catholic Church Roman Catholic Church Orthodox Church
Major shrine	Saint Mesrop Mashtots Cathedral in Oshakan, Armenia
Feast	The Armenian Church remembers St. Mesrop (together with St. Sahak), twice each year, first in July and then again on the Feast of the Holy Translators in October; February 17 in the Roman Catholic Church.
Patronage	Armenia

Saint Mesrop Mashtots (also Mesrob, Mashtotz, Armenian: Մեսրոբ Մաշտոց, 360 - February 17, 440) was an Armenian monk. He invented the Armenian alphabet in the year 406. He was a theologian and linguist. That was a basic and important step in strengthening three things: the Armenian Church, the government of the Armenian Kingdom, and connections between the Armenian Kingdom and Armenians living in the Byzantine and Iranian Empires.

Images for kids

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  Mesrop depicted creating the Armenian alphabet, by Francesco Maggiotto (1750-1805)

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  Fresco of Mesrop by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo (1696-1770) at the Würzburg Residence in Bavaria

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  Mesrop in a 1776 Armenian manuscript

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  The Amaras Monastery in Artsakh, where Mesrop Mashtots established the first-ever Armenian school that used his script in the 5th century.

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  Verses of Mesrop Mashtots

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  Gravesite of Mesrop Mashtots in the village of Oshakan

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  The statue of Mesrop Mashtots and Koryun (kneeling) in front of Matenadaran, Yerevan