Grigor’s father, Anak, was an assassin. His assignment was the Armenian king Khosrov II, targeted by a neighboring ruler who wanted a more pro-Persian, anti-Rome ruler on the throne. As a kinsmen of Khosrov, Anak had the ability to get access to the king as well as likely support to take over the throne at his demise. Although successful in murdering the king, the plot found no sympathy with the Armenian elite who turned against Anak, killing him and most of his family.
The infant Grigor was rescued and rushed out of the country by a nurse to Cappadocia where he was raised by a Roman family of Christians. When Grigor became a man, he returned to Armenia, entering into the service of King Tiridates III (the son of the murdered king). Tiridates did not know Grigor’s true identity as Anak’s son. Grigor served faithfully, but he refused to take part in pagan sacrifices to the goddess Anahit. When his refusal became known, Tiridates discovered his lineage and saw him as both a traitor’s son and an enemy of the gods.
In anger, the king ordered Grigor to be thrown into a deep pit (later known as Khor Virap, “the deep dungeon”), where he remained for thirteen years. During this time, Christian women secretly brought him food and kept him alive.
Meanwhile, Tiridates continued to persecute Christians. Among those he executed was a group of virgin nuns led by Hripsime, who had fled from Rome to Armenia. After their martyrdom, legend says that King Tiridates was struck with madness, wandering the forests and living like a wild beast (kind of like Nebuchadnezzar). His court and his nobles, desperate to save him, remembered Grigor, the man they had left in the pit. They reasoned that perhaps the God Grigor served could heal the king.
Grigor was brought up from the pit, weak but still alive. He prayed for Tiridates, and the king was restored to his right mind. In gratitude and awe, Tiridates freed Grigor, ended the persecution of Christians, and declared himself a follower of Christ.
At Grigor’s urging, Tiridates summoned his nobles and declared Christianity the official faith of Armenia. This event, traditionally dated to 301 AD, is remembered as the first time an entire nation formally adopted Christianity as its state religion.
When I think Hope on Offense, I think of this story, here’s why:
- Hope Reconciles: Grigor could have stayed in Cappadocia, away from the risk of being found out in Armenia and the shame his family’s actions had left behind for him. But he went back anyway, to serve the new king, to serve his country, and possibly bring the good news of Jesus to Armenia.
- Hope Takes Risks: Those ladies could have been arrested or worse for bringing food to Grigor to sustain him as he he was imprisoned in the pit but they did it anyway. They put the needs of the man in the pit above their own, they risked their lives for a brother, they served the least of these, and thus served Jesus.
- Hope Plays the Long Game : After 13 years in the pit at the direction of the king, one might expect Grigor to be a bit surly about the whole thing and be less inclined to participate in Tiridates’ rescue from despair and madness. But this is what he came for. The pit had to happen, it had to be lived through to get to the situation where Grigor could show his dedication and service to the king and through that be able to introduce Jesus to the Armenians. And every day in that pit was one step closer to that reality coming to be.
Guided Prayer:
Father,
I don’t like the pit, but I see what You do with it.
Teach me to trust that even the long, silent years are moving toward something You’re building.
Give me courage like Grigor — to go back into places I’d rather avoid, to reconcile when bitterness would be easier.
Give me boldness like those women — to risk for the sake of someone who can’t repay me.
And give me patience — the kind that can sit in the pit until the day You call me out, ready to bring hope to someone who needs it.
Use me, Lord, to turn hearts toward You.
In Jesus’ name, amen.