Editing Gregory the Illuminator (section)

=== Byzantium and the Orthodox world ===
Gregory is commemorated on September 30 by the [[Eastern Orthodox Church]], which styles him "Holy Hieromartyr Gregory, Bishop of Greater Armenia, Equal of the Apostles and Enlightener of Armenia."

His relics were scattered near and far in the reign of the [[Eastern Roman Emperor]] [[Zeno (emperor)|Zeno]].{{sfn|Ayvazyan|1984|p=41}} Relic fragments are found at the [[Karakallou Monastery]] and [[Iviron Monastery]] on [[Mount Athos]]; the [[Gregoriou Monastery]] claims to have the saint's skull.<ref>{{cite web |title=Άγιος Γρηγόριος ο Ιερομάρτυρας επίσκοπος της Μεγάλης Αρμενίας |url=https://www.agiamarinaalykou.gr/%CF%83%CF%85%CE%BD%CE%B1%CE%BE%CE%AC%CF%81%CE%B9/%CF%80%CE%AD%CE%BC%CF%80%CF%84%CE%B7-30-%CF%83%CE%B5%CF%80%CF%84%CE%B5%CE%BC%CE%B2%CF%81%CE%AF%CE%BF%CF%85-2021/ |website=Ιερό Προσκύνημα Αγίας Μαρίνας Αλυκού |access-date=2 March 2024 |date=30 September 2021 |last1=Νεκτάριος |first1=Πάτερ }}</ref>

Veneration of Gregory began in the [[Byzantine Empire]] in the late 9th century with the ascend of [[Basil I]]. A 9th century mosaic of Gregory was uncovered in [[Hagia Sophia]] under a layer of plaster in 1847–49 during the restoration by the [[Fossati brothers]].{{sfn|Mango|Hawkins|1972|p=6}} Located in the south [[Tympanum (architecture)|tympanum]], next to the [[Fathers of the Church]], it shows Gregory standing in bishop robes, blessing with one hand and holding the [[Book of the Gospels]] with the other.{{sfn|Der Nersessian|1966|p=386}} The mosaic, thought to have been destroyed in the [[1894 Istanbul earthquake|1894 earthquake]], survives in drawing by [[:de:Wilhelm Salzenberg|Wilhelm Salzenberg]] and the Fossati brothers. [[Sirarpie Der Nersessian]] argued that his inclusion in the series of the Church Fathers is explained by the myth of the Arsacid origin of Basil I, likely fabricated by Patriarch [[Photios I of Constantinople]].{{sfn|Der Nersessian|1966|p=389}}{{sfn|Mango|Hawkins|1972|p=38}}

Gregory is depicted in two prominent Byzantine illuminated manuscripts—the ''[[Menologion of Basil II]]'' (c. 1000)<ref name="Menologion">{{cite web |title=Manuscript – Vat.gr.1613 |url=https://digi.vatlib.it/view/MSS_Vat.gr.1613/0096?sid=a7590df9b8aca22111c8359533716419&zoomlevel=4 |website=vatlib.it |publisher=[[Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana]] |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230212162232/https://digi.vatlib.it/view/MSS_Vat.gr.1613/0096?sid=a7590df9b8aca22111c8359533716419&zoomlevel=4 |archive-date=12 February 2023}}</ref> and the ''[[Theodore Psalter]]'' (1066)<ref name="BLcontent" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Add MS 19352: f.48r |url=https://www.bl.uk/manuscripts/Viewer.aspx?ref=add_ms_19352_f048r |website=bl.uk |publisher=[[British Library]] |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230212161542/https://www.bl.uk/manuscripts/Viewer.aspx?ref=add_ms_19352_f048r |archive-date=12 February 2023}}</ref>—and in a number of Byzantine churches and monasteries, most notably [[Hosios Loukas]] (11th century),{{sfn|Mango|Hawkins|1972|p=25}} [[Church of Panagia Chalkeon]] in [[Thessaloniki]] (11th century), and the [[Pammakaristos Church]] in Constantinople (14th century).{{sfn|Der Nersessian|1966|p=390}}

One of the sections of Moscow's iconic [[Saint Basil's Cathedral]] is named after Gregory the Armenian (''Tserkov Grigoriya Armyanskogo''). It is dedicated to the capture of Ars Tower of the [[Kazan Kremlin]] by [[Ivan the Terrible]] during the [[Siege of Kazan]] on September 30, 1552, on his feast day.<ref>{{cite book |last=Brunov |first=N. I. |title=Храм Василия Блаженного в Москве. Покровский собор [Cathedral of Vasily the Blessed in Moscow: Pokrovsky Cathedral] |publisher=[[Iskusstvo]] |language=ru |year=1988 |pages=6–10}}, supplemental tables.</ref>

<gallery caption="Byzantine depictions of Gregory" mode="packed" heights="150px">
File:Gregory the Illuminator mosaic in Hagia Sophia by Wilhelm Salzenberg.jpg|Lost mosaic from [[Hagia Sophia]] (9th century){{efn|As reproduced by [[:de:Wilhelm Salzenberg|Wilhelm Salzenberg]].<ref>{{cite web |title=C. W.; Salzenberg, W. [Editor] Alt-christliche Baudenkmale von Constantinopel vom V. bis XII. Jahrhundert |url=https://digi.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/diglit/salzenberg1854/0097/image,info |website=uni-heidelberg.de |publisher=[[Heidelberg University]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230206065030/https://digi.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/diglit/salzenberg1854/0097/image,info |archive-date=6 February 2023 |page=29}}</ref>}}
<!-- File:Fossati 003.JPG| -->
File:Menologion of Basil 038.jpg|in the ''[[Menologion of Basil II]]'' (c. 1000)<ref name="Menologion" />
File:Theodore Psalter. Gregory brings Tiridates to Christ.jpg|in the ''[[Theodore Psalter]]'' (1066){{efn|"St. Gregory brings Tiridates to Christ. (Gregory has purple tunic, pink cloak, and white stole w. black crosses)."<ref name="BLcontent">{{cite web |title=Add MS 19352: Theodore Psalter |url=https://www.bl.uk/manuscripts/FullDisplay.aspx?ref=Add_MS_19352 |website=bl.uk |publisher=[[British Library]] |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230212161318/https://www.bl.uk/manuscripts/FullDisplay.aspx?ref=Add_MS_19352 |archive-date=12 February 2023}}</ref>}}
File:Istanbul - Chiesa Pammacaristos (Fetiye camii) - San Gregorio armeniaco - Foto G. Dall'Orto 26-5-2006.jpg|A mosaic at the [[Pammakaristos Church]] (14th century){{sfn|Der Nersessian|1966|p=390}}
</gallery>