ARCHBISHOP MARTIROS ANKOT

1784-1795 (Years of Leadership)

Archbishop Martiros Ankot was the Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Holy Church in Georgia.

During Archbishop Martiros Ankot’s years of leadership, for a short period, Archimandrite Petros was appointed as the Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Holy Church in Georgia. However, due to his illness, in the year 1792, Archimandrite Petros was recalled to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, and again Archbishop Martiros Ankot was appointed as the Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Holy Church in Georgia.

Twenty-one carriages carrying the treasures of Holy Etchmiadzin were sent to Tbilisi for safekeeping during the invasion of Agha Muhammad Khan on Etchmiadzin. Out of these, six carriages were escorted by Archbishop Martiros Ankot. Nevertheless, the soldiers of the Khan captured the entire treasure and took Archbishop Martiros Ankot as a hostage. However, the local Armenians paid the ransom and released Archbishop Martiros Ankot from their captivity.

Gukas I Karnetsi, Catholicos of All Armenians, blamed Archbishop Martiros Ankot for the sad calamities that had befallen the Church during this invasion and his anger never subsided. Gukas I Karnetsi, Catholicos of All Armenians, especially was saddened and upset about the clerical vestments of Ghazar I Jahketsi, Catholicos of All Armenians.

Archbishop Martiros Ankot could not recover from the grief occasioned by this cruel invasion and passed away in the year 1795 (Ormanyan “Azgapatum” (National History), article 2201).