KING DRTAD, QUEEN ASHKHEN, PRINCESS KHOSROVIDOUKHT

This Saturday, June 22, the Armenian Church remembers King Drtad, Queen Ashkhen, and Princess Khosrovidoukht. After torturing and condemning St. Gregory to the pit, and after his cruel and fatal treatment of the Hripsimiantz nuns, King Drtad became inflicted with strange debilitating maladies. Queen Ashkhen and the king’s sister, Khosrovitoukht (who had secretly become a Christian) convinced the court that only Gregory could cure the king. Thus, Gregory was released from the deep pit. With the king’s subsequent recovery, all three helped Gregory spread Christianity throughout Armenia. In their later years the queen and princess lived in the fortress of Garni and the king retired to St. Gregory’s retreat on Mt. Sepouh.