Feast July 20 | Died Rutulsky District, Russia | |
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Venerated in Caucasian Albanian Apostolic church | ||
Saint Elisæus or Yegishe was the first patriarch of the Church of Caucasian Albania by local tradition.
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Life
He was one of five disciples of St. Thaddeus (or, of Thaddeus of Edessa, who may have been the same person). He returned to Jerusalem after the martyrdom of Thaddeus, and was appointed as head of the church by James the Just. He began his preaching in Chola and then passed to Utik and Kish according to Armenian historian Movses Kaghankatvatsi, but this route is debated by some researchers as passing such a long way with opposing directions wouldn't be comfortable. An alternative route would be via Utik, Kish, Chola, Akhty, Zrykh, Mukhrek and Gelmets. He was martyred by local pagans in the village of Kolmank, which is located in modern Gelmets village of Dagestan. His relics were discovered by local Christians and a pillar was erected by Vachagan III on the site, with the relics later buried in Yeghishe Arakyal Monastery.
Churches
Several churches named after Elisæus: