Feast of the Holy Translators / Surp Tarkmanchats
Also called: Saints Mesrop and Sahak Feast, Feast of the Armenian Alphabet
Third Saturday of October
A feast unique to the Armenian church, honoring Mesrop Mashtots (360–440 AD), who created the Armenian alphabet, and Catholicos Sahak I (350–439 AD), who directed the first translation of the Bible into Armenian. Together they and their circle of scholars translated the Scriptures, Greek theological works, and many church calendar texts into Armenian, enabling an independent Armenian Christian civilization.
The feast also honors the later theologians Yeghishe, Moses of Khoren, David the Philosopher, Gregory of Narek, and Nerses Shnorhali. It usually falls on or around Third Saturday of October.
It is especially important in Armenian Apostolic traditions. Browse Christian holidays — browse options on Eden.
At a glance
- Type
- national feast
- Date type
- Semi-fixed
- Regions
- Armenia
- Themes
- Church History, Mission
- Liturgical colour
- White