A ceremony was held on the occasion of Saint Santuht’s Feast
On Sunday 04 August, the Armenian Apostolic Church celebrated the commemoration of Santuht, the daughter of King Sanadrug, the first female martyr of the Armenian people on the way to Christianity.
The Patriarchal Locum Tenens Bishop Sahak Maşalyan presided over the ceremony in the Church of Saint Santuht of Rumelihisari where it was celebrated also the name day of the church. Rev. Father Şirvan Mürzyan, the parish priest offered the Holy Communion while the choir animated the liturgy under the direction of Maestro Sevan Arabyan.
In his sermon, Bishop Maşalyan described the history of this special day as follows: “Saint Tateos and Saint Santuht are among the most important saints of the Armenian Apostolic Church. The enlightenment story of the Armenians was identified with their names. Jesus Christ, during His ascension said, “Go and raise all nations as my disciples; Baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19). Tateos first goes to Urfa and there preaches the word of God. He heals King Apkar, as well as he does many miracles. Afterwards, he goes to the settlements of the Armenian Kingdom, preaches to many pagans, and establishes the Armenian Apostolic Church. Later, St. Tateos, who went to Ardaz, entered the Armenian kingdom and brought Santuht, the daughter of King Sanadrug to faith. When the King learns all of this, he urges his daughter to return to her old faith, but he cannot get results. The King imprisons both Saint Tateos and his daughter Santuht and orders the soldiers to torture them. The king tries to convince his daughter through a helper of him, but he doesn’t get result. But his helper comes to faith. At the end of the king’s orders, St. Tateos and Saint Santuht were martyred in the summer residence in Shavarsavan. The Armenian Church celebrates the memory of the apostle Aziz Tateos twice in the year, the first one being celebrated with Saint Partoğomeos and the next with Saint Santuht.”
