The Armenian Apostolic Church commemorates today the Holy Priests Voskian, the first martyrs and hermits of the Armenian Church.
According to popular tradition, the Voskians were five envoys of the Roman Emperor to King Sanatruk. Arriving in Armenia in the middle of the 1st century, they met the Apostle Thaddeus and, under the influence of his sermons, were baptized and converted to Christianity. The eldest among them was Khrusi (Voski), which in Armenian means "gold" (hence the origin of the "Voskian"). He was also ordained a bishop.
After the death of Thaddeus the Voskians secluded themselves in the mountains of Tsakhkavet (Tsakhkotn province) and lived a life of asceticism for almost forty years. Guided by the commandments of God, they came to the palace to preach Christianity to the Armenian King Artashes and Queen Satenik. In the palace their sermons were followed only by the relatives of Queen Satenik.
The 18 courtiers, who arrived in Armenia together with the queen, were baptized in the river Euphrates and together with Voskians were secluded in the mountains. The eldest of the relatives was called Sukias, later on they began to be called Sukiasians. Together with the Voskians they secluded themselves in the mountains. Unable to convince the former courtiers to return back to the palace, the Armenian princes took revenge on their Voskian preachers by cutting them to death with swords.
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