Isaac The Great

c.350-440. Armenian patriarch (catholicos). Son of Nerses, the sixth catholicos of the Armenian Church,* Isaac received a good education at Constantinople. He married, but after the death of his young wife he became a monk. In 390 he became the tenth catholicos and negotiated the severance of the Armenian Church from submission to the see of Caesarea in Cappadocia. He also encouraged the creation of an Armenian literature, including the translation of the Bible and theological works; he himself helped with the latter. Some hymns are attributed to him. His name is highly venerated in the Armenian Church, and two days in the church calendar are set aside for remembrance of him.