Timeless Christians

Leontius

Leontius was a priest and martyr in Armenia. The Persians demanded that Armenian Christians adopt Zoroastrianism and Leontius led the opposition against this.

700 magian priests came to Ankes at the center of Armenia in November, 450, with a military escort. They were to instruct the Armenians in the court religion. Twenty-five days later, they ordered the church broken open. Thus commenced Persian persecution of Armenia. Leontius, putting himself at the head of his people, drove the magians to flight, after which the people finished divine service without further attack. The Armenians rose to defend their faith and in 451 Prince Vartan marched with 66,000 Armenian Christians to encounter the Persian army.

Leontius delivered a fervent address before the battle, dwelling on the examples of Phineas, Elijah, Gideon, and other famous believers in Old Testament. However, the Armenians lost that battle and had to take refuge wherever they could. The Persians captured Leontius and others.

Finally the Persians executed the Christians (A.D. 455), in the province of Abar, near a village of the Mogs named Révan. Leontius was treated with great cruelty because he was regarded as the chief instigator of the Armenian resistance.

The war dragged on for many years until the Persians finally grew so weary of it that they gave in and allowed the Christians to keep their form of worship. Leontius may not have led his people to short term victory, but his determination to suffer anything rather than accept a false religion inspired Armenia to resist bravely. Because of that, Leontius' name is remembered.

by Dan Graves