Gregory VI

OF ARMENIA (surnamed Aibirad), nephew of Gregory III, was elected after the deposition of Gregory V. The inhabitants of Great Armenia, and particularly the monks, refused to recognise him, because the place of his residence,. the strong castle of Hrhomgla, in Cilicia, or Little Armenia, was too far away from them. They chose as their patriarch Basil of Ani. When the persecution of the Armenians by the Greeks had broken out, Gregory VI vainly tried to bring back the emperor Alexis to principles of tolerance. Under his patriarchate the 'Armenian Church had a good understanding with that of Rome. He died in 1202. See Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Generale, s.v.