Gregory XIII

OF ARMENIA, was born at Edessa. As he was in possession of a large fortune, the patriarch Melchisedech and his coadjutor, David, offered to transfer to him their dignity, if he would consent to pay their debts. Serapion (the former name of Gregory XIII) went to Joulfa (near Ispahan) in 1602, to negotiate with the patriarch the conditions of the arrangement, but could not settle anything. Some inhabitants of that city took him to Echmiadzin, and elected him patriarch, August 14, 1603. That dignity caused Gregory the loss of his fortune. The Turkis, who were on the point of being driven out of Armenia by the troops of shah Abbas, requested the payment of all debts. Melchisedech being insolvent, they seized his successor, and forced from him all that they could get. Shah Abbas required of him an enormous sum, and delivered him to his ministers, who put him to torture, in order to force him to disclose his treasures. Under protest the patriarch retired to Van, and then to Amid, where he died of grief in 1606. The patriarchal seat, having remained vacant, was taken again by Melchisedech. See Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Generale, s.v.