Armenian Genocide Martyr Ignatius Maloyan to Be Canonized at the Vatican

On October 19, the Vatican will host a historic event as Pope Leo XIV leads the canonization ceremony of Blessed Archbishop Ignatius Maloyan, a spiritual leader who was martyred during the Armenian Genocide.

Dr. Carlo Coppola, President of the Hrant Nazaryants Armenian Association in Bari, Italy, said: “His canonization is not only the recognition of his personal holiness but also a tribute to the resilience of the Armenian people. It is an occasion to reflect on the history and culture of the Armenian nation and a call to continue the struggle for justice and peace in the light of the Gospel and faith in Christ.”

This is the final step in the Church’s recognition of Archbishop Maloyan’s sacrifice. He was beatified by Pope John Paul II on October 7, 2001, at St. Peter’s Square in Rome, together with six other martyrs. The final declaration of his canonization was approved last year and has gained renewed attention in recent weeks.

Ignatius (Shoukrallah) Maloyan was born in 1869 in Mardin, then part of the Ottoman Empire. His spiritual calling was noticed at a young age, and he was sent to the Monastery of Our Lady of Bzommar in Lebanon. In 1896, he completed his studies and was ordained a priest, taking the name Ignatius in honor of St. Ignatius of Antioch. He served the Armenian Catholic communities in Alexandria and Cairo for over a decade before being elected Bishop of Mardin in 1911.

When the Armenian Genocide began in 1915, Turkish forces surrounded his residence and church, accusing them of hiding weapons. On June 3, Archbishop Maloyan and twenty-seven Armenian Catholics were arrested, followed by the capture of more clergy and laymen.

During his trial, the police chief demanded that Maloyan convert to Islam. He refused, declaring that he would rather face torture and death than abandon his faith. He was beaten, chained, and brutally tortured. Despite the suffering, he inspired those around him to stay strong in their faith.

Witnesses recall that before their deaths, the Archbishop led his followers in prayer. He blessed a piece of bread, performed the Divine Liturgy, and shared it with the faithful as soldiers surrounded them. One account describes how “a dense cloud of light covered the battalion of Christ’s warriors, hiding them completely from the soldiers’ sight, and a sweet fragrance spread over them all.”

When confronted again by Mamduh Bey, the police chief, Maloyan refused to renounce Christianity, saying:

 “I have already said—I shall live and die for my faith and religion. I glory in the Cross of my God and Lord.”

Moments later, he was shot dead. His final words were: “My God, have mercy on me. Into Your hands, I commend my spirit.”

 Archbishop Ignatius Maloyan was martyred near Diyarbakir, believed to be on June 10 or 11, 1915.

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