A.A.A. Collectible Armenian Dolls: Queen Ashken

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Queen Ashken, who reigned in the 3rd Century.

Wife of King Trdat the Great who in 301 A.D. became a Christian and officially converted Armenia to Christianity, making her the first Christian queen in history.

Source: A drawing based on research done by the Order of Mkhitarists in Venice.

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HISTORY
When Trdat I became King of Armenia, Christianity had already started. The apostle Thaddeus (35 to 43 A.D.) was preaching in Southern Armenia, and the apostle Bartholomew (44 to 60 A.D.) was preaching in the North. Both were to be persecuted and martyred. The Cathedral of St. Thaddeus, built in the 6th Century, still stands over his tombstone near Tabriz, now in the Northwestern region of Iran. The body of St. Bartholomew is believed to have been interred in St. Bartholomew Monastery (13th c.), in Vaspourakan, now in the Estern region of Turkey.

St Gregory the Illuminator and
King Trdat's Madness (1689).
Vaspurakan

In St. Thaddeus Cathedral there are chapels in the name of the Virgin Sandoukht, daughter of King Sanatrouk who accepted Christity through Thaddeus and Bartholomew but later, due to political pressure, denied it. His daughter Sandoukht remained steadfast in her faith and was executed by her own father.
Many converts to Christianity were made in Armenia through the first, second, and third centuries after Christ. The number of Christians grew rapidly among the people. When Trdat III took over the throne in 287 A.D., a fresh wave of persecutions started, but it was in his reign that Christianity finally triumphed. Christianity was ushered into Armenia by the people rather than rulers. It was proclaimed state religion when a large segment of the people were already Christian, and upon the conversion of by Saint Gregory (301 A.D.).

Cathedral of St. Hripsime (7th c.)

Saint Gregory Illuminator, chosen as the head of the Armenian Church, and a cathedral was erected at Etchmiadzin (303 A.D.), a1ong with memorials to three virgin martyrs who had remained steadfast in defence of their faith, St. Hripsime, Gayianeh and Marianeh. Armenia had become the nation to adopt Christianity. It was to profoundly affect the subsequent course of Armenian history. From 301 onward, the labyrinth design in the embroidery of Armenian women was to be gradually replaced by the Tree of Life. It was as if the spiritual content of Armenian life which had been lost in this labyrinth had struck roots and was rising in the sunlight and blossoming above the ground. From this period the costume of Queen Ashken, the first Christian Queen, has been reproduced.

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