Mesrob, Saint

Mesrob, Saint

 or Saint Mesrop Mashtots

(born c. 360, Hatsik, Armenia—died Feb. 17, 440; Armenian feast day, February 19) Armenian theologian and linguist. A scholar of classical languages, he became a monk c. 395 and eventually founded several monasteries, spreading the Gospel in remote areas of Armenia. He systematized or invented the Armenian alphabet and sponsored the first translation of the Bible into Armenian (c. 410). He also wrote biblical commentaries and translated other theological works, and he helped establish Armenia's golden age of Christian literature. See also Armenian language.