St Grigor established several missions, not only in Armenia, but also in the neighbouring countries, and it was one of these missions that was responsible for the conversion of Iberia (Georgia) to Christianity. Later, Armenian preachers began to spread Christianity in Albania (present-day Azerbaijan).
To the other achievements of Grigor Lousavoritch we can add a seminary in which the converted sons of the heathen priests were educated. From among these he selected bishops and priests and sent them to other established missions in order to administer them. Biblical example came to so permeate the way of thinking of the Armenians that bishoprics and ministries often stayed within certain families and were handed down generation after generation. For this reason the bishopric stayed within Grigorīs family for over a century.
St Grigor and King Tirdat III had several churches built in different places in Armenia. The majority of these churches were large buildings, surrounded by high walls, something which has come to dominate the landscape of the country throughout its history and was the result of the builders' always paying close attention to the buildings' defence.
However, it was not only Armenian religious buildings which showed evidence of an amalgamation bewteen religion and defence but also its priests. Many members of the clergy, such as the renowned Catholicos Nerses the Great and Sahak I and revered priests such as Mesrop, were military personalities as well as heads of the church. In this country, where religion and belief were under constant external threat, military training was a necessary complement to religious studies. "They performed the holy mass in front of the altar in the church and then, when it was needed, led the people into battle." 46
This custom would continue throughout history, and in succeeding centuries we will see how the old General Nerses III was elected as the Catholicos of all Armenians. Maybe Armenia was the first country which fostered men like these, religious men who, at the same time, were men of science and war (like Cromwell in England who was described as "the symbol of the most unique and real mixture"). This kind of man would rise to power in the west as well, e.g. bishop Absalon, who founded the city of Copenhagen and created the Denmark of the Middle Ages.
By the time of the death of St Grigor, in AD 325, Christianity was predominant in Armenia and would become a beacon in the life of the people for several centuries. From now onwards the Armenian motto would read: "God, family, nation."
As Burt noted: "For a people, it was no small matter, during a time such as the beginning of the 4th century, to take such a huge and brave step, i.e. as a nation to become the first society to go against the beliefs of the people and prevail. But as soon as this step was taken it was evident that Christianity would become a much greater influence on the Armenian people than other nations, people who accepted Christianity later during a period when this religion already had conquered the modern world." 49
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