St. Ignatius Maloyan – Armenian Martyr and Archbishop

ST. IGNATIUS SHOUKRLLAH MALOY

St. Ignatius Maloyan was an Armenian Catholic archbishop martyred during the Armenian Genocide. He is remembered for his unwavering faith and leadership during a time of great persecution.

Ignatius Shoukrallah Maloyan was born on 8 April 1869 in Mardin, in the Ottoman Empire (present-day Turkey). At age fourteen he entered the Armenian Catholic Monastery of Bzoummar in Lebanon, where he studied theology and philosophy, learning several languages and forming a deep spiritual life. He was ordained a priest in 1896 and served in Egypt (Alexandria and Cairo) and Constantinople (now Istanbul) before being appointed Archbishop of Mardin on 22 October 1911.

During the First World War, under the Ottoman regime, Christians in the east of the empire faced mass deportations, massacres and forced marches. Archbishop Maloyan remained with his flock, accepting the leadership and responsibility of shepherding the faithful in perilous times. In early June 1915 he and hundreds of Christians of the region were arrested. He was offered the opportunity to save his life by renouncing his faith and becoming Muslim. He refused, reportedly saying: “If Jesus Christ, my Lord and my God, was crucified for me, why should I not be ready to die for Him.”

The beatings, tortures and forced death-march ended in his martyrdom on 11 June 1915. On 7 October 2001, he was beatified by Pope John Paul II as a martyr. In 2025, Pope Francis approved his canonisation and the date was set for 19 October 2025; the canonical act is to be presided by Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican. Archbishop Maloyan’s life stands as an enduring witness to fidelity, mercy, humility, and the Christian virtue of laying down one’s life for one’s flock. His martyrdom during one of history’s darkest chapters summons the Church to remember the cost of discipleship and the value of faith under persecution.

Feast Day

11-6-

Birth Date

19-4-1869

Died Date

11-6-1915

Canonised Date

19-10-2025

Bzommar, Lebanon

St. Ignatius Maloyan, steadfast shepherd and martyr, you bore witness to Christ with unwavering faith amidst persecution. Intercede for us, that we may stand firm in our beliefs and live lives of courage and compassion. Amen.
ST. IGNATIUS SHOUKRLLAH MALOY

Video Not Found

No images uploaded for this saint yet.

The information on this website is compiled from various trusted sources. While we aim for accuracy, some details may be incomplete or contain discrepancies.

If you notice any errors or have additional information about this saint, please use the form on the left to share your suggestions. Your input helps us improve and maintain reliable content for everyone.

All submissions are reviewed carefully, and your personal details will remain confidential. Thank you for contributing to the accuracy and value of this resource.

Credits & Acknowledgments

Anudina Visudhar (Malayalam) – Life of Saints for Everyday
by Msgr. Thomas Moothedan, M.A., D.D.
Saint Companions for Each Day
by A. J. M. Mausolfe & J. K. Mausolfe
US Catholic (Faith in Real Life) – Informational articles
Wikipedia – General reference content and images
Anastpaul.com – Saint images and reflections
Pravachaka Sabdam (Malayalam) – Saint-related content and insights

We sincerely thank these authors and platforms for their valuable contributions. If we have unintentionally missed any attribution, please notify us, and we will make the correction promptly.