Catholicos Jacob I the Learned was the
Catholicos
Catholicos, plural Catholicoi, is a title used for the head of certain churches in some Eastern Christian traditions. The title implies autocephaly and in some cases it is the title of the head of an autonomous church. The word comes from ancient ...
of the
Armenian Apostolic Church between 1268 and 1286.
The pontifical throne was vacant for a few months after the death of Constantine I until it was filled by Jacob I from the region of
Tarsus or
Sis. He took up residence at the Catholicos's palace of
Hromkla
Rumkale ( ''Roman Castle''), also known as Urumgala, is a fortress on the Euphrates, located in the province of Gaziantep and 50 km west of Şanlıurfa.
Its strategic location was already known to the Assyrians, although the present struct ...
. He had been the author of many works and of hymns as well. Shortly after his election he transcribed the general epistle of
Nerses IV the Graceful and sent copies of it to places throughout his jurisdiction.
In 1270 King
Hetoum I
Hethum I (Armenian: Հեթում Ա; 1213 – 21 October 1270) ruled the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia (also known as "Little Armenia") from 1226 to 1270. He was the son of Constantine of Baberon (d. 1263) and Princess Alix Pahlavouni of Lampron (a ...
abdicated and Catholicos Jacob crowned his son
Leo II of Armenia Leo II of Armenia may refer to:
* Leo II, Prince of Armenia
* Leo II, King of Armenia
Leo II or Leon II (occasionally numbered Leo III; , ''Levon II''; c. 1236 – 1289) was king of the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia, ruling from 1269''Cambridg ...
. Catholicos Jacob died in 1286 during a difficult period as a plague had recently broken out and a famine ensued. He was succeeded on
Good Friday
Good Friday is a Christian holiday commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus and his death at Calvary. It is observed during Holy Week as part of the Paschal Triduum. It is also known as Holy Friday, Great Friday, Great and Holy Friday (also Hol ...
that year by Constantine II.
Catholicoi of Cilicia
Armenian Oriental Orthodox Christians
1286 deaths
Year of birth unknown
13th-century Oriental Orthodox archbishops
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