Gregory VI of Cilicia (; also Gregory VI Apiratsi or Grigor VI Apirat) 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 Church Armenian may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to Armenia, a country in the South Caucasus region of Eurasia * Armenians, the national people of Armenia, or people of Armenian descent ** Armenian Diaspora, Armenian communities across the ...

from 1194 to 1203, located in Sis. In 1198, he proclaimed a union between

Rome , established_title = Founded , established_date = 753 BC , founder = King Romulus (legendary) , image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg , map_caption ...

and the Armenian Church. Gregory VI was a nephew of Gregory III of Cilicia and

Nerses IV the Gracious Nerses IV the Gracious (; also Nerses Shnorhali, Nerses of Kla or Saint Nerses the Graceful; 1102 – 13 August 1173) was Catholicos of Armenia from 1166 to 1173. A more precise translation of his epithet ''Shnorhali'' is "filled with Grace". He ...

. He was favorable to the Latins and had been nominated by Prince Levon I of Armenia (the future King Levon I), because of the need of an alliance. This election created a schism in the Armenian Church however, and a rival anti-patriarch was elected in

Greater Armenia Greater Armenia ( hy, Մեծ Հայք, translit=Mets Hayk) is the name given to the Armenian state that emerged on the Armenian Highlands during the reign of King Artaxias I at the turn of the 2nd century BC. The term was used to refer princi ...

. Gregory's announcement of union was not followed in deeds however, as the local clergy and populace was strongly opposed to it. When Levon, Lord of Cilicia, asked to the Pope and to the Emperor that he be recognized as king, the condition was that the Armenian Church should join the Roman rite. He formally accepted the union, but this again was without effect as the Armenian clergy was strongly opposed to it, and never accepted the doctrine of the double nature of Christ. Gregory VI crowned him King of Armenia in 1198/1199 and the Cilician Armenian kingdom began.

References

*René Grousset, L'Empire du Levant : Histoire de la Question d'Orient, 1949 {{DEFAULTSORT:Gregory 06 Of Cilicia Catholicoi of Cilicia Armenian Oriental Orthodox Christians Pahlavuni family 13th-century Oriental Orthodox archbishops 12th-century Oriental Orthodox archbishops