| Ignatius Maloyan was born in Mardin in 1869. After years of service as a priest, he was consecrated Archbishop of the Armenian Catholic Archeparchy of Mardin in 1911. During the Armenian Genocide of June 1915, he was arrested, tortured, and finally executed for refusing to renounce his Christian faith. Decades later, on October 7, 2001, Pope John Paul II beatified him, declaring his death a true martyrdom in odium fidei, meaning because of his Christian faith. In 2024, Pope Francis approved his canonization, and on October 19, 2025, Pope Leo XIV will proclaim him a Saint at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. |
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“If Jesus Christ, my Lord and my God, was crucified for me, why should I not be ready to die for Him?”
Life and Ministry
Shukrallah Maloyan was born on April 19, 1869, in Mardin, into an Armenian Catholic family. At the age of fourteen, he entered the Patriarchal Clerical Institute of Our Lady of Bzommar in Lebanon, where he studied philosophy, theology and languages and lived a life of discipline and prayer.
He was ordained a priest in 1896 and took the name Ignatius in honor of Saint Ignatius of Antioch, the early Church martyr. He served the Armenian Catholic communities of Alexandria, Cairo and Constantinople. His ministry was dedicated to teaching the faith to children and adults, supporting parish schools, strengthening the liturgical and sacramental life of parishes, guiding clergy in their responsibilities and helping the poor and sick through charitable works.
In 1911, Patriarch Boghos Bedros XIII consecrated him Archbishop of Mardin. He reorganized the parishes of his eparchy, improved priestly formation, promoted devotion to the sacraments and defended the rights of the Armenian Catholic community at a time of persecution.
Martyrdom
On June 3, 1915, Archbishop Maloyan and more than four hundred Armenian Catholic men were arrested in Mardin. They were falsely accused of conspiracy, but their only crime was their Christian faith.
He was interrogated, tortured and pressed repeatedly to convert to Islam. Each time he refused. Witnesses recount that he told the governor: “I shall never denounce or betray Jesus Christ, my Savior. I shall consider myself one of the lucky ones who shall meet God in His highest heaven.”
On June 10, they were deported in what became known as Maloyan’s Caravan. On the road he prayed with the faithful, heard confessions and encouraged them with words of hope. Before the last stage of the march, he asked for bread. With it he celebrated the Divine Liturgy and distributed Holy Communion to those present, using crumbs so that all could share.
On June 11, 1915, he was separated from the others and brought before the governor one final time. Again he refused conversion. A soldier shot him in the neck. As he fell, his last words were: “Lord, have mercy upon me. Receive my soul.”
He was forty-six years old. His body was thrown into a mass grave with his companions.
He was ordained a priest in 1896 and took the name Ignatius in honor of Saint Ignatius of Antioch, the early Church martyr. He served the Armenian Catholic communities of Alexandria, Cairo and Constantinople. His ministry was dedicated to teaching the faith to children and adults, supporting parish schools, strengthening the liturgical and sacramental life of parishes, guiding clergy in their responsibilities and helping the poor and sick through charitable works.
In 1911, Patriarch Boghos Bedros XIII consecrated him Archbishop of Mardin. He reorganized the parishes of his eparchy, improved priestly formation, promoted devotion to the sacraments and defended the rights of the Armenian Catholic community at a time of persecution.
Martyrdom
On June 3, 1915, Archbishop Maloyan and more than four hundred Armenian Catholic men were arrested in Mardin. They were falsely accused of conspiracy, but their only crime was their Christian faith.
He was interrogated, tortured and pressed repeatedly to convert to Islam. Each time he refused. Witnesses recount that he told the governor: “I shall never denounce or betray Jesus Christ, my Savior. I shall consider myself one of the lucky ones who shall meet God in His highest heaven.”
On June 10, they were deported in what became known as Maloyan’s Caravan. On the road he prayed with the faithful, heard confessions and encouraged them with words of hope. Before the last stage of the march, he asked for bread. With it he celebrated the Divine Liturgy and distributed Holy Communion to those present, using crumbs so that all could share.
On June 11, 1915, he was separated from the others and brought before the governor one final time. Again he refused conversion. A soldier shot him in the neck. As he fell, his last words were: “Lord, have mercy upon me. Receive my soul.”
He was forty-six years old. His body was thrown into a mass grave with his companions.
| Canonization The Catholic Church recognized his death as true martyrdom in odium fidei. On October 7, 2001, Pope John Paul II beatified him in Rome. In 2024, Pope Francis approved his canonization without the requirement of a miracle, as permitted in cases of martyrdom. On October 19, 2025, Pope Leo XIV will proclaim him a Saint at St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City. |
From Mardin to Martyrdom — The Journey to Sainthood
1869
1869
Born in Mardin, in a devout Armenian Catholic family.
1883 – 1895
1883 – 1895
Studied at the Seminary of
Our Lady of Bzommar Convent, Lebanon.
Our Lady of Bzommar Convent, Lebanon.
1896
1896
Ordained as priest in the Convent Church of Bzommar, taking the name Ignatius.
1898 - 1904
1898 - 1904
Served in the Egyptian Diocese, in Alexandria and Cairo.
1904 - 1905
1904 - 1905
Secretary of the Armenian Catholic Patriarchate of Constantinople.
1905–1910
1905–1910
Returned to pastoral service in Alexandria
1911
1911
Consecrated Archbishop of Mardin.
1915
1915
On April 20, honored with the Sultan's High Decoration.
1915
1915
He refused to renounce his faith, and was therefore imprisoned along with clergy and 416 faithful. On June 11, he was martyred on the road to Diyarbakir.
2001
2001
Beatified by Pope John Paul II in St. Peter’s Square.
2025
2025
To be canonized at the Vatican by Pope Leo.
Canonization
The world awaits the canonization of Saint Ignatius Maloyan
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Bzommar and Our Lady of Sorrows
The Patriarchal Monastery of Bzommar in Lebanon has been, since the eighteenth century, the spiritual home of the Armenian Catholic Church. It was within its walls that Ignatius Maloyan received his formation as a seminarian, shaped by its life of prayer, discipline, and devotion to the Mother of God. The atmosphere of Bzommar prepared him for his priesthood and later for the episcopal ministry that he would carry out with courage and faith.
Since 1750 the monastery has safeguarded the miraculous icon of Our Lady of Sorrows, brought from Rome by Patriarch Abraham Ardzivian. This holy image has been venerated for generations as the protector and intercessor of the Armenian Catholic people. For Maloyan, as for many others, the devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows offered strength and consolation, and it accompanied him throughout his ministry until the hour of his martyrdom.
Bzommar also preserves the memory of Maloyan through his relics. More than one hundred of his letters, written and sent during his priestly service in different countries, are kept in the monastery’s archives. His hand cross and other personal items of great spiritual value are also preserved here, bearing witness to his life and sacrifice.
Today Bzommar continues to stand as a place of prayer and pilgrimage. The faithful come to venerate the Mother of Sorrows and to honor the relics of Archbishop Ignatius Maloyan, whose vocation was formed in this monastery before his martyrdom in Mardin.
Since 1750 the monastery has safeguarded the miraculous icon of Our Lady of Sorrows, brought from Rome by Patriarch Abraham Ardzivian. This holy image has been venerated for generations as the protector and intercessor of the Armenian Catholic people. For Maloyan, as for many others, the devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows offered strength and consolation, and it accompanied him throughout his ministry until the hour of his martyrdom.
Bzommar also preserves the memory of Maloyan through his relics. More than one hundred of his letters, written and sent during his priestly service in different countries, are kept in the monastery’s archives. His hand cross and other personal items of great spiritual value are also preserved here, bearing witness to his life and sacrifice.
Today Bzommar continues to stand as a place of prayer and pilgrimage. The faithful come to venerate the Mother of Sorrows and to honor the relics of Archbishop Ignatius Maloyan, whose vocation was formed in this monastery before his martyrdom in Mardin.
Cherished Moments Around the World
A living tribute to Saint Ignatius Maloyan, this section gathers heartfelt moments from across continents, reflections of faith, remembrance, and devotion captured through the eyes of people who honor his legacy.
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