#NewSaintNovember continues with our 5th (of 9) newly canonized saints: St. Ignatius Choukrallah Maloyan (1869 – 1915).

Born in Mardin, Turkey, near the Syrian border, Fr. Ignatius Maloyan took his name in honor of St. Ignatius of Antioch when he was ordained a priest in 1896. After years of service in Alexandria and Cairo, he was sent back to his troubled homeland to restore order and peace. He was soon chosen as the Archbishop of Mardin.

When the First World War broke out, the local Armenian Catholics were facing unspeakable persecution. Soldiers threatened them with torture and death unless they renounced Christ and converted to Islam. Archbishop Ignatius refused.

Dragged before a judge, he declared, “I shall live and die for the sake of my faith and religion. I take pride in the Cross of my God and Lord.” Beaten, tortured, and forced on a death march through the desert with hundreds of other fellow Catholics, he continually led encouraged his flock through the march, taking bread, reciting the words of the Eucharist, and distributing it among the people.

He was executed on June 11, 1915, bearing witness to Christ until his final breath – literally, since it was recorded that his final words just before he died echoed those of Christ himself, “Into your hands I commend my spirit.”

Saint Ignatius Maloyan stands as an incredible sign of faith, courage, and unity between East and West—an Armenian shepherd who died professing the same creed we proclaim every Sunday.

St. Ignatius Maloyan, pray for us. 🇦🇲✝️

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