Anak the Parthian

This article is about Anak the Parthian noble, who was the father of Saint Gregory the Illuminator and murdered King Khosrov II of Armenia.

For the figure in the Hebrew Bible said to be the forefather of the Anakites, see Anak.

the Parthian, also known as Anak Pahlavi (flourished 3rd century, died 252) was a Parthian noble who lived during the time of Arsacid Armenia.

Anak was an Armenian Parthian nobleman, who was a prince said to be related to the Arsacid Kings of Armenia or was from the House of Suren, one of the seven branches of the ruling Arsacid dynasty of Sakastan.

Little is known of the life of Anak. He married a Parthian noblewoman called Okohe, who bore him sons. Among their children was Gregory.

Ardashir I and his son, Shapur I, incited Anak to murder King Khosrov II of Armenia, promising to return his own domain as a reward. Ardashir I was alarmed by the military victories that Khosrov II with his late father, Tiridates II of Armenia had won against him, as he wanted to expand the Sassanid Empire and to annex Armenia.

Anak had won the trust of Khosrov II and had travelled to Vagharshapat. When Anak arrived in Vagharshapat he pretended to take refuge in the Armenian dominions from the persecution of Ardashir I. Anak was hospitably received in Vagharshapat by Khosrov II and then stabbed the king in the heart, also killing Khosrov's wife. Anak was furiously pursued by Armenian soldiers, until he drowned in the Aras River.

The Armenian army and nobles were outraged by the death of the reigning King and in turn wreaked their vengeance on the family of Anak. The only child to survive from Anak’s family was his infant son Gregory, who was taken to Cappadocia by his former caretakers Sopia and Yevtagh, who had escaped the slaughter of Anak’s family.

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