Ignatius Maloyan

Ignatius Maloyan, originally named Shukrallah Maloyan, was born on April 8, 1869. He rose to prominence as an Armenian Catholic prelate, serving with distinction as the Archbishop of Mardin from 1911 until his tragic death in 1915.

Throughout his life, Maloyan demonstrated unwavering faith and commitment to his beliefs, notably refusing to convert to Islam despite facing severe persecution. His steadfastness ultimately led to his torture and murder at the hands of the Ottoman Gendarmerie during the harrowing events of the Armenian genocide in Diyarbekir Vilayet.

In recognition of his martyrdom, Pope John Paul II beatified Ignatius Maloyan in two thousand one. His legacy continued to be honored, culminating in his canonization, which was approved by Pope Francis in two thousand twenty-five and took place on October 19, 2025.