Catholicos of All Armenians · 301 (Gregory the Illuminator; the first Christian kingdom)
Gregory the Illuminator converted king Tiridates III, and Armenia became the first Christian kingdom. The catholicoi descend from Gregory's own household; after 451 the Armenian church held its own confession apart from Chalcedon at the councils of Dvin — the oldest national church in Christendom.
Continues today as the Armenian Apostolic Church, under the Catholicos of All Armenians at Etchmiadzin.
63 holders in the record.