Britannica
Sources used in this answer
Who is traditionally credited with creating the Armenian alphabet?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
According to tradition, the Armenian alphabet was created in 405 CE by St. Mesrop Mashtots, a monk, theologian, and linguist.123
While Mesrop Mashtots is the primary figure credited with the invention, historical tradition notes that he did not work alone. He was supported in this endeavor by St. Isaac the Great, the supreme head of the Armenian Apostolic Church, and a Greek individual named Rufanos. The alphabet was developed to help stabilize the Armenian language and facilitate the translation of religious texts, such as the Bible, into a script that was accessible to the common people.123