Elishe was an Armenian historian from the time of late antiquity, best known as the author of History of Vardan and the Armenian War, a history of the fifth-century Armenian revolt led by Vardan Mamikonian against the suppression of Christianity under Sassanid Iranian rule.

A vardapet is a title given to highly educated hieromonks in the Armenian Apostolic Church. It has been variously translated as 'doctor', 'doctor-monk', 'archimandrite', or 'doctor of theology'.