Armenian Apostolic Church

Etchmiadzin Cathedral, the mother church of the Armenian Apostolic Church

The Armenian Apostolic Church is one of the oldest Christian churches, it has a number of features in dogma and ritual that distinguish it from both Byzantine Orthodoxy and Roman Catholicism.^[1] The Armenian Apostolic Church belongs to the group of Ancient Eastern Orthodox churches (pre-Chalcedonian). The service uses the Armenian rite. The first preachers of Christianity in Armenia and the founders of the Church of Armenia are considered the apostles Bartholomew and Thaddeus. Zakariya was recognized as the first bishop in Armenia, appointed directly by the apostles. Armenia is the first country in the world to adopt Christianity as a state religion. According to church tradition, the baptism of Armenia took place in 301.

Historically, the church has played an important role in the history of Armenia and the Armenian people and has at times assumed the responsibilities of political and spiritual leadership. Traditionally, both in Armenia and abroad, the Armenians considered the Catholicos of Echmiadzin not only the head of the church, but also their elected representative. Currently, there are 2 administratively independent Catholicosates: the Catholicosate of All Armenians, with the center in Echmiadzin, and the Cilician Catholicosat, with the center in the Lebanese city of Antilias.^[2][3]

The Armenian Apostolic Church has two autonomous patriarchates: Constantinople and Jerusalem, the heads of which have the spiritual degree of archbishops and are subordinate to the Catholicos of all Armenians.

The highest spiritual level of the Armenian Church is the Catholicos of All Armenians. The hierarchy of the Armenian Church includes the following ranks: Catholicos, Bishop, Priest, Sarkavag and Dpir.

Historical Chairs of Armenian Catholicoses[edit]

Echmiadzin has been the residence of the Catholicos of Armenia since the baptism of Armenia and the founding of the Armenian Church at the beginning of the 4th century. In subsequent centuries, due to the loss of political independence in these territories, the residence of the Catholicos was repeatedly transferred to the centers where the Armenian statehood was preserved. For almost three centuries, starting from the middle of the 11th century, the center of the Armenian Church was located on the territory of Cilician Armenia, until the Catholicos finally returned to Echmiadzin in 1441.

• Since 68 - Ashtishat (apostolic see)
• Since 301 - Vagharshapat (Echmiadzin)
• Since 484 - Dvin
• Since 927 - Akhtamar (island on Lake Van)
• Since 992 - Ani, the capital of the Ani Kingdom
• Since 1057 - Tavlbur in Lesser Armenia
• Since 1147 - Romkla (Rum-Kale) in Cilicia
• Since 1293 - Sis in Cilicia
• Since 1441 - Vagharshapat (Echmiadzin)

History of dioceses and abolished cathedrals[edit]

• Catholicosate Aghvank (Caucasian Albanian)
• Catholicosate Akhtamar (1113-1895)
• Astrakhan diocese
• New Nakhichevan and Bessarabian Diocese
• New Nakhichevan Diocese
• Baku and Turkestan diocese
• North Caucasian and Astrakhan diocese (with the center in Armavir)
• Moscow pastorship

References[edit]

See also[edit]

• Orthodox Church