Armenian Apostolic Church
The Armenian Apostolic Church is an ancient Christian denomination based primarily in Armenia, recognized as part of the Oriental Orthodox tradition. It is distinguished by its historical roots, with Christianity being declared the national religion of Armenia in 301 CE, making it the first nation to convert to Christianity. Despite its rich heritage, the Armenian Apostolic Church does not have official relationships with the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Roman Catholic Church, or Protestant denominations, although it shares some historical ties with the Eastern Orthodox Church in Constantinople.
The church's headquarters is located in the city of Vagharshapat, known as Holy Etchmiadzin, and its global presence includes significant communities in the United States, Europe, and the Middle East. Members of the Armenian Apostolic Church uphold beliefs centered around the Holy Trinity and the teachings of Jesus Christ, with a liturgical practice that mirrors some elements of Eastern Orthodox worship. The church is governed by a leader known as the catholicos, who is elected for life and oversees a hierarchical structure that includes bishops, priests, and deacons. Throughout history, the Armenian Apostolic Church has faced numerous challenges, including persecution during the Ottoman Empire and the Armenian genocide, yet it continues to thrive today, maintaining a deep cultural and spiritual identity for Armenians worldwide.
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Armenian Apostolic Church
The Armenian Apostolic Church is a Christian faith that is based in Armenia but has churches in other parts of the world. The Armenian Apostolic Church is an Oriental Orthodox Christian church and does not have official relationships with the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Roman Catholic Church, or any Protestant religions. The Armenian Church does have some ties to the Eastern Orthodox Church in Constantinople, but the church is not recognized as an official part of the Eastern Orthodox family of churches.
The Armenian Apostolic Church’s headquarters is in Armenia’s then-capital city of Vagharshapat, or Holy Etchmiadzin. Although many of the members of the church live in Armenia, Armenians’ history of being driven from their homeland caused them to live in many different parts of the world. Some Armenians took their faith with them, and now Armenian Apostolic churches are located in many countries worldwide, including the United Kingdom, France, Australia, Canada, and the United States. The World Council of Churches reported in the twenty-first century that the Armenian Apostolic Church had about 650,000 members in the Middle East, 600,000 in North America, 10,000 in South America, and 25,000 in Europe.
History
The kingdom of Armenia was first introduced to Christianity in the first century CE by the apostles of Jesus Christ. According to church history, the apostles Thaddeus and Bartholomew spread their beliefs in the region and were martyred in Armenia. Christianity continued to be practiced in the area, and in approximately 301 CE, Christianity became the national religion of Armenia. King Tiridates III named Christianity the national religion after he was healed by St. Gregory the Enlightener. This announcement made Armenia the first nation to convert to Christianity, and it occurred about a century before Rome converted. Christianity then spread throughout the country, and missionaries from Armenia went to nearby areas, such as Georgia.
Before the fifth century, Armenians conducted worship in Greek or Syriac, which is a form of the Aramaic language. In the fifth century, a monk created the Armenian alphabet so that the Bible could be translated into Armenian. During the same century, the Persian king tried to convert all of his subjects, including the Armenians, to Zoroastrianism, a religion founded by the Persian prophet Zoroaster. Many Christian Armenians resisted conversion. By the end of the fifth century and after much persecution of Armenians, the Persian king allowed Armenians to practice Christianity.
Another important event that occurred in the fifth century was that an ecumenical council met in Chalcedon, near Constantinople. The early Christian church held a number of ecumenical councils to establish what would be considered Christianity’s most important ideas. The Armenian Apostolic Church approved the ideas that came from three of these councils. However, in 451 CE, the Armenian Church rejected the ideas that came out of the Council of Chalcedon. At this time, the Armenian Church broke its relationship with the larger Christian community. Other Christians, including the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church, accepted the ideas that were approved at the Council of Chalcedon.
The Armenian Church continued to thrive and grow inside and outside Armenia. New churches and monasteries were built in different areas, including in Jerusalem and Constantinople. These two cities became patriarchates, which are important offices of church officials, between the 1200s and 1400s.
In the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, the Armenian Apostolic Church experienced a number of challenges. During the rule of the Ottoman Empire, the church members were marginalized and persecuted. Another event that had a huge impact on the church was the Armenian genocide. In the early 1900s, the Turks killed hundreds of thousands of Armenians, causing the Armenian Apostolic Church to shrink. The oppressive and officially atheist Soviet Union also made it more difficult for the church to thrive. Despite these challenges, the Armenian Apostolic Church survived and commemorated the seventeen hundredth anniversary of Armenia becoming a Christian nation in 2001. Today, followers of the faith live in Armenia, Jerusalem, Constantinople, the United States, and other countries.
Beliefs
Members of the Armenian Apostolic Church believe that God is a Holy Trinity, made up of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. They believe that Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary and died to atone for humans’ sins. They also believe that following God is the only path to salvation. Their beliefs are handed down through Holy Tradition, which includes the Bible, the writings of church fathers, religious art, and the writings of the saints.
The members of the Armenian Apostolic Church celebrate a liturgy that is somewhat similar to the Eastern Orthodox Church. During the liturgy, members of the church community sing songs, read and reflect on scripture passages, recite their beliefs, and celebrate Holy Communion.
Organization
The Armenian Apostolic Church is headed by a leader called the catholicos. The catholicos is elected by a delegation of representatives from Armenian Apostolic dioceses around the world. The catholicos serves as the head of the church and is the chief bishop of Armenia with the official title of Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians. When the catholicos is elected, he is generally appointed for the rest of his life. (Since only men can serve as priests, deacons, and bishops, a man will always serve as the catholicos.) The bishops hold the next highest role in the church's hierarchy. They are followed by priests and deacons.
The Armenian Apostolic Church has a number of dioceses in Armenia, Lebanon, Ethiopia, Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Australia. The church also has five seminaries where men can study to become priests.
Bibliography
Agadjanian, Alexander, editor. Armenian Christianity Today: Identity Politics and Popular Practice. Routledge, 2014.
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"Armenian Apostolic Church." The Orthodox Church in America, oca.org/questions/otherconfessions/armenian-apostolic-church. Accessed 5 Dec. 2024.
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"History of the Armenian Church." Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church, westernprelacy.org/history-of-the-armenian-church. Accessed 5 Dec. 2024.
Papazian, Michael B. "Church History: The Armenian Church." The Armenian Prelacy, Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America, www.armenianprelacy.org/church-history/church-history. Accessed 5 Dec. 2024.
Stopka, Krzysztof. Armenia Christiana: Armenian Religious Identity and the Churches of Constantinople and Rome. Jagiellonian UP, 2016.
"A Walk through the Divine Liturgy." St. John Armenian Apostolic Church, www.stjohnarmenianchurch.com/walk-through-divine-liturgy. Accessed 5 Dec. 2024.
"What We Believe." St. John Armenian Apostolic Church, www.stjohnarmenianchurch.com/what-we-believe. Accessed 5 Dec. 2024.