Christianity is so secularized that the European peoples, who were once strongholds of evangelical values, are called post-Christian civilization. The secularity of society allows embodying the most phantasmagoric aspirations. The new moral values of Europeans come into conflict with what religion preaches. Armenia is one of the few examples of fidelity to millennial ethno-cultural traditions. In this state, at the highest legislative level, it is evidenced that the centuries-old spiritual experience of the people is a national treasure.
Which religion is official in Armenia
More than 95% of the country's three million people are members of the Armenian Apostolic Church. This Christian community is one of the oldest in the world. Orthodox theologians refer the Transcaucasian community of believers to five other so-called anti-Chalcedonian communities. The established theological definition does not provide an exhaustive answer to the question of what religion is in Armenia.
Orthodox call Armenians Monophysites - recognizing inChrist is one physical entity, the Armenian Orthodox theologians accuse of the opposite. These dogmatic subtleties are understood only by theologians. Upon closer examination, it turns out that the mutual accusations are erroneous. The official name of the community of believers in Armenia is "The One Holy Ecumenical Apostolic Orthodox Armenian Church".
The first Christian state in the world
For a whole decade before the adoption of the Edict of Milan by Emperor Constantine the Great, in 301, Tsar Trdat III broke off relations with paganism and proclaimed Christianity the state religion. In times of terrible persecution of the followers of Jesus throughout the Roman Empire, the ruler took a decisive and unexpected step. This was preceded by turbulent events in Transcaucasia.
Emperor Diocletian officially proclaims Trdat king of Armenia, which was part of the Roman province of Cappadocia. In 287, he, through the mediation of the Roman legions, returns to his homeland and takes the throne. Being a pagan, Trdat begins to zealously perform religious rites, commanding at the same time to begin the persecution of Christians. The cruel execution of 40 Christian girls makes a sharp turn in the fate of the king and his subjects.
The great enlightener of the Armenian people
The baptism of an entire nation was due to the educational work of St. Gregory. He was a descendant of the noble Arksaid family. For the confession of faith, Gregory endured many torments. Through the prayers of St. Trdat was punished with a mentalsickness for the torture of Christian women. Gregory forced the tyrant to repent. After that, the king was healed. After believing in Christ, he was baptized along with his courtiers.
In Caesarea - the main city of Cappadocia - in 302, Gregory was elevated to the rank of bishop. After returning to Armenia, he begins to baptize the people, build churches and schools for preachers. In the capital of Tsar Trdat III, by revelation from above, the saint founded a temple, later called Etchmiadzin. On behalf of the Enlightener, the Armenian Church is called Gregorian.
Centuries of struggle
Christianity, as the official religion of Armenia, has become an irritant to the rulers of neighboring Persia. Iran has taken decisive action to eradicate the new faith and promote Zoroastrianism. Pro-Persian landowners contributed a lot to this. From 337 to 345, Shapur II, having executed tens of thousands of Christians in Persia itself, makes a series of devastating campaigns in Transcaucasia.
Shahinshah Yazdegerd II, wanting to strengthen his position in Transcaucasia, sent an ultimatum in 448. The Council of the Clergy and Laity gathered in Artashat answered that the Armenians recognize the secular power of the Persian ruler, but religion must remain inviolable. By this resolution, Armenia rejected the proposal to adopt an alien faith. The uprising began. In 451, the largest battle in the history of the country took place on the Avarayr field. Although the defenders lost the battle, the persecution was suspended. After that, for another thirty years, Armenia fought for its faith, until in 484 a peace treaty was concluded.an agreement with Persia, according to which the Armenians were allowed to freely practice Christianity.
Administrative structure of the Armenian Apostolic Church
Until 451, the Armenian Apostolic Church represented one of the local communities of the one Christian Church. However, due to an incorrect assessment of the decisions of the Fourth Ecumenical Council, a misunderstanding arose. In 506, the Armenian Church officially separated from the Byzantine one, which significantly influenced the history of the state, its political and social activities.
The main religion of Armenia is practiced on five continents by more than 9 million believers. The spiritual head is the Patriarch-Kathalikos, whose title means that he is the spiritual leader of the Nation both in Armenia itself and Armenians in dispersion around the world.
The residence of the Armenian Patriarch since 1441 is located in the monastery of Etchmiadzin. Under the jurisdiction of the Catholicos are dioceses in all CIS countries, as well as in Europe, Iran, Egypt, North and South America, Australia and Oceania, vicariates in India and the Far East. Canonically subordinate to the Catholicosate of Etchmiadzin are the Armenian patriarchs in Istanbul (Constantinople), Jerusalem and the Great House of Cilicia (modern Kozan in Turkey).
Features of the Armenian Church
The Armenian Church is practically a mono-ethnic religious community: the vast majority of believers are Armenians. A small community belongs to this denomination.udins in the north of Azerbaijan and several thousand Azerbaijani tats. For the bosha gypsies assimilated by the Armenians, wandering in the Transcaucasus and Syria, this is also their native religion. Armenia retains the Gregorian chronology of the church calendar.
The liturgical features are as follows:
- Bread for communion is used, as in the Catholic tradition, unleavened bread, and wine does not dissolve in water.
- Liturgy is served exclusively on Sundays and on special occasions.
- The Sacrament of Unction is performed only on clergy, and immediately after death.
Services in Armenian churches are performed in the ancient language Grabar, the priest delivers a sermon in modern Armenian. Armenians are baptized from left to right. Only the son of a priest can become a priest.
Church and State
In accordance with the Constitution, Armenia is a secular state. There is no specific legislative act that determines that Christianity is the state religion of Armenia. However, the spiritual and moral life of society is not conceivable without the participation of the Church. Thus, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan considers the interaction between the state and the church to be vital. In his speeches, he states the need to maintain relations between secular and spiritual authorities both at the present historical stage and in the future.
Armenian legislation establishes certain restrictions on the freedom of activity of other religious denominations, thereby showing whatreligion in Armenia is dominant. Adopted back in 1991, the Law of the Republic of Armenia “On Freedom of Conscience” regulates the position of the Apostolic Church as a nationwide religious association.
Other religions
The spiritual image of society is formed not only by orthodox religion. Armenia is home to 36 parishes of the Armenian Catholic Church community, which are called "Franks". The Franks appeared in the 12th century along with the Crusaders. Under the influence of the preaching of the Jesuits, a small community of Armenians recognized the jurisdiction of the Vatican. Over time, supported by the missionaries of the Order, they united into the Armenian Catholic Church. The residence of the patriarch is in Beirut.
Small communities of Kurds, Azerbaijanis and Persians living in Armenia profess Islam. In Yerevan itself, the famous Blue Mosque was built in 1766.
