The Armenian Apostolic Church is one of the oldest in the world. It was created in the second or third century AD. For example, Euseus of Caesarea (260-339) mentions the war between the Roman emperor Maximinus and Armenia, unleashed precisely on religious grounds.
Armenian Church in antiquity and today
In the seventh century AD, a fairly large Armenian community lived in Palestine. It existed in this period of time in Greece. 70 monasteries of this state were owned by Armenians. In the Holy Land in Jerusalem, the Armenian Patriarchy was founded a little later - in the 12th century. Currently, more than 3,000 Armenians live in this city. The community owns many churches.
How Christianity appeared in Armenia
It is believed that Christianity was brought to Armenia by two apostles - Thaddeus and Bartholomew. Apparently, this is where the name of the church came from - Apostolic. This is the traditional version, documented, however, not confirmed. Scientists know for certain only that Armenia became Christian during the time of King Tiridates in 314 AD. e. After the religiousthe cardinal reform carried out by him, all the pagan temples in the country were converted into Armenian churches.
Modern churches owned by Armenians in Jerusalem
The most famous places of worship in Jerusalem are:
- Church of St. James. Located in the old city, on the territory of the Armenian quarter. In the 6th century, a small church was built on this site. It was erected in honor of one of the significant events of Christianity. It was on this spot that the Apostle James was killed by the people of Herod Antipas in 44 AD. This act is reflected in the New Testament. In the 12th century, a new one was built on the site of the old church. It exists to this day. There is a small door in the western part of the building. She leads to the room where the monks still keep the head of Jacob.
- Church of the Angels. It is also located in the Armenian quarter, in its very depths. This is one of the oldest churches in Jerusalem. It was built on the spot where the house of the High Priest Anna once stood. According to the New Testament, it was to him that Christ was brought before being interrogated by Caiaphas. In the courtyard of the church, an olive tree is still preserved, which believers consider a "living witness" of those events.
Of course, there are Armenian churches in other countries of the world - in India, Iran, Venezuela, Israel, etc.
History of the Armenian Church in Russia
In Russia, the first Christian Armenian diocese was formed in 1717. Its center was located in Astrakhan. This was facilitated by the friendly relations that have developed between Russia andArmenia at that time. This diocese included all the then existing Christian Armenian churches of the country. Its first leader was Archbishop Galatatsi.
The Armenian Apostolic Church proper was established in Russia a few decades later, during the reign of Catherine II - in 1773. Catholicos Simeon I Yerevantsi became its founder.
In 1809, the Armenian diocese of Bessarabia was founded by decree of Emperor Alexander the First. It was this church organization that controlled the territories conquered from the Turks in the Balkan War. The city of Iasi became the center of the new diocese. After, according to the Bucharest peace treaty, Iasi was outside the Russian Empire, it was moved to Chisinau. In 1830, Nicholas the First separated Moscow, St. Petersburg, Novorossiysk and Bessarabian churches from Astrakhan, forming another Armenian diocese.
By 1842, 36 parish, cathedral and cemetery churches had already been built and opened in Russia. Most of them belonged to the Astrakhan diocese (23). In 1895 its center was moved to the city of New Nakhichevan. By the end of the 19th century, the Central Asian Armenian communities were also united. As a result, two more dioceses were formed - Baku and Turkestan. At the same time, the city of Armavir became the center of the Astrakhan diocese.
Armenian Church in Russia after the revolution
After the revolution of the seventeenth year, Bessarabia was ceded to the Romanian kingdom. The Armenian churches that existed here became part of the diocese of this state. At the same time, changes were made to thethe structure of the church. All communities were united in just two eparchies - Nakhichevan and North Caucasus. The center of the first was located in Rostov-on-Don, the second - in Armavir.
Most of the churches that belonged to the Armenian Apostolic Church, of course, were closed and destroyed. This state of affairs continued until the middle of the twentieth century. One of the most important events for Armenian Christians was the opening in 1956 in Moscow of the only remaining Armenian church in the city. It was a small church of the Holy Resurrection, built in the 18th century. It was she who became the center of the Armenian Moscow parish.
AAC in the late 20th - early 21st century
In 1966, Catholicos Vazgen the First created the Novo-Nakhichevan and Russian eparchies. At the same time, the center of the Armenian Apostolic Church is transferred to Moscow. By the 90s of the last century, Armenians already had 7 churches operating in large Russian cities - Moscow, Leningrad, Armavir, Rostov-on-Don, etc. Today, many church communities of the former republics of the USSR are subordinate to the Russian diocese. It is worth adding that most modern Armenian churches are real architectural and historical monuments.
Hripsime Church in Y alta
Y alta Armenian Church was built at the beginning of the 20th century. It is an architecturally interesting building. This compact, monolithic-looking structure is very similar to the ancient temple of Hripsime in Etchmiadzin. This is one of the most interesting sights that Y alta can boast of. Hripsime Armenian Church– a truly impressive building.
The southern facade is equipped with a false entrance, framed by a wide arched niche. A long staircase leads to it, as the temple is located on a mountainside. The building is crowned with a solid hexagonal tent. At the end of the ascent, another staircase is equipped, this time leading to the real entrance, located on the western facade. The interior of the church is also interesting. The dome is painted from the inside, and the iconostasis is trimmed with marble and inlaid. This stone is generally traditional for the interior of buildings such as Armenian churches.
St. Petersburg Church of St. Catherine
Of course, there are churches belonging to this direction of Christianity, and in other cities of Russia. There are also in Moscow, and in St. Petersburg, and in some other settlements. Of course, both capitals can boast the most majestic buildings. For example, a very interesting building in terms of historical and spiritual value is the building built in 1770-1772. Armenian Church on Nevsky Prospekt in St. Petersburg. This is a very elegant, light building in the style of early Russian classicism. Against the background of strict St. Petersburg buildings, this temple looks unusually elegant and festive.
Of course, the Armenian church on Nevsky Prospekt looks very majestic. However, in height it is inferior to the Moscow church on Trifonovskaya Street (58 m). The interior of the St. Petersburg old church is also truly magnificent. The walls are decorated with monumental paintings, stuccocornices, and partly lined with colored marble. The same stone was used for the floor and columns.
Armenian Church in Krasnodar
Not so long ago - in 2010 - a new Armenian church of St. Sahak and Mesrop was built and consecrated in Krasnodar. The building is designed in a traditional style and is made of pink tuff. Quite large, long arched windows and hexagonal domes give it a majestic appearance.
In style, this building resembles that of Y alta. The Armenian Church of Hripsime, however, is somewhat lower and more monumental. However, the overall style is clearly visible.
Which branch of Christianity does the Armenian Church belong to?
In the West, all Eastern churches, including the Armenian Apostolic Church, are considered orthodox. This word is translated into Russian as "Orthodox". However, the understanding of these two names in the West and in our country is somewhat different. A fairly large number of offshoots of Christianity fall under this definition. And although according to Western theological canons the Armenian Church is considered Orthodox, in fact its teachings are in many respects different from Russian Orthodoxy. As for the ROC, at the level of the ordinary priesthood, the attitude towards the representatives of the AAC as monophysite heretics prevails. The existence of two branches of the Orthodox Church is officially recognized - the Eastern and the Byzantine-Slavic.
Maybe this is also why the Christian Armenian believers themselves are in the majoritycases do not consider themselves to be either Orthodox or Catholic. A believer of this nationality with equal success can go to pray both in a Catholic and in an Orthodox church. Moreover, the Armenian churches in the world are actually not very numerous. For example, representatives of this nationality living in Russia willingly baptize children in Russian Orthodox churches.
Differences between the Orthodox traditions of the AAC and the ROC
For comparison with Russian Orthodox traditions, let's describe the rite of baptism adopted in the Armenian Church. There are not so many differences, but they are still there.
Many Russian Orthodox who first came to an Armenian church are surprised that candles are placed here not on special pedestals in small candlesticks, but in an ordinary box of sand. However, they are not for sale, but simply lie side by side. However, many Armenians, having taken a candle, leave money for it of their own free will. The believers themselves clean up the cinders.
In some Armenian churches, children are not immersed in the font during baptism. Just take water from a large bowl and wash. Baptism in the Armenian Church has another interesting feature. The priest, uttering a prayer, speaks in a singsong voice. Due to the good acoustics of Armenian churches, it sounds impressive. Baptismal crosses also differ from Russians. Usually they are very beautifully decorated with vines. Crosses are hung on the narot (red and white threads woven together). Armenians are baptized - unlike Russians - from left to right. Otherwise, the rite of initiation of the baby to the faith is similar to the Russian Orthodox.
The structure of modern ArmenianApostolic Church
The highest authority in the AC is the Church-National Council. At the moment, it includes 2 Patriarchs, 10 archbishops, 4 bishops and 5 secular people. The AAC includes two independent Catholicosates - Cilicia and Etchmiadzin, as well as two Patriarchates - Constantinople and Jerusalem. The Supreme Patriarch (currently the head of the Armenian Church, Garegin II) is considered his representative and oversees the observance of church rules. Questions of laws and canons are within the competence of the Council.
The significance of the Armenian Church in the world
Historically, the formation of the Armenian Apostolic Church took place not only against the background of oppression by non-Christian pagan and Muslim authorities, but also under pressure from other, more powerful Christian Churches. However, despite this, she managed to maintain her uniqueness and originality of many rituals. The Armenian Church is Orthodox, but it is not for nothing that the term “Apostolic” has been preserved in its name. This definition is considered common to all Churches that do not identify themselves with any of the leading directions of Christianity.
Moreover, there were times in the history of the Armenian Church when many of its authoritative figures considered the See of Rome to be the first. The attraction of the Armenian Church to Catholicism stopped only in the 18th century, after the Pope created his own, separate branch - the Armenian Catholic Church. This step was the beginning of some cooling of relations between these two branches. Christianity. In certain periods of history, there was an attraction of the figures of the Armenian Church to Byzantine Orthodoxy. It did not assimilate with other directions only due to the fact that both Catholics and Orthodox to some extent always considered it "heretical". So the fact that this Church has been preserved almost in its original form can, to some extent, be considered God's providence.
The Armenian Church in St. Petersburg, churches in Moscow and Y alta, as well as other similar places of worship are really real architectural and historical monuments. And the very ritualism of this direction of Christianity is original and unique. Agree that the combination of high "Catholic" headdresses and Byzantine brightness of ritual clothes cannot but impress.
The Armenian Church (you can see a photo of the temples belonging to it on this page) was founded in 314. The division of Christianity into two main branches occurred in 1054. Even the very appearance of the Armenian priests reminds that when it was one. And, of course, it will be very nice if the Armenian Apostolic Church continues to retain its uniqueness.
