Armenian and Russian cultures have long been closely intertwined. Probably, this was facilitated to a greater extent by some kinship of religions. More than 200 years ago, the first Armenian churches appeared in Moscow, the addresses of which changed all the time. Let's trace the history of their emergence and flourishing.
Armenian religion
Armenians profess Orthodoxy, called the Armenian Apostolic Church. Also, part of the Armenians belong to the Catholic Church. This state adopted Christianity as the state religion earlier than all other countries, in ancient times. It is believed that the apostles Bartholomew and Thaddeus contributed to the emergence and spread of Christianity in this country.
The Armenian Apostolic Church refers to Miaphysitism, confessing a single essence of the two hypostases of our God Jesus Christ. Let's talk about the Armenian Apostolic Church first.
What are the differences and similarities between Armenian Christianity and Russian Orthodoxy
The Russian Orthodox Church confesses one face of our God Jesus Christ and two of hisessence: divine and human. Armenian Christianity denies the human essence. This is the most important difference.
They also differ from Orthodox posts, some rituals.
On top of everything else, the Armenians have a three-toed sign of the Cross, only they are baptized from left to right.
However, Orthodox chants and canons are often used in Armenian services.
Features of the structure of the Armenian Church
The buildings of Armenian sanctuaries are traditionally rectangular in shape, in Armenia it is customary to build one-domed churches. Only the cathedral in the Armenian temple complex in Moscow has 5 domes. This allowed him to fit perfectly into the architectural ensemble of our capital.
For the most part, the interior decoration of an Armenian temple or church is quite ascetic. Usually this is the minimum number of icons, by the way, it is also not customary for Armenians to keep icons at home.
The altar, according to ancient traditions, always faces east. Usually it is made of marble and is located on some hill, and steps lead to it.
The most famous Armenian churches in Moscow
The addresses of these churches are known to every "Russian" Armenian. Temples are very popular with them and tourists, the architecture is amazing.
- Church of the Holy Resurrection.
- Armenian temple complex.
- Church Srbot Naatakats.
- Church of the Assumption of the Virgin on Presnya.
- Church of the Cross.
These are Armenian churches in Moscow, addresseswhich can be seen below.
Church of the Holy Resurrection
This is the Armenian Apostolic Church in Moscow, whose address is Sergey Makeev Street, Building 10, at the Armenian Cemetery. It was founded in 1815 by the brothers Mina and Yakim Lazarev. In Soviet times, this temple was closed, it housed a warehouse of coffins. And only in 1956 it was returned to believers.
In the outer part of the temple there is a place for candles, there are only three niches in which believers leave candles. There is also a khachkar, to which memorial wreaths are laid on mourning days. The entrance to the temple is decorated with two icons and images of saints.
There is no place for candles inside the Church of the Holy Resurrection, but there are about 10 icons.
The temple is decorated with a beautiful dome, on the inside of which there are many images of saints and evangelists.
Armenian temple complex
The construction of the Armenian temple complex ended in 2011 and lasted almost 13 years.
Now it is the spiritual center of the Armenian religion and culture in Russia. Includes:
- Chapel of the Holy Christ.
- Cathedral.
- Residence of the Catholicos.
- Museum.
- Administrative building.
- Sunday School (Training Center).
- Underground parking.
All this takes about 11 thousand square meters. meters of land.
The Cathedral of the New Nakhichevan and Russian Dioceses of the Armenian Apostolic Church is also called the "Armenianchurch in Moscow". Address - Mira Avenue and Trifonovskaya street.
Sunday school in this complex is always in demand.
Many people wonder where the Armenian church is located in Moscow, the address of its location. The temple complex is known to everyone, the scale of its buildings is so impressive, it is the largest object of the Armenian religion outside of Armenia.
The Cathedral, which is part of the complex, is the highest Armenian temple in the world, its height is about 57 meters. Its facade is decorated with 27 crosses, according to the number of disciples of Jesus Christ, and bells, which were cast in Voronezh.
Numerous bas-reliefs are not embedded, but are carved directly on the reddish lining of the temple.
All buildings of the Armenian temple complex differ in color. On the territory adjacent to it, in the courtyard, marble paving stones lie under your feet.
Srbot Naatakats Church
Srbot Nahatakats Church is a new Armenian church in Moscow, the address of which is not yet known. It is being built on Poklonnaya Hill, in a place where soldiers who died in the Great Patriotic War are honored, where peace and love are worshipped.
Church Srbot Naatakats in translation means the Church of the Holy Great Martyrs. It is supposed to be built in honor of fallen Armenian soldiers.
It is known that the main amount of money for the future church was received through donations from ordinary citizens.
Church of the Assumption of the Virgin on Presnya
In the 17th century in Presnenskyquite a lot of Armenians lived in the area. Therefore, in 1746, at the Presnensky cemetery, they built the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin. It became the first famous Armenian church in Moscow.
However, in the 20s of the last century, this building was destroyed, the remains of the Lazarevs' relatives were transferred from the Presnensky cemetery to the Church of the Holy Resurrection.
Now on the site of the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin is part of the Moscow Zoo.
Church of the Cross
The Church of the Cross is an Armenian church in Moscow, the address (how to get to which) no longer interests anyone. It was demolished by the Soviet authorities in 1930 and a school was built in its place.
The Holy Cross Church stood for about two hundred years, was rebuilt twice by different architects and had a rich history. Lazar Nazarovich Lazarev was involved in its foundation and construction, and the church was erected in Armenian Lane with the donations of his son Ivan. The loss of this shrine is sad.
Armenian Catholicism
Despite the fact that the majority of Armenians belong to the Armenian Apostolic Church, there are also Catholics, or in other words, Jesuit Armenians, who have maintained contact with the Pope.
The history of the emergence of Catholicism on the territory of Armenia is quite old and extremely confusing, which began in the fifth century, during the Council of Chalcedon. But the fact remains that this branch of Christianity is extremely popular among Armenians.
In Russia, part of the visiting Armenians also have the opportunity to profess Catholicism, however, there are not very many parishes for this. Meanwhile, according to the latest estimates, the number of people wishing to visit the Armenian Catholic Church is about 200 thousand people. This is all over Russia, but most of them are concentrated in the capital of our country.
Armenian Catholic Church in Moscow
The address of the location of the Armenian Catholic Church in Moscow changed all the time. The fact is that the Armenian Jesuits still do not have their own temple.
Back in 2000, they organized a Catholic community in Moscow, whose services were held in different places.
From the moment of formation, the community gathered in the Catholic Church of St. Louis of France, located at st. Malaya Lubyanka 12. Sister Nune Poghosyan led the services, but after 2 years she had to leave, and the meetings stopped for a while.
Since 2002, Armenian Catholics have been gathering in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which is located in Moscow at the address. Malaya Gruzinskaya 27/13.
Catholic services are performed in this temple in many languages, including services according to Armenian customs.
Recall that there are only two Catholic churches in Moscow and one chapel of St. Olga.
During the Soviet era, many Orthodox and Catholic churches were forgotten, including the Armenian churches in Moscow, whose addresses no one will remember now.
But in recent decades, there has been a revival of Christianity in Russia. The main thing in this iscreate permanent conditions for parishioners to visit temples, churches and chapels.
Armenian Catholics have a much harder time in this regard. Even in the residence of the main Armenian Catholic priest - the city of Gyumri, there is still no normal church, but a small chapel.
In Russia, Armenians consider Moscow to be the main spiritual center of Catholics. The largest Armenian community in Russia lives here and the Russian residence of the Armenian Catholic Bishop is located here.
Now believers are fighting for the foundation and construction of an Armenian Catholic church.
