The Armenian Apostolic Church is the national church of the Armenian people. Sometimes referred to as the Armenian Orthodox Church or, more simply, the Armenian Church, the Armenian Apostolic Church is part of Oriental Orthodoxy, and one of the most ancient Christian communities. The Church is also known as the Gregorian Church, although this is not a name that is preferred by Church leadership, as the Church considers the Apostles Bartholomew and Thaddeus to be its founders, and Saint Gregory the Illuminator as the first official governor and patron of the Church. Gregory was born in Armenia in 260 AD, and baptized in Caesarea of Cappadocia (Kayseri, Turkey). He married and fathered two sons before being ordained in Caesarea. Returning to Armenia, Gregory was instrumental in persuading the king to embrace Christianity, and make Armenia the first country to adopt Christianity as its official religion, although it was already a significant religion there. King Tiridates declared Gregory to be the first Catholicos of the Armenian Church, and sent him to Caesarea to be consecrated. The Armenian Church believes in apostolic succession through Bartholomew and Thaddeus, and can trace its lineage from the work of these Apostles. Originally, the Armenian Church participated in the larger Church, and its Catholicos was represented at the First Council of Nicea. In 353, King Papas appointed Catholicos Husik without first sending him to Caesarea for commissioning, but its Catholicos was still represented at the First Council of Constantinople in 381. During the 5th century, the Bible was translated into the Armenian language, a task that was made easier with the introduction of a 36-letter alphabet. Prior to that time, Armenian was a spoken language, but not a written one. The subsequent translation of the Bible, Liturgy, and other works of history, literature and philosophy encouraged Armenians to participate in creating its own literature. The Armenian Catholicos Isaac Parthiev was unable to attend the Council of Ephesus in 431, but sent a message agreeing with its decisions. However, non-doctrinal elements in the 451 Council of Chalcedon caused some problems to arise between the Armenian Church and Rome. At the First Council of Dvin in 506, the Synod of Armenian, Georgian, and Caucasian Albanian bishops were assembled, and prepared to make their positions known regarding the previous Council of Chalcedon. The disagreements were not resolved, but a schism did not occur between the Armenian, Georgian and Albanian churches until the Third Council of Dvin in 609. The Georgian Church disagreed with the Armenian Church, which had approved the Christology of Chalcedon. As a result, the Georgian Church was deprived from taking communion in the Armenian Church, while the Albanian Church remained under the jurisdiction of the Armenian Church while simultaneously remaining in communion with the Georgian Church. Although the Armenian Church agreed in principle with the Roman Catholic belief in the one divine nature of Christ (monophysis), it disagreed with the formula defined by the Council of Chalcedon. As a result, the Armenian Church severed ties with Rome and Constantinople in 554. The Armenian Church holds to the doctrine defined by Cyril of Alexandria, who described the nature of Jesus Christ as being of one incarnate nature, where both divine and human nature are united, whereas the Roman Catholic Church believes in the dual nature of Christ, divine and human, and the Georgian Church believes that Christ is fully divine. In recent years, both Chalcedonian and non-Chalcedonian churches have developed a better understanding of the different positions, maintaining their theological language while recognizing general agreement. Doctrinally, the Armenian Apostolic Church acknowledges the first three ecumenical Councils of Nicaea, Constantinople, and Ephesus, but not of Chalcedon. It renounces the teachings of Nestorius and the monophysitism of Eutyches, but administers the traditional seven sacraments (Baptism, Christmation, Holy Communion, Penance, Marriage, Anointing of the Sick, and Ordination). The Divine Liturgy is conducted in Armenian, while bilingual prayer books are used in English speaking countries and, particularly in the United States, sermons may be delivered in English. In the United States, a segment of the Church broke away from the Armenian Church during the Cold War, when Russia dominated Armenia. The breakaway Church is known as the Armenian Catholic Church.
Recommended Resources
Armenian Apostolic Church Library Online
The function of this online library is to promote free Christian training by making available documents from the Armenian Apostolic (Orthodox) Church, which may be used in parish newsletters, Sunday School lessons, and personal study. Included are articles from a variety of authors, topics, and sermons in MP3 format, offered in English, Western Armenian, and Eastern Armenian.
http://www.armenianchurchlibrary.com/
Armenian Apostolic Church of Holy Resurrection
Serving the Armenian Christian community for more than sixty years, the church is situated in Chatswood, New South Wales, Australia. Parish membership policies, details and schedules of Bible study and prayer groups, prayer requests, and a sermon archive are posted, along with its policies on weddings, baptisms, and ministry opportunities. A church directory and calendar of events are published to the site.
http://armenianchurchsydney.org.au/
Saint John Armenian Apostolic Church
Founded in 1924, the Saint John Armenian Church of San Francisco, California was consecrated in 1958. Its site describes, and offers information and schedules of its Sunday School programs, Armenian Church Youth Organization, Ladies Society, Bible study groups, and cultural activities, as well as its Divine Liturgy, sacraments, and service schedules. Membership policies and beliefs are outlined.
https://stjohnarmenianchurch.com/
Representing the spiritual and administrative headquarters of the Armenian Catholic Church, the official site of the Mother See of the Holy Etchmiadzin, the site is available in Armenian and English. A history and profile of the Church is presented, including its role in the origins of Christianity, is put forth, along with a video gallery, an overview of its educational services, and contacts.
http://www.armenianchurch.org/index.jsp?&lng=en
The Armenian Church, Eastern Diocese of America
Based in New York, New York, the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America oversees more than sixty parishes from the East Coast to Texas. Featured are the Mother See, Holy Father, and the Patriarchal Sees of the Church, as well as an introduction to the Eastern Diocese, its organizational structure, leadership, and employment opportunities. A history of the cathedral is included.
https://armenianchurch.us/
The Armenian Church, Eastern US
Representing the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern), which is headquartered in New York, New York, the site presents a profile and history of the Armenian Apostolic Church, its Legate and organizational leadership, a directory of parishes, clergy and missions within the diocese, contacts, and announcements, as well as Church publications and curriculum.
http://diocesanministries.us/
The Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church is affiliated with and under the jurisdiction of the Holy See of the Great House of Cilicia, situated in Antelias, Lebanon. Its history is outlined on the site, along with that of the Armenian Church, the Holy See of Cilicia, and the spiritual leadership of the Holy See. Parishes within the Prelacy, and both active and retired clergy are identified.
http://www.armenianprelacy.org/
