Armenian Apostolic Church 229447 224545988 2008-07-09T10:06:06Z 71.213.115.201 {{Armenians}} <div style="margin: 0px 0px 5px 20px; float: right;">[[Image:ArmPatrLogo.gif|250px|none|thumb|Official standard of the Patriarchate of the Armenian Apostolic Church.]]</div> The '''Armenian Apostolic Church''' ([[Armenian language|Armenian]]: Հայաստանեայց Առաքելական Եկեղեցի, Hayasdaneaytz Arakelagan Yegeghetzi) is the world's oldest [[national church]]<ref>The Journal of Ecclesiastical History – Page 268 by Cambridge University Press, Gale Group, C.W. Dugmore</ref><ref>The Armenian Massacres, 1894–1896: 1894–1896 : U.S. media testimony – Page 131 by A. Dzh. (Arman Dzhonovich) Kirakosian</ref> and one of the most ancient [[Christianity|Christian]] communities.<ref>The Antiquities of the Christian Church – Page 466 by Johann Christian Wilhelm Augusti, Georg Friedrich Heinrich Rheinwald, Carl Christian Friedrich Siegel</ref> The official name of the church is the '''Armenian Orthodox and Apostolic Church'''{{Fact|date=May 2008}}. It is sometimes referred to as the '''Armenian Orthodox Church''' or the '''Gregorian Church''', however the latter name is not preferred by the church, as it views the Apostles [[Bartholomew the Apostle|Bartholomew]] and [[Jude the Apostle|Thaddeus]] as the founders, and [[Gregory the Illuminator|St. Gregory the Illuminator]] as merely the first official head of the church. == Origins and history == [[Image:Tiridates III of Armenia-Baptism.jpg|left|upright|thumb|Baptism of [[Tiridates III of Armenia|Tiridates III]].]] The earliest Christian accounts of the introduction of [[Christianity]] into [[Armenia]] date from the 1st century. The Church teaches that it was first preached by two [[Twelve Apostles|Apostles]] of [[Jesus]], St. Bartholomew and St. Jude. The Armenian Apostolic Church has been in existence since the days of the apostles and therefore would be one of the oldest churches of Christianity. The [[Kingdom of Armenia]] was the first state to adopt [[Christianity]] as its religion <ref>''"The conversion of Armenia to Christianity was probably the most crucial step in its history. It turned Armenia sharply away from its Iranian past and stamped it for centuries with an intrinsic character as clear to the native population as to those outside its borders, who identified Armenia almost at once as the first state to adopt Christianity"''. (Nina Garsoïan in ''Armenian People from Ancient to Modern Times'', ed. R.G. Hovannisian, Palgrave Macmillan, 1997, Volume 1, p.81).</ref> when St. Gregory the Illuminator converted [[Tiridates III of Armenia|King Tiridates III]] and members of his court,<ref>Academic American Encyclopedia – Page 172 by Grolier Incorporated</ref> an event traditionally dated to 301 A.D. (after [[Mikayel Chamchian]] 1784).<ref>Estimated dates vary from 284 to 314. Garsoïan (''op.cit.'' p.82), following the research of Ananian, favours the latter.</ref> The Church teaches that St. Gregory was imprisoned by Tiridates in an underground pit, called [[Khor Virap]], for 13 years, after which he healed the King of an incurable disease, whereupon Tiridates accepted Christianity. Christianity was strengthened in Armenia by the translation of the [[Bible]] into the [[Armenian language]] by the Armenian [[theologian]], [[monk]] and [[scholar]] [[Saint Mesrob|St. Mesrob Mashtots]]. The Eastern Armenian Apostolic Bible has 48 books in the Old Testament. The New Testament is the same as in the Roman Catholic and Protestant Bibles. ==Monophysite label== Historically, the [[Armenia]]n church has been referred to as [[monophysitism|monophysite]] by both Catholic and [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Orthodox]] theologians because it (as well as the [[Coptic Christianity|Coptic Orthodox Church]]) rejected the decisions of the [[Council of Chalcedon]], which condemned monophysitism. The Armenian Church officially severed ties with [[Bishop of Rome|Rome]] and [[Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople|Constantinople]] in [[554]], during the second Council of [[Dvin]] where the [[Chalcedonian|dyophysite]] formula of the Council of Chalcedon was rejected. However, the Armenian Orthodox Church argues that this is an incorrect description of its position, as it considers Monophysitism, as taught by [[Eutyches]] and condemned at Chalcedon, a heresy and only disagrees with the formula defined by that council. The Armenian church instead adheres to the doctrine defined by [[Cyril of Alexandria]], considered as a saint by the Chalcedonian churches as well, who described Christ as being of one incarnate nature, where both divine and human nature are united. To distinguish this from Eutychian and other versions of Monophysitism this position is called [[miaphysitism]]. In recent times, both Chalcedonian and anti-Chalcedonian churches have developed a deeper understanding for each other's positions, recognizing their substantial agreement while maintaining their respective theological language. Hence, the Monophysite label is avoided when describing the Armenians' or Copts' belief regarding the Nature of Christ. == Structure and leadership == [[Image:GareginII.jpg|thumb|upright|left|His Holiness [[Karekin II]], Catholicos and Supreme Patriarch of All Armenians]] {{Eastern Christianity}} The Armenian Apostolic Church is headed by a ''[[Catholicos]]'' (the plural is ''Catholicoi''). The Armenian Apostolic Church should not be confused, however, with the [[Armenian Catholic Church]] whose patriarch (governing bishop of the Armenian Rite) is [[Nerses Bedros XIX]], which is an [[Eastern Catholic Churches|Eastern Catholic church]] in communion with the [[Holy See]] in [[Rome]]. At present, the [[Catholicos of All Armenians]] is his Holiness [[Karekin II]] (sometimes spelled as Garegin), who resides in the city of [[Echmiadzin]], west of Yerevan. A second Catholicos, His Holiness [[Aram I]] [[Catholicos of Cilicia]], who resides in [[Antilyas]] in [[Lebanon]], leads churches belonging to the [[Holy See of Cilicia]]. The division stems from frequent relocations of the Church headquarters under Ottoman Rule and was further reinforced during the period in which Armenia was part of the [[Soviet Union]]. However, the Catholicos of All Armenians claims theoretical sovereignty over the Catholicos of Cilicia. The Armenian Apostolic Church is one of a few apostolic churches in the world to have a democratic system; the people decide if they want to keep priests in their churches and may ask for different ones, as do some other ecclesiastical constitutions, such as [[Baptists]] and other [[Congregational]] churches. == Similarities to other churches == [[Liturgy|Liturgically]] speaking, the Church has much more in common with the [[Latin rite]] in its externals, especially as it was at the time of separation, than the [[Eastern Orthodox Churches]]. For example, their bishops wear [[mitre]]s almost identical to those of Western bishops. They usually do not use a full [[iconostasis]], but rather a curtain (which was also used in the West at the time of separation). The liturgical music is [[Armenian chant]]. Armenian priests below the rank of bishop are allowed to be married before ordination and their descendants' surnames are prepended with the prefix "Ter" (or "Der" in Western Armenian), meaning "Lord", to indicate their lineage. == Today == Today there are large Armenian Apostolic congregations in many countries outside [[Armenia]], including [[Russia]], [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]], [[France]], the [[United States]], [[Lebanon]], [[Syria]], [[Canada]], [[Australia]], [[Cyprus]], [[Israel]], [[Greece]], [[Bulgaria]], [[Belgium]], [[Estonia]], [[England]], [[Germany]], [[Italy]], [[Netherlands]], [[Sweden]], [[Switzerland]], [[Argentina]], [[Uruguay]] and others. Of particular importance is the Armenian Apostolic Church of [[Iran]] (see also [[Christians in Iran]]) and the [[Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople]]. Armenians represent the largest Christian ethnic minority in both of these predominantly [[Muslim]] countries. == See also == *[[Eastern Christianity]] *[[List of Catholicoi of Armenia]] *[[Vardapet]]; Armenian doctor-monks ==References== *David Marshall Lang.Armenia: Cradle of Civilization. London:George Allen and Unwin. [[1973]]. ==Notes== {{Reflist}} ==External links== {{portalpar|Armenia|Flag of Armenia.svg}} {{portalpar|Oriental Orthodoxy|ChristCopticArt.jpg}} * [http://www.armenianchurch.org/ The Armenian Church] * http://www.armenianorthodoxchurch.org/ Armenian Orthodox Church Catholicosate of Cilicia * [http://www.armenian-patriarchate.org/ Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem] * [http://www.armenianpatriarchate.org.tr/ Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople] * [http://www.araratian-tem.am/ Araratian Patriarchal Diocese] * [http://www.armenianchurch.ca/ Diocese of the Armenian Church of Canada] * [http://www.armenianchurch.net/ Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)] * [http://www.armenianchurchwd.com/ The Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Western)] * Armenian Apostolic (Orthodox) Church Library Online: [http://www.armenianchurchlibrary.com English] | [http://www.armenianchurchlibrary.com/index-arm.html Armenian] | [http://www.armenianchurchlibrary.com/index-rus.html Russian] * [http://www.stgregoryofnarek.am/ Prayer Book of the Armenian Church] * [http://www.armeniapedia.org/index.php?title=Armenian_Apostolic_Church Armeniapedia – Armenian Apostolic Church] * [http://www.sain.org/Armenian.Church/Index.htm Some information] * [http://mb-soft.com/believe/txn/armenian.htm Basic info] * [http://www.armeniaemb.org/DiscoverArmenia/ArmenianChurch/AllArmenianChurches.htm Embassy of the Republic of Armenia to the US] General Information * [http://www.armeniapedia.org/index.php?title=Worldwide_Armenian_Church_Directory Directory of Armenian Churches Worldwide] Apostolic Churches in Asia * [http://www.apostoliclk.org/ Apostolic Church Sri Lanka] {{Christianity in Europe}} {{Asia in topic|Christianity in}} {{Armenia topics}} {{Oriental Orthodoxy}} [[Category:Armenian Apostolic Church]] [[Category:National churches]] [[Category:Oriental Orthodoxy]] [[Category:301 establishments]] [[Category:Members of the World Council of Churches]] [[ar:كنيسة الأرمن الأرثوذكس]] [[frp:Égllése apostolica armènièna]] [[be-x-old:Армянская апостальская царква]] [[bg:Арменска апостолическа църква]] [[cy:Eglwys Apostolaidd Armenia]] [[de:Armenische Apostolische Kirche]] [[es:Iglesia Apostólica Armenia]] [[fr:Église apostolique arménienne]] [[hy:Հայ Առաքելական Եկեղեցի]] [[hr:Armenska apostolska Crkva]] [[it:Chiesa apostolica armena]] [[lt:Armėnų apaštališkoji bažnyčia]] [[hu:Örmény Apostoli Ortodox Egyház]] [[ml:അര്‍മീനിയന്‍ ഓര്‍ത്തഡോക്സ് സഭ]] [[nl:Armeens-apostolische Kerk]] [[ja:アルメニア教会]] [[pl:Apostolski Kościół Ormiański]] [[pt:Igreja Apostólica Armênia]] [[ru:Армянская апостольская церковь]] [[simple:Armenian Apostolic Church]] [[sl:Armenska apostolska cerkev]] [[sr:Јерменска апостолска црква]] [[fi:Armenian apostolinen kirkko]] [[sv:Armeniska apostoliska kyrkan]] [[tr:Ermeni Apostolik Kilisesi]] [[uk:Вірменська апостольська церква]] [[zh:亚美尼亚使徒教会]]