View source for Armenian Apostolic Church

{{Short description|National church of Armenia}}
{{redirect|Armenian Church}}
{{Infobox Christian denomination
| name               = Armenian Apostolic Church
| native_name        = {{native name|hy|Հայ Առաքելական Եկեղեցի}}
| native_name_lang   = hy
| logo               = [[File:Coat of Arms of the Armenian Apostolic Church.svg]]
| icon               = Armenian Apostolic Church logo.svg
| icon_width         = 100px
| image              = Etchmiadzin 2025-3.jpg
| imagewidth         = 250px
| caption            = [[Etchmiadzin Cathedral]], the mother church of the Armenian Apostolic Church
| type               = [[Autocephaly]]
| main_classification = [[Christianity|Christian]]
| orientation        = [[Oriental Orthodox Churches|Oriental Orthodox]]
| scripture          = [[Septuagint]], [[New Testament]], [[Bible translations into Armenian|Armenian versions]]
| theology           = [[Oriental Orthodox Theology]]
| polity             = [[Episcopal polity|Episcopal]]
| leader_title       = [[Catholicos of All Armenians]]
| leader_name        = [[Karekin II]]
| associations       = [[World Council of Churches]]<ref>[https://www.oikoumene.org/en/member-churches/armenian-apostolic-church-mother-see-of-holy-etchmiadzin Armenian Apostolic Church (Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin)] and [https://www.oikoumene.org/en/member-churches/armenian-apostolic-church-holy-see-of-cilicia Armenian Apostolic Church (Holy See of Cilicia)] in the [[World Council of Churches]]</ref>
| area               = [[Armenia]], [[Armenian diaspora]]
| language           = [[Classical Armenian]]
| liturgy            = [[Armenian Rite]]
| headquarters       = [[Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin]]<ref>{{cite book |last1=Tchilingirian |first1=Hratch |editor1-last=Bayram |editor1-first=Balcı |editor2-last=Motika |editor2-first=Raoul |title=Religion et politique dans le Caucase post-soviétique |date=2007 |publisher=Institut français d’études anatoliennes |isbn=978-2-7068-1967-4 |pages=277–311 |url=https://books.openedition.org/ifeagd/1563?lang=en |quote=The Catholicosate of All Armenians – also known as the “Mother See of Holy Ejmiatsin” – is the supreme ecclesiastical centre of the Church, located in the town of Vagharshapat, 25 km from Yerevan. It is recognised as “preeminent” among the four Hierarchical Sees of the Church}}</ref>
| founder            = [[Gregory the Illuminator]]<br />[[Bartholomew the Apostle]]<br />[[Jude the Apostle|Thaddeus (Jude)]]
| founded_date       = {{circa|1st century}}
| founded_place      = [[Kingdom of Armenia (antiquity)|Kingdom of Armenia]]
| separated_from     = [[Patriarchate of Constantinople]] in the [[Second Council of Dvin]] (554)<ref>{{cite book|last=Panossian|first=Razmik|title=The Armenians: From Kings and Priests to Merchants and Commissars|year=2006|publisher=Columbia University Press|location=New York|isbn=978-0-231-13926-7|author-link=Razmik Panossian|pages=[https://archive.org/details/armeniansfromkin00razm/page/43 43–44]|quote=The Armenian Apostolic Church formally became autocephalous – i.e. independent of external authority – in 554 by severing its links with the patriarchate of Constantinople.|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/armeniansfromkin00razm/page/43}}</ref>
| separations        = [[Armenian Catholic Church]]<br>[[Armenian Evangelical Church]]
| independence       = 610 at the [[Third Council of Dvin]]<ref>{{Cite encyclopedia |author=Erwin Fahlbusch |date=2011 |title=Armenian Apostolic Church |editor=John Mbiti |encyclopedia=The Encyclopedia of Christianity Online |publisher=Brill |doi = 10.1163/2211-2685_eco_a599}}</ref>
| members            = 9 million (self-reported)<ref>{{cite web |title=Catholicos of All Armenians |url = http://www.armenianchurch.org/index.jsp?sid=1&id=16769&pid=1&lng=en |website=armenianchurch.org |publisher=Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin }}</ref>
| other_names        = ''Armenian Church''
| website            = {{URL|http://www.armenianchurch.org/}}
}}
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{{Oriental Orthodox sidebar}}
{{Armenians}}
}}
The '''Armenian Apostolic Church''' ({{langx|hy|Հայ Առաքելական Եկեղեցի|translit=Hay Aṙaqelakan Ékełetsi}}){{NoteTag|Officially {{Transliteration|hy|Hayastaniayts Aṙakʼelakan Surb Yekeghetsi}} ({{lang|hy|Հայաստանեայց Առաքելական Սուրբ Եկեղեցի}})<ref>{{cite web |title="ՀԱՅԱՍՏԱՆՅԱՅՑ ԱՌԱՔԵԼԱԿԱՆ ՍՈՒՐԲ ԵԿԵՂԵՑԻ" ԿԿ – HAYASTANYAYC ARAQELAKAN SURB YEKEGHECI RO |url=https://www.e-register.am/en/companies/215169 |website=e-register.am |publisher=Electronic Register. Government of the Republic of Armenia}}</ref>}} is the [[Autocephaly|autocephalous]] [[national church]] of [[Armenia]]. Part of [[Oriental Orthodoxy]], it is one of the most ancient [[Christianity|Christian]] churches.<ref>{{cite book |title = The Antiquities of the Christian Church |page = 466 |first1 = Johann Christian Wilhelm |last1 = Augusti |first2 = Georg Friedrich Heinrich |last2 = Rheinwald |first3 = Carl Christian Friedrich |last3 = Siegel }}</ref> The Armenian Apostolic Church uses the [[Armenian Rite]]. The [[Kingdom of Armenia (antiquity)|Kingdom of Armenia]] was the first state in history to adopt Christianity as its official religion (under the Armenian Apostolic traditions) during the rule of [[Tiridates III of Armenia|King Tiridates III]], of the [[Arsacid dynasty of Armenia|Arsacid dynasty]] in the early 4th century.<ref>{{cite book |publisher = Basic Books |isbn = 978-0-465-09473-8 |last = Scott |first = Michael |title = Ancient Worlds: A Global History of Antiquity |date = 2016-11-01 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |first = René |last=Grousset |title = Histoire de l'Arménie |language = fr |publisher=Payot |orig-date=1947 |year=1984 |page = 122 }}. Estimated dates vary from 284 to 314. Garsoïan (''op.cit.'' p.&nbsp;82), following the research of Ananian, favours the latter.</ref>

According to tradition, the church originated in the missions of Apostles [[Bartholomew the Apostle|Bartholomew]] and [[Jude the Apostle|Thaddeus (Jude)]] in the 1st century. St. [[Gregory the Illuminator]] was the first official [[primate (bishop)|primate]] of the church. It is sometimes referred to as the '''Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church''', '''Armenian Church''' or '''Armenian Gregorian Church'''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=HISTORY |url=https://www.armenian-church.eu/en/history/ |access-date=2023-01-30 |website=ՀԱՅ ԱՌԱՔԵԼԱԿԱՆ ԵԿԵՂԵՑՈՒ Արևմտյան Եվրոպայի Հայրապետական Պատվիրակություն |language=en-us}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=History of the Armenian Church |url=https://armenianprelacy.org/education/church-history/ |access-date=2023-01-30 |website=Armenian Prelacy |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Armenian Apostolic Church (Holy See of Cilicia) |url=https://www.oikoumene.org/member-churches/armenian-apostolic-church-holy-see-of-cilicia |access-date=2023-01-30 |website=World Council of Churches |date=January 1962 |language=en}}</ref>

The Armenian Apostolic Church should not be confused with the fully distinct [[Armenian Catholic Church]], which is an [[Eastern Catholic Churches|Eastern Catholic Church]] in communion with the [[Holy See|See of Rome]].<ref name="Rome">{{cite web |title= Armenian Synod elects new Catholicos-Patriarch of Cilicia |date= 23 September 2021 |publisher=[[Vatican News]] |url= https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2021-09/armenian-synod-elects-new-catholicos-patriarch-of-cilicia.html |access-date=6 January 2022}}</ref>

== History ==
=== Origins and early church history ===
The Armenian Apostolic Church believes in [[apostolic succession]] through the apostles [[Bartholomew the Apostle|Bartholomew]]<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8WPfEAAAQBAJ |title=The Martyrdom of St. Bartholomew: Greek, Arabic, and Armenian Versions |isbn=979-8-8689-5147-3 |last1=Curtin|first1=D. P.|last2=Lewis|first2=A.S.|date=January 2014|publisher =Dalcassian Publishing Company}}</ref> and [[Jude the Apostle|Thaddeus (Jude)]].<ref name="Gilman">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UGpr2KsbS94C|title=Christians in Asia before 1500|access-date=5 March 2015|isbn=978-1-136-10978-2|last1=Gilman|first1=Ian|last2=Klimkeit|first2=Hans-Joachim|date=2013-01-11|publisher=Routledge}}</ref><ref name="Jacob">{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/briefhistoricals00jaco|title=A Brief Historical Sketch of the Holy Apostolic Church of Armenia|publisher=H. Liddell|access-date=5 March 2015|last1=Jacob|first1=P. H.|year=1895}}</ref><ref name="Issaverdenz">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UuvefaWK948C|title=The Armenian Church|access-date=5 March 2015|last1=Issaverdenz|first1=Jacques|year=1877}}</ref> According to tradition, the latter of the two apostles is said to have cured [[Abgar V]] of [[Osroene|Edessa]] of leprosy with the [[Image of Edessa]], leading to his conversion in AD 30. Thaddaeus was then commissioned by Abgar to proselytize throughout Armenia, where he converted King [[Sanatruk]]'s daughter, who was eventually [[martyr]]ed alongside Thaddeus when Sanatruk later fell into [[apostasy]]. After this, Bartholomew came to Armenia, bringing a portrait of the [[Mary (mother of Jesus)|Virgin Mary]], which he placed in a [[nun]]nery he founded over a former temple of [[Anahit]]. Bartholomew then converted the sister of Sanatruk, who once again martyred a female relative and the apostle who converted her. Both apostles ordained native bishops before their execution, and some other Armenians had been ordained outside of Armenia by [[James the Just]].<ref name="Jacob" /><ref name="Issaverdenz" /> Scholars including [[Bart D. Ehrman|Bart Ehrman]], Han J.W. Drijvers, and [[Walter Bauer]] dismiss the conversion of [[Abgar V]]<ref>Ehrman: ''Forgery and Counterforgery'', pp455–458</ref> as fiction.

According to [[Eusebius]] and [[Tertullian]], Armenian Christians were persecuted by kings [[Axidares of Armenia|Axidares]], [[Khosrov I of Armenia|Khosrov I]], and [[Tiridates III of Armenia|Tiridates III]], the last of whom was converted to Christianity by [[Gregory the Illuminator]].<ref name="Gilman" /> [[Kingdom of Armenia (antiquity)|Ancient Armenia]] was the first state to adopt [[Christianity]] as a [[state religion]], which has been referred to by [[Nina Garsoïan]] as "probably the most crucial step in its history."<ref name="Garsoïan">"The Aršakuni Dynasty (A.D. 12–[180?]–428)" by Nina Garsoïan, in ''Armenian People from Ancient to Modern Times'', ed. R.G. Hovannisian, Palgrave Macmillan, 1997, Volume 1, p. 81.</ref> This conversion distinguished it from its [[History of Iran|Iranian]] and [[Zoroastrianism|Mazdean]] roots and protected it from further [[Parthian Empire|Parthian]] influence.<ref name="Gilman" /><ref name="Garsoïan" /> According to [[Mary Boyce]], the acceptance of Christianity by the Arsacid-Armenian rulers was partly in defiance of the [[Sassanids]].<ref>Mary Boyce. [https://books.google.com/books?id=a6gbxVfjtUEC&dq=armenians+zoroastrianism+christianity&pg=PA84 ''Zoroastrians: Their Religious Beliefs and Practices''] Psychology Press, 2001 {{ISBN|0-415-23902-8}} p. 84.</ref>

When King Tiridates III made Christianity the state religion of Armenia between 300 and 301, it was not an entirely new religion there. It had penetrated the country from at least the third century, and may have been present even earlier.<ref name="maarten">{{cite journal|last=van Lint|first=Theo Maarten|title=The Formation of Armenian Identity in the First Millenium|journal=Church History and Religious Culture|date=2009|volume=89 |issue=1/3|page=269}}</ref>

Tiridates declared Gregory to be the first ''[[Catholicos]]'' of the Armenian Apostolic Church and sent him to [[Kayseri|Caesarea]] to be consecrated. Upon his return, Gregory tore down shrines to idols, built churches and monasteries, and ordained many [[priest]]s and [[bishop]]s. While meditating in the old capital city of [[Vagharshapat]], Gregory had a vision of Christ descending to the earth and striking it with a hammer. From that spot arose a great Christian temple with a huge cross. He was convinced that God intended him to build the main Armenian church there. With the king's help he did so in accordance with his vision, renaming the city [[Etchmiadzin]], which means "the place of the descent of the [[Monogenēs|Only-Begotten]]".<ref>See Drasxanakertci, ''History of Armenia'', 78ff; Atiya, ''History of Eastern Christianity'', 316ff; Narbey, ''A Catechism of Christian Instruction According to the Doctrine of the Armenian Church'', 88ff.</ref>

Initially, the Armenian Apostolic Church participated in the larger Christian world and was subordinated to the Bishop of Caesarea.{{sfn|Dočkal|1940b|p=186}} Its catholicos was represented at the [[First Council of Nicea]] (325). [[St. Vrtanes I]], the third [[Catholicos]] of the Armenian Apostolic Church (333–341), sent a letter with specific questions to [[Macarius of Jerusalem|Macarius]], the [[Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem#Bishops of Jerusalem|Orthodox Bishop of Jerusalem]] (312–335/36), taken to [[Jerusalem]] by a delegation of Armenian priests on the occasion of the [[Encaenia]], in dedication of the [[Church of the Holy Sepulchre]] in September 335. In Macarius's letter to the [[Armenians]] in 335, it seeks to correct irregularities in the initiation rites of [[baptism]] and the [[eucharist]] in use in the [[Armenian Church]] by articulating the practices in Jerusalem. In so doing, it reveals the divergent forms being practiced in [[Armenia]], which have strong echoes of old [[East Syriac Rite]]. [[Orthopraxy]] was conceived by [[Vrtanes]] and his Armenian colleagues in terms of liturgical performance in Jerusalem. In 353, King [[Pap of Armenia|Papas (Pap)]] appointed Catholicos [[St. Husik I|Husik]] without first sending him to Caesarea for commissioning.<ref>Drasxanakertci, ''History of Armenia'', 86–87.</ref> The Armenian catholicos was still represented at the [[First Council of Constantinople]] (381).

As Gregory was consecrated by the bishop of Caesarea, he also accepted the [[Byzantine Rite]]. However, the Armenian Church, due to the influence of the Church in [[Edessa]], the large presence of [[Assyrian people|Syriacs]] in Armenia, as well as the number of Syriac priests that arrived in Armenia with Gregory, also cultivated the [[West Syriac Rite|West Syriac]] or Antiochian Rite. Since Armenians at the time did not have an alphabet, its clergy learned [[Greek language|Greek]] and [[Syriac language|Syriac]]. From this synthesis, the new [[Armenian Rite]] came about, which had similarities both with the Byzantine and the [[Antioch]]ian Syriac rite.{{sfn|Dočkal|1940b|pp=186–187}}

=== Expansion of Armenian Christian identity ===
Christianity was strengthened in Armenia in the 5th century by the translation of the [[Bible]] into the [[Armenian language]] by the native [[theologian]], [[monk]], and [[scholarly method|scholar]], Saint [[Mesrop Mashtots]]. Before the 5th century, Armenians had a spoken language, but no script. Thus, the Bible and [[liturgy]] were written in the [[Greek language|Greek]] or Syriac scripts until [[Isaac of Armenia|Catholicos Sahak Part'ew]] commissioned Mesrop to create the [[Armenian alphabet]], which he completed in {{circa|405}}. Subsequently, the Bible and liturgy were translated into Armenian and written in the new script. The translation of the Bible, along with works of history, [[literature]] and [[philosophy]], caused a flowering of Armenian literature and a broader cultural renaissance.<ref>Atiya, ''History of Eastern Christianity'', 424-26.</ref>

Although unable to attend the [[First Council of Ephesus|Council of Ephesus]] (431), Catholicos [[Isaac of Armenia|Isaac Parthiev]] (Sahak Part'ew) sent a message agreeing with its decisions.<ref>Narbey, ''A Catechism of Christian Instruction According to the Doctrine of the Armenian Church'', 86–87.</ref> However, non-doctrinal elements in the [[Council of Chalcedon]] (451) caused certain problems to arise.

[[Miaphysitism]] spread from [[Roman Syria|Syria]] to Armenia, from where it came to [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]] and [[Caucasian Albania]].{{sfn|Dočkal|1940a|p=114}}

In 609–610, the [[Third Council of Dvin]] was convened during the reign of Catholicos Abraham I of Aghbatank and Prince [[Smbat IV Bagratuni|Smbat Bagratuni]], with clergymen and laymen participating. The Georgian Church disagreed with the Armenian Church, having approved the [[Christology]] of Chalcedon. This council was convened to clarify the relationship between the Armenian and Georgian churches. After the council, Catholicos Abraham wrote an encyclical letter addressed to the people, blaming Catholicos [[Kirion I|Kurion]] of the Georgian Church and his adherents for the schism. The council never set up canons; it only deprived Georgians from taking [[Eucharist|communion]] in the Armenian Church.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|url= https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/35284/Armenian-Apostolic-Church|title=Armenian Apostolic Church|encyclopedia= Encyclopædia Britannica|access-date=5 March 2015}}</ref>{{request quotation|date=July 2023}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://66.208.37.78/index.jsp?sid=1&id=4094&pid=59&lng=en |title=Armenian Church Councils |access-date=2010-02-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110425003403/http://66.208.37.78/index.jsp?sid=1&id=4094&pid=59&lng=en |archive-date=2011-04-25 | quote = The 3rd Council of Dvin was convened during the reign of Catholicos Abraham I of Aghbatank and Prince Smbat Bagratooni, with clergymen and laymen participating. The Georgian Church was split from the Armenian Church and the Catholicos had repeatedly tried to turn to Catholicos Kurion of the Georgian Church. The council was convened to clarify the relationship of the Armenian Church towards the Georgian Church. After the Council, Catholicos Abraham wrote an encyclical letter addressed to the people where he blamed Kurion and his adherents for the split. The Council never set up canons; it only deprived Georgians from taking communion in the Armenian Church. }}</ref>

=== Attempted reunion with the Greeks and Romans ===
By 862, the Armenian Apostolic Church and the [[Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch]] held the [[Council of Shirakavan]] with the Eastern Orthodox Church. The purpose of the council was to seek Christian unity and clarify Christological positions.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Kazaryan |first=Gevorg |date=2020-01-01 |title=ԳԵՎՈՐԳ ՂԱԶԱՐՅԱՆ ՇԻՐԱԿԱՎԱՆԻ ԺՈՂՈՎԻ ՊԱՏՄԱԿԱՆ ՆՇԱՆԱԿՈՒԹՅՈՒՆԸ |url=https://www.academia.edu/44712069 |journal=Երևան, Գիտություն}}</ref> Later in the 12th century, the Armenians held the [[Council of Hromkla]] to finalize an attempted reunion with the [[Eastern Orthodox Church]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Karekin |first=I. |date=1999 |title=Ecumenical Trends in the Armenian Church |url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1758-6623.1999.tb00377.x |journal=The Ecumenical Review |language=en |volume=51 |issue=1 |pages=31–39 |doi=10.1111/j.1758-6623.1999.tb00377.x |issn=1758-6623|url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=History of Armenia by Vahan Kurkjian • Chapter 38 |url=https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Gazetteer/Places/Asia/Armenia/_Texts/KURARM/38*.html |access-date=2025-06-06 |website=penelope.uchicago.edu}}</ref>

During the 15th century, the Armenian Church participated in the [[Council of Basel-Ferrara-Florence]], which was an effort amongst the [[Roman Catholics]], the Eastern Orthodox, and the [[Oriental Orthodox Churches]] at achieving unity.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ecumenical Council of Florence (1438–1445) |url=https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/library/ecumenical-council-of-florence-1438-1445-1461 |access-date=2025-06-06 |website=EWTN Global Catholic Television Network |language=en}}</ref> None of these councils resulted in any lasting, permanent reunification amongst the various Christian churches.

=== Russian and Ottoman persecution ===
By 1903, the [[Tsarist autocracy|Tsarist]] government of the [[Russian Empire]] moved to confiscate the property of the Armenian Church,<ref>{{cite book |last= Borrero |first= Mauricio |year= 2009 |orig-date= 2004 |chapter= Chronology |title= Russia: A Reference Guide from the Renaissance to the Present |series= European Nations Series |location= New York |publisher= Infobase Publishing |page= 417 |isbn= 978-0-8160-7475-4 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=dhm0cGdrTOIC |access-date= 8 July 2023 |quote= 1903 [...] Property of Armenian Church confiscated.}}</ref> only to be returned by 1905.

During the [[First World War]], the Armenian Church suffered persecution from the [[Ottoman Empire]]. The [[Armenian genocide]] occurred during the war, and both clergy and laity were persecuted and murdered in an effort to [[ethnically cleanse]] the region.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Payaslian |first=Simon |date=2006-09-01 |title=The Destruction of the Armenian Church during the Genocide |url=https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/gsp/vol1/iss2/6 |journal=Genocide Studies and Prevention|volume=1 |issue=2 |pages=149–172 |doi=10.3138/Y3J1-230U-RU33-557K |issn=1911-0359}}</ref> During and after the Armenian genocide, the [[Armenian diaspora]] spread, bringing Armenian Apostolic Christianity with them.

On April 23, 2015, the Armenian Apostolic Church [[canonization|canonized]] all the victims of the Armenian genocide; this service is believed to be the largest canonization service in history.<ref>{{cite web|last=Davlashyan |first=Naira |url=https://news.yahoo.com/armenian-church-canonise-1-5-million-genocide-victims-075841925.html |title=Armenian Church makes saints of 1.5 million genocide victims – Yahoo News |publisher=News.yahoo.com |access-date=2015-04-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.panarmenian.net/eng/news/191101/ |title=Armenian Genocide victims canonized in Holy Etchmiadzin |publisher=Panarmenian.Net |access-date=2015-04-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.armenianow.com/genocide/62740/armenia_genocide_martyrs_victims_canonization_church_echmiadzin |title=Canonized: Armenian Church proclaims collective martyrdom of Genocide victims – Genocide |publisher=ArmeniaNow.com |access-date=2015-04-23 |archive-date=2020-07-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200729171436/https://www.armenianow.com/genocide/62740/armenia_genocide_martyrs_victims_canonization_church_echmiadzin }}</ref> Approximately 1.5 million is the most frequently published number of victims, however, estimates vary from 700,000 to 1,800,000. It was the first canonization by the Armenian Apostolic Church in four hundred years.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://risu.org.ua/en/index/all_news/orthodox/armenian_ac/59027/ |title=After 400 years, new saints for the Armenian Church |publisher=Risu.org.ua |access-date=2015-04-23}}</ref>

==Doctrine==

=== Miaphysitism ===
Like all [[Oriental Orthodox]] churches, the Armenian Church has been historically referred to as [[Miaphysitism|miaphysis]] by both Roman Catholic and [[Eastern Orthodox]] theologians because it rejected the decisions of the [[Council of Chalcedon]], which condemned the belief of one incarnate nature of Christ ([[Monophysitism|monophysis]]) by Eutyches. This formula is not followed by the Armenian church instead the church adheres to Miaphysitism which is different. The Armenian Church officially severed ties with [[Patriarch of Rome|Rome]] and [[Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople|Constantinople]] in 610, during the Third Council of Dvin where the [[Chalcedonian Christianity|Chalcedonian]] [[dyophysite]] christological formula was rejected.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Items – Architecture and Asceticism |url=https://architectureandasceticism.exeter.ac.uk/items/browse?tags=Church+Council |access-date=2025-06-07 |website=architectureandasceticism.exeter.ac.uk |language=en-US}}</ref>

However, again like other Oriental Orthodox,<ref>{{cite web| url =http://www.ninesaintsethiopianorthodoxmonastery.org/id21.html| title =The Issue Between Monophysitism and Dyophysitism| publisher =Nine Saints Ethiopian Orthodox Monastery| access-date =28 January 2011| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20110126005953/http://www.ninesaintsethiopianorthodoxmonastery.org/id21.html| archive-date =26 January 2011}}</ref> the Armenian Apostolic Church argues that the identification as "monophysitism" is an incorrect description of its position.<ref name="Ecumenical Councils">{{cite web | url =http://www.armenianchurch.org/index.jsp?sid=1&id=4093&pid=59 | title =Ecumenical Councils | publisher = Official website of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin | access-date = 28 January 2011}}</ref> It considers the doctrine as taught by [[Eutyches]] and condemned at Chalcedon a heresy and disagrees with the formula defined by the Council of Chalcedon.<ref name="Ecumenical Councils" /> The Armenian Church instead adheres to the doctrine defined by [[Cyril of Alexandria]], considered as a saint by the [[Council of Chalcedon|Chalcedonian churches]] as well, who described Christ as being of one incarnate nature, where both divine and human nature are united (miaphysis). To distinguish this from Eutychian and other versions of monophysitism this position is called [[miaphysitism]].{{sfn|Winkler|1997|p=33–40}}{{sfn|Brock|2016|p=45–52}} Whereas the prefix "mono-" (< [[Greek language|Greek]] μονο- < μόνος) means "single, alone, only",<ref>{{OEtymD|mono-}}</ref><ref>{{LSJ|mo/nos|μόνος|ref}}.</ref> thus emphasising the singular nature of Christ, "mia" (μία "one" <small>FEM</small>),<ref>{{LSJ|ei({{=}}s|μία|shortref}}.</ref> simply means "one" unemphatically, and allows for a compound nature.

Ecumenically, the Armenian and Roman churches established a common Christological declaration.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1996-12-13 |title=Common Declaration of Pope John Paul II and Catholicos Karekin I |url=https://www.christianunity.va/content/unitacristiani/it/dialoghi/sezione-orientale/chiese-ortodosse-orientali/relazioni-bilaterali/chiesa-apostolica-armena/chiesa-apostolica-armena--sede-di-etchmiadzin--armenia-/dichiarazioni-comuni/1996-giovanni-paolo-ii-e-karekin-i/testo-in-inglese.html |access-date=2025-06-06 |website=Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity}}</ref> This was also done by the Coptic, Syriac Orthodox, and Malankara Orthodox churches.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Priest in dialogue group thinks Copt decision is temporary |url=https://aleteia.org/2024/03/24/priest-in-dialogue-group-thinks-copt-decision-is-temporary/ |access-date=2025-06-06 |website=Aleteia — Catholic Spirituality, Lifestyle, World News, and Culture |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=1990-06-30 |title=Declaration of the Joint International Commission Between the Roman Catholic Church and the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church |url=https://www.christianunity.va/content/unitacristiani/en/dialoghi/sezione-orientale/chiese-ortodosse-orientali/relazioni-bilaterali/chiesa-malankarese-siro-ortodossa/joint-international-commission-between-the-roman-catholic-church/declarations-of-agreement/en.html |access-date=2025-06-06 |website=Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity |language=en}}</ref>

=== Women in ministry ===
The Armenian Church does not ordain women to the priesthood.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aiwa-net.org/Karekin.html |title=Ambitious International Women's Association |access-date=5 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120222144720/http://www.aiwa-net.org/Karekin.html |archive-date=22 February 2012 }}</ref> Historically, however, monastic women have been ordained as deacons within a convent environment.<ref>
{{cite book|last = Oghlukian|first = Abel|translator=Cowe, Peter |title = The Deaconess in the Armenian Church|publisher = St. Nersess Press|year = 1994|location = New York|page = 59|isbn = 978-1-885011-00-8}}
</ref> When ordained to the diaconate, "men and women are ordained to the diaconate using the same rite, with both having functions of chanting the Gospel and serving in the Divine Liturgy."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-02-11 |title=Would Female Deacons Unite or Separate Catholics From the Orthodox? |url=https://www.ncregister.com/news/would-female-deacons-unite-or-separate-catholics-from-the-orthodox |access-date=2024-04-30 |website=NCR |language=en}}</ref> Monastic women deacons generally do not minister in traditional parish churches or cathedrals, although the late Sister Hripseme did minister and serve during public liturgies, including in the United States.<ref>
{{cite journal|last = Zagano|first = Phyllis|title = Catholic women's ordination: the ecumenical implications of women deacons in the Armenian Apostolic Church, the Orthodox Church of Greece, and the Union of Utrecht Old Catholic Churches|journal = Journal of Ecumenical Studies|volume=43|issue=1|pages=124–137|year=2008|url=http://journal.jesdialogue.org/back_issues/volume_43_2008/|issn=0022-0558}}</ref> The Armenian Church's last monastic deaconess was Sister Hripsime Sasounian (died in 2007) and on 25 September 2017, Ani-Kristi Manvelian, a twenty-four-year-old woman, was ordained in Tehran's St. Sarkis Mother Church as the first parish deaconess after many centuries.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Tchilingirian|first=Hratch|date=2018-01-16|title=Historic Ordination: Tehran Prelacy of the Armenian Church Ordains Deaconess|url=https://armenianweekly.com/2018/01/16/historic-ordination-tehran-diocese-armenian-church-ordains-deaconess/|access-date=2020-12-06|website=The Armenian Weekly|language=en-US}}</ref>

Women also serve as [[altar server|altar girls]] and lay readers, especially when a parish is so small that not enough boys or men are regularly available to serve.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Piligian |first=Stepan |date=2019-05-23 |title=Women and the Armenian Church: Breaking the Patriarchal Barriers |url=https://armenianweekly.com/2019/05/23/women-and-the-armenian-church-breaking-the-patriarchal-barriers/ |access-date=2024-04-30 |website=The Armenian Weekly |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Nikoghosyan |first=Verzhine |date=2015-05-22 |title=Women in the Armenian Church: Where Are They? |url=https://thearmenite.com/2015/05/where-are-the-women-armenian-church-verzhine-nikoghosyan/ |access-date=2024-04-30 |website=The Armenite |language=en-US}}</ref> Women commonly serve the church in the choir and at the organ, on parish councils, as volunteers for church events, fundraisers, and Sunday schools, as supporters through Women's Guilds, and as staff members in church offices. In the case of a married priest (''Der Hayr''), the wife of the priest generally plays an active role in the parish and is addressed by the title ''Yeretzgin''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 9, 2017 |title=YERETZGIN MARINE ZULOYAN'S EXHIBITION |url=https://www.wdacna.com/news/685/Yeretzgin-Marine-Zuloyan's-Exhibition |website=Western Diocese of the Armenian Church}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-11-26 |title=Church History |url=https://stjohnarmenianchurch.com/church-history |access-date=2024-04-30 |website=St. John |language=en}}</ref>

==Structure and leadership==
According to ''The Armenian Church'' by [[Theodore Edward Dowling|Archdeacon Dowling]] published in 1910, the Armenian Apostolic Church was composed of four patriarchal provinces, comprising at that date seventy-two, six, and two dioceses in [[Ottoman Empire|Turkey]], [[Russian Empire|Russia]], and [[Iran]], respectively.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Dowling |first=Theodore Edward |title=The Armenian Church |url=https://archive.org/details/armenianchurch00dowl |publisher=Society For Promoting Christian Knowledge |year=1910 |location=New York |page=[https://archive.org/details/armenianchurch00dowl/page/20 20]}}</ref>

===Two catholicosates===
[[File:Gregory the Illuminator mosaic in Hagia Sophia by Wilhelm Salzenberg.jpg|thumb|[[Gregory the Illuminator]], first [[Catholicos of All Armenians]]]]The Armenian Apostolic Church currently has two [[Episcopal see|sees]]. First, there is the [[Catholicos of All Armenians]] residing in [[Etchmiadzin]], [[Armenia]], at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. Second, there is the [[Holy See of Cilicia|Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia]], headquartered since 1930 in [[Antelias]], [[Lebanon]].

The [[Armenian Catholic Church]] is completely distinct from the Armenian Apostolic Church and is headed by its own Patriarch-Catholicos.<ref name=Rome/> The Armenian Catholic Church is also in full communion with the [[Holy See of Rome]] as one of the autonomous [[Eastern Catholic Churches]].

===Two patriarchates===
[[File:Tatev Monastery Armenia Syunik.jpg|thumb|Tatev Monastery in Armenia, Syunik]]The Armenian Apostolic Church has two patriarchates of high authority, both under the jurisdiction of the [[Catholicos of All Armenians]]:

*[[File:Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem Armenian Quarter (10804744755).jpg|thumb|[[Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem]]]]The [[Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem]] ({{langx|hy|Առաքելական Աթոռ Սրբոց Յակովբեանց Յերուսաղեմ, literally Apostolic Seat of St. James in Jerusalem}}), whose seat is in the [[Armenian Quarter]] of [[Jerusalem]]. It is headed since 2013 by the Patriarch of Jerusalem, Archbishop [[Nourhan Manougian]].
*The [[Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople]] ({{langx|hy|Պատրիարքութիւն Հայոց Կոստանդնուպոլսոյ}}) and All of Turkey, which has jurisdiction in the modern-day Republic of Turkey. Its seat is in Istanbul, Turkey and is headed since 2019 by the Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople, Archbishop [[Sahak II Mashalian]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.armenianchurch.org/index.jsp?sid=3&nid=4263&y=2019&m=11&d=12|title=Catholicos of All Armenians Congratulated Newly Appointed Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople|access-date=5 January 2020}}</ref>

===Eparchies under the Catholicos of All Armenians===
The following are eparchies primarily attached to the Catholicosate of All Armenia at the Mother See of the Holy Etchmiadzin:<ref name=LoD>[http://armchurch.ru/eparhii/ List of eparchies]. Armenian Apostolic Church (Russia and New Nakhichevan eparchy).</ref>

====Armenia====
{{div col}}
* [[Diocese of Aragatsotn|Aragatsotn eparchy]]<ref name=LoD/>
* Diocese of Armavir<ref name=LoD/>
* [[Araratian Pontifical Diocese|Ararat Patriarchal eparchy]]<ref name=LoD/>
* [[Diocese of Artik|Artik eparchy]]<ref name=LoD/>
* [[Diocese of Gegharkounik|Gegharkunik eparchy]]<ref name=LoD/>
* [[Diocese of Gougark|Gougark eparchy]]<ref name=LoD/>
* [[Diocese of Kotayk|Kotayk eparchy]]<ref name=LoD/>
* [[Diocese of Shirak|Shirak eparchy]]<ref name=LoD/>
* [[Diocese of Syunik|Syunik eparchy]]<ref name=LoD/>
* [[Diocese of Tavush|Tavush eparchy]]<ref name=LoD/>
* [[Diocese of Vayots Dzor|Vayots Dzor eparchy]]<ref name=LoD/>
* [[Diocese of Artsakh|Artsakh eparchy]]<ref name=LoD/>
{{div col end}}

====Dioceses/exarchates of the diaspora====
;Europe
{{div col}}
*[[Armenian Diocese of Russia and New Nakhichevan|Diocese of Russia and New Nakhichevan]]<ref name=LoD/>
*[[Armenian Diocese of Southern Russia|Diocese of Southern Russia]]<ref name=LoD/>
*[[Armenian Diocese of Ukraine|Diocese of Ukraine]]<ref name=LoD/>
*Exarchate of Central Europe<ref name=LoD/>
*Exarchate of Western Europe<ref name=LoD/>
*Diocese of Georgia<ref name=LoD/>
*Diocese of Romania<ref name=LoD/>
*Diocese of Bulgaria<ref name=LoD/>
*Diocese of Greece<ref name=LoD/>
*Diocese of Germany<ref name=LoD/>
*Diocese of Switzerland<ref name=LoD/>
*Diocese of France<ref name=LoD/>
*Diocese of Great Britain and Ireland<ref name=LoD/>
;Middle East
*Diocese of Egypt<ref name=LoD/>
;New World
*Diocese of Canada<ref name=LoD/>
*Western Diocese (USA)<ref name=LoD/>
*Eastern Diocese (USA)<ref name=LoD/>
*Diocese of Australia and New Zealand<ref name=LoD/>
*Diocese of Argentina<ref name=LoD/>
*Diocese of Uruguay<ref name=LoD/>
{{div col end}}
[[File:Armenian Church Madras.jpg|thumb|Armenian Church in [[Madras]], India, constructed in 1712]]

=== Dioceses under the Catholicos of Cilicia ===
[[File:Armenian Church Structure.jpg|thumb|Procession of Armenian priests.]]The following are current dioceses of the Catholicosate of Cilicia:<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.armenianorthodoxchurch.org/%D5%AF%D5%A1%D5%BA%D5%A5%D6%80 | title=Մայր էջ }}</ref>
{{div col}}
*[[Armenian Apostolic Diocese of Lebanon|Armenian Prelacy of Lebanon]], based in [[Beirut]]
*[[Armenian Diocese of Beroea|Armenian Prelacy of Aleppo]], based in [[Aleppo]]
*{{ill|Armenian Prelacy of Jezireh|hy|Ջեզիրեի թեմ}}, based in [[Qamishli]]
*[[Armenian Apostolic Diocese of Isfahan and Southern Iran|Armenian Prelacy of Isfahan]], based in [[New Julfa]]
*[[Armenian Apostolic Diocese of Atrpatakan|Armenian Prelacy of Atrpatakan]], in [[Tabriz]]
*{{ill|Armenian Prelacy of Tehran|hy|Թեհրանի թեմ}}, based in [[Tehran]] ([[Saint Sarkis Cathedral, Tehran|Saint Sarkis Cathedral]])
*{{ill|Armenian Prelacy of Kuwait & Neighboring Countries|hy|Քուվեյթի և Արաբական ծոցի երկրների թեմ}}, based in [[Kuwait City]]
*Armenian Prelacy of the [[UAE|United Arab Emirates]] and [[Qatar]], based in [[Abu Dhabi]]
*[[Armenian Diocese of Cyprus|Armenian Prelacy of Cyprus]], based in [[Nicosia]]
*Armenian Prelacy of Greece, based in [[Athens]]
*[[Armenian Prelacy of Canada]], based in [[Montreal]]
*{{ill|Armenian Prelacy of the Eastern United States|hy|Հյուսիսային Ամերիկայի արևելյան թեմ}}, based in [[Manhattan, New York]]
*{{ill|Armenian Prelacy of the Western United States|hy|Հյուսիսային Ամերիկայի արևմտյան թեմ}}, based in [[Sunland-Tujunga, Los Angeles]]
*Armenian Prelacy of [[Venezuela]], based in [[Caracas]]
{{div col end}}

===Former dioceses as of 1915 ===
Source:<ref>{{cite web | url=https://archive.org/details/thechurchofarmen00ormauoft/page/n279/mode/2up | title=The Church of Armenia: Her history, doctrine, rule, discipline, liturgy, literature, and existing condition | date=1912 }}</ref>
{{div col}}
*{{ill|Armenian Prelacy of Sis|hy|Սիսի թեմ}}, based in [[Kozan, Adana|Kozan]]
*{{ill|Armenian Prelacy of Adana|hy|Ադանայի թեմ}}, based in [[Adana]]
*Armenian Prelacy of Hadjin, based in [[Saimbeyli]]
*Armenian Prelacy of Payas, based in [[Payas]]
*Armenian Prelacy of Germanik or Marash, based in [[Kahramanmaraş]]
*{{ill|Armenian Prelacy of Ulnia or Zeytun|hy|Զեյթունի թեմ}}, based in [[Süleymanlı]]
*Armenian Prelacy of Firnouze, based in Fırnız
*{{ill|Armenian Prelacy of Aintab|hy|Այնթապի թեմ}}, based in [[Gaziantep]]
*Armenian Prelacy of Antiok, based in [[Antakya]]
*{{ill|Armenian Prelacy of Malatia|hy|Մալաթիայի թեմ}}, based in [[Malatya]]
*Armenian Prelacy of Yozghat, based in [[Yozgat]]
*Armenian Prelacy of Gyurin, based in [[Gürün]]
*Armenian Prelacy of Tevrik, based in [[Divriği]]
*Armenian Prelacy of Daranda, based in [[Darende]]
{{div col end}}

=== Military chaplaincy ===
{{external media|float=right|width=250px|video1=[https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=U92xvTq65Rc Chaplaincy Program in the Armenian Army (Preparations For the Parade)]}}The [[Army Chaplaincy Program of the Armenian Church]] was created to serve the Christian population of Armenia. It is made up of more than 50 clergymen serving as [[military chaplain]]s to the [[Armed Forces of Armenia]]. They organize various religious programs in the military, including delivering lectures and prayers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://horizonweekly.ca/en/76334-2/,%20https://horizonweekly.ca/en/76334-2/|title=The Army Chaplaincy Program of the Armenian Church|date=November 13, 2015|website=horizonweekly.ca}}</ref>

==Jurisdiction==
=== In Armenia ===
[[File:2014 Erywań, Katedra św. Grzegorza Oświeciciela (05).jpg|thumb|[[Saint Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral, Yerevan|Saint Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in Yerevan]] is the largest Armenian Apostolic church in the world]]
The status of the Armenian Apostolic Church within Armenia is defined in [[Constitution of Armenia|the country's constitution]]. Article 8.1 of the Constitution of Armenia states: "The Republic of Armenia recognizes the exclusive historical mission of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church as a national church, in the spiritual life, development of the national culture and preservation of the national identity of the people of Armenia." Among others, ethnographer [[Hranush Kharatyan]] has questioned the constitutionality of the phrase "national church".<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/C0YoJwgRqsI Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20150528053556/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0YoJwgRqsI Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web|title=Կրոն և աղանդ. Հովհաննես Հովհաննիսյան, Հրանուշ Խառատյան|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0YoJwgRqsI|publisher=Boon TV on [[YouTube]]|language=hy|date=7 February 2015}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

In 2009, further constitutional amendments were drafted that would make it a crime for non-traditional religious groups to proselytize on adherents of the Armenian Apostolic Church. Minority groups would also be banned from spreading 'distrust' in other faiths.<ref>Tigran Avetisian, "U.S. Again Highlights `Restrictions' On Religious Freedom In Armenia" RFE/RL Armenia Report – 11/19/2010</ref> [[Hrant Bagratyan]], former Prime Minister of Armenia, condemned the close association of the Armenian Apostolic Church with the Armenian government, calling the church an "untouchable" organisation that is secretive of its income and expenditure.<ref>[http://www.epress.am/FNew.aspx?nid=11293 "No Separation of Church and State in Armenia?"]{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} epress.am article, 23-12-2010.</ref>

The Armenian Apostolic Church is "seen by many as the custodian of Armenian national identity."<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|url=https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/35284/Armenian-Apostolic-Church|title=Armenian Apostolic Church|encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica|date=21 January 2024 }}</ref> "Beyond its role as a religious institution, the Apostolic Church has traditionally been seen as the foundational core in the development of the Armenian national identity as God's uniquely chosen people."<ref>{{cite book|last1=Terzian|first1=Shelley|editor1-last=Wolhuter|editor1-first=Charl|editor2-last=de Wet|editor2-first=Corene|title=International Comparative Perspectives on Religion and Education|contribution=Central effects of religious education in Armenia from Ancient Times to Post-Soviet Armenia|date=2014|publisher=AFRICAN SUN MeDIA|isbn=978-1-920382-37-7|page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=y4_4AwAAQBAJ&dq=Armenian+Apostolic+Church+national+identity&pg=PA28 28]}}</ref> According to a 2018 survey by the [[Pew Research Center]], in Armenia 82% of respondents say it is very or somewhat important to be a Christian to be truly Armenian.<ref>{{cite web |title=Eastern and Western Europeans Differ on Importance of Religion, Views of Minorities, and Key Social Issues |url=http://www.pewforum.org/2018/10/29/eastern-and-western-europeans-differ-on-importance-of-religion-views-of-minorities-and-key-social-issues/ |publisher=[[Pew Research Center]] |date=29 October 2018}}</ref> In a 2024 survey in Armenia, 79% of respondents self-identified as belonging to the Armenian Apostolic Church.<ref>{{cite web |title=Which religion or denomination do you consider yourself belonging to? |url=https://caucasusbarometer.org/en/cb2024am/RELGNEW/ |website=Caucasus Barometer 2024 Armenia |publisher=Caucasus Research Resource Centers (CRRC) |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250428065505/https://caucasusbarometer.org/en/cb2024am/RELGNEW/ |archive-date=28 April 2025}}</ref>

According to a 2015 survey 79% of people in Armenia trust it, while 12% neither trust it nor distrust it, and 8% distrust the church.<ref>{{cite web|title=Trust – Religious institutions respondent belongs to by Which religion or denomination, if any, do you consider yourself belong to? (%)|url=http://caucasusbarometer.org/en/cb2015am/TRURELI-by-RELGION/|website=caucasusbarometer.org|publisher=Caucasus Barometer 2015 Armenia dataset}}</ref>

As both Eastern and Western Armenia came under Persian and Ottoman rule, the Armenian Apostolic Church was the centre of many Armenian liberation activities.<ref>{{cite book | last=Hovannisian | first=R. G. | page=85 | title=Armenian People from Ancient to Modern Times | publisher=Palgrave | year=1997 | isbn=1-4039-6422-X | ref=hovanissian}}</ref>

=== In Artsakh ===
{{main|Diocese of Artsakh}}
After the [[Bolshevik revolution]] and the subsequent [[Soviet occupation of Armenia]], all functioning religious institutions in the [[Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast|NKAO]] were closed down and clergymen often either exiled or shot.{{Citation needed|date=October 2023}}

After a while the Armenian Apostolic Church resumed its activities. There were weddings, baptisms, and every Sunday [[Badarak|Patarag]] at a free will attendance basis. The Armenian Apostolic Church since 1989 restored or constructed more than 30 churches worldwide. In 2009 the [[Republic of Artsakh]] government introduced a law entitled "Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organisations", article 8 of which provided that only the Armenian Apostolic Church is allowed to preach on the territory of the Republic of Artsakh. However, the law did make processes available for other religious institutions to get approval from the government if they wished to worship within the republic.<ref>Naira Hairumyan, "[http://www.armenianow.com/features/9704/karabakh_will_the_new_law_on_relig Karabakh: Will the new law on religion curb the number of sects in Karabakh?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200215010658/https://www.armenianow.com/features/9704/karabakh_will_the_new_law_on_relig |date=2020-02-15 }}", ArmeniaNow, 24 April 2009.</ref> Since the downfall of Artsakh, the population has returned to Armenia or spread throughout the diaspora.

=== Armenian diaspora ===
{{main|Armenian diaspora}}
[[File:Armenian Apostolic Prelacy 138 E39 jeh.jpg|thumb|upright|Armenian Apostolic Prelacy, New York]]
[[File:Catedral Vank, Isfahán, Irán, 2016-09-20, DD 101-103 HDR.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Vank Cathedral]], [[Isfahan]]]]
Outside of [[West Asia]], there are notable Armenian Apostolic congregations in various countries. In 2024, the church had 600,000 members in North America and 10,000 members in South America; they also had 25,000 members in Europe.<ref>[https://www.oikoumene.org/member-churches/armenian-apostolic-church-holy-see-of-cilicia World Council of Churches website, ''Armenian Apostolic Church (Holy See of Cilicia)'', retrieved October 10, 2024]</ref>

The [[Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople]] in [[Turkey]] and the [[Christians in Iran|Armenian Apostolic Church of Iran]] developed as important communities in the diaspora. These churches grew to represent the largest Christian ethnic minorities in predominantly Muslim countries.<ref>{{cite web |author=Golnaz Esfandiari |url=http://www.payvand.com/news/04/dec/1207.html |title=A Look At Iran's Christian Minority |work=Payvand |date=2004-12-23 |access-date=2012-03-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2011/12/Christianity-fullreport-web.pdf|title=Global Christianity – A Report on the Size and Distribution of the World's Christian Population|publisher=Pew Research Center}}</ref>

Notably, within the United Kingdom, the Armenian diaspora has grown. The Armenian Apostolic faithful had three prominent Armenian churches as of 2024: [[St Sarkis, Kensington|St Sarkis]] in [[Kensington]],<ref>[https://www.rbkc.gov.uk/contactsdirectory/az.aspx?orgid=1570 Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea website ''St Sarkis Armenian Apostolic Church'']</ref> London; [[Church of St Yeghiche, South Kensington|Saint Yeghiche]] in [[South Kensington]], London;<ref>[https://armenianchurch.org.uk/the-diocese/parish/st-yeghiche-london/ Armenian Church UK website, ''St Yeghiche London'', retrieved October 10, 2024]</ref> and [[Holy Trinity Armenian Church, Manchester|Holy Trinity]] in [[Manchester]].<ref>[https://www.accc.org.uk/holy-trinity-armenian-church-manchester/ Armenian Community Council of the United Kingdom website, Holy Trinity Armenian Church, Manchester]</ref>

[[Armenians in Ethiopia|Ethiopia]] has had an Armenian church since the 1920s, when groups of Armenians were invited there.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-51672965?ref=wilo-et.com BBC website, ''Letters from Africa: Ethiopia's lost Armenian community'', article by Ismail Einashe dated March 2, 2020]</ref><ref>[https://www.wilo-et.com/st-george-armenian-church-addis-ababa-a-symbol-of-a-once-thriving-armenian-community-in-ethiopia/ Wilo ET website, ''A symbol of a once thriving Armenian Community in Ethiopia'', article by Yonathan Ferede dated April 1, 2024]</ref>

==Controversies and criticisms==
=== Medieval era ===
Early medieval opponents of the Armenian Church in Armenia included the [[Paulicianism|Paulicians]] (7th–9th centuries) and the [[Tondrakians]] (9th–11th centuries).

The power relationship between Catholic and secular rulers was sometimes a source of conflict. In 1037 king [[Hovhannes-Smbat III of Armenia|Hovhannes-Smbat]] of Ani deposed and imprisoned [[Peter I of Armenia|Catholicos Petros]], who he suspected of holding pro-Byzantine views, and appointed a replacement catholicos. This persecution was highly criticized by the Armenian clergy, forcing Hovhannes-Smbat to release Petros and reinstall him to his former position. In 1038 a major ecclesiastical council was held in Ani, which denied the king the right to elect or remove a catholicos.<ref>Edda Vartanyan (ed.), ''Horomos Monastery, Art and History'', 2015, p.&nbsp;241.</ref>

===Contemporary era===
{{update section|date=June 2025}}
{{See also|2025 Armenian coup attempt allegations}}
{| class="wikitable floatright"
|+ Surveys of Armenian residents on the church by the [[International Republican Institute|IRI]]
|-
! Date
! Favorable
! Unfavorable
! No opinion
|-
| 2006<ref>{{cite web |title=Armenia National Voter Study: November 2006 |url=http://www.iri.org/sites/default/files/2006%20November%20Survey%20of%20Armenian%20Public%20Opinion,%20November%2010-19,%202006.pdf |website=iri.org |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200127015318/https://www.iri.org/sites/default/files/2006%20November%20Survey%20of%20Armenian%20Public%20Opinion,%20November%2010-19,%202006.pdf|archive-date=27 January 2020}} [https://archive.org/details/2006novembersurveyofarmenianpublicopinionnovember10192006 Alt URL]</ref>
| 76%
| 22%
| 2%
|-
| 2007<ref>{{cite web |title=Armenia National Study October 27 – November 3, 2007 |url=http://www.iri.org/sites/default/files/2008%20January%2022%20Survey%20of%20Armenian%20Public%20Opinion,%20October%2027-November%203,%202007.pdf |website=iri.org |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200127225324/https://www.iri.org/sites/default/files/2008%20January%2022%20Survey%20of%20Armenian%20Public%20Opinion,%20October%2027-November%203,%202007.pdf|archive-date=27 January 2020}} [https://archive.org/details/2008january22surveyofarmenianpublicopinionoctober27november32007 Alt URL]</ref>
| 81%
| 17%
| 2%
|-
| 2018<ref>{{cite web |title=Public Opinion Survey: Residents of Armenia: July 23–August 15, 2018 |url=https://www.iri.org/sites/default/files/2018.10.9_armenia_poll_presentation.pdf |website=iri.org |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191026092427/https://www.iri.org/sites/default/files/2018.10.9_armenia_poll_presentation.pdf |archive-date=26 October 2019}}</ref>
| 67%
| 26%
| 6%
|-
| 2019<ref>{{cite web |title=Public Opinion Survey: Residents of Armenia: May 6–31, 2019 |url=https://www.iri.org/sites/default/files/2019.7.8_armenia_poll.pdf |website=iri.org |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190709084656/https://www.iri.org/sites/default/files/2019.7.8_armenia_poll.pdf |archive-date=9 July 2019}}</ref>
| 71%
| 23%
| 6%
|-
| 2021<ref>{{cite web |title=Public Opinion Survey: Residents of Armenia |url=https://www.iri.org/sites/default/files/final_for_publication_armenia_electoral_reform_march_8_2021.pdf |website=iri.org |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210310174013/https://www.iri.org/sites/default/files/final_for_publication_armenia_electoral_reform_march_8_2021.pdf |archive-date=10 March 2021 |date=February 2021}}</ref>
| 92%
| 2%
| 6%
|-
|}

[[Gerard Libaridian]] argued that because Armenians consider the church a national institution, it "must be respected and guarded at all times. Therefore the critical attitude regarding Armenian historical institutions is rarely applied to the Armenian Church, as it is seen as a venerable institution that unites all Armenians."<ref>{{cite book |editor1-last=Libaridian |editor1-first=Gerard |editor1-link=Gerard Libaridian |title=Armenia at the Crossroads: Democracy and Nationhood in the Post-Soviet Era |date=1991 |publisher=Blue Crane |location=Watertown, MA |page=36}}</ref> Stepan Danielyan, a scholar on religion, argued in 2013 that "When Armenia became independent with the collapse of the Soviet Union, a great deal was expected of the church, but those expectations have not been fulfilled. The church continues to ignore the things most people are worried about – vitally important social, economic and political problems and endless corruption scandals."<ref>{{cite news|last=Karapetyan|first=Armen|title=Turbulent Times for Armenia's Ancient Church|url=https://iwpr.net/global-voices/turbulent-times-armenias-ancient-church|agency=[[Institute for War and Peace Reporting]]|date=7 October 2013}}</ref>

In independent Armenia, the Armenian Apostolic Church has often been criticized for its perceived support of the governments of [[Robert Kocharyan]] and [[Serzh Sargsyan]] despite the formal [[separation of church and state]] in Armenia.<ref>{{cite news |title=Hovannisian Hits Back At Church Head As Thousands Again Rally In Yerevan |url=https://www.azatutyun.am/a/24930075.html |work=azatutyun.am |agency=[[RFE/RL]] |date=15 March 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Եկեղեցին պետք է մտածի, քանի դեռ ուշ չէ. "Ժամանակ"|url=http://www.aravot.am/2015/02/10/540522/|work=[[Aravot]]|date=10 February 2015|language=hy|quote=Իսկ հանրային կարծիքն այն է, որ ինչպես բիզնեսն ու իշխանությունները, այնպես էլ եկեղեցին և բիզնեսը սերտաճած են, և այս առումով եկեղեցական ղեկավարության բարքերը չեն տարբերվում հանրապետության ղեկավարության բարքերից:}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Հայ առաքելական եկեղեցին դարձրել է իշխանությունների հաճոյակատարը և նրանց շեփորահարը.Սամվել Հովասափյան|url=http://www.nt.am/am/news/201014/|work=Noyan Tapan|date=5 January 2015|language=hy}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Jaloyan|first1=Vardan|title=Եկեղեցին ընդդեմ հայոց պետականության|url=http://www.religions.am/arm/articles/%D4%B5%D5%AF%D5%A5%D5%B2%D5%A5%D6%81%D5%AB%D5%B6-%D5%A8%D5%B6%D5%A4%D5%A4%D5%A5%D5%B4-%D5%B0%D5%A1%D5%B5%D5%B8%D6%81-%D5%BA%D5%A5%D5%BF%D5%A1%D5%AF%D5%A1%D5%B6%D5%B8%D6%82%D5%A9%D5%B5%D5%A1%D5%B6/|work=religions.am|date=3 January 2015|language=hy|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150227001721/http://www.religions.am/arm/articles/%D4%B5%D5%AF%D5%A5%D5%B2%D5%A5%D6%81%D5%AB%D5%B6-%D5%A8%D5%B6%D5%A4%D5%A4%D5%A5%D5%B4-%D5%B0%D5%A1%D5%B5%D5%B8%D6%81-%D5%BA%D5%A5%D5%BF%D5%A1%D5%AF%D5%A1%D5%B6%D5%B8%D6%82%D5%A9%D5%B5%D5%A1%D5%B6/|archive-date=27 February 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Khachatrian |first1=Ruzanna |title=Opposition MP Slams Armenian Church For Backing Government |url=https://www.azatutyun.am/a/1574611.html |work=azatutyun.am |agency=[[RFE/RL]] |date=14 October 2004}}</ref> According to former Prime Minister [[Hrant Bagratyan]] religion and state management "have completely gotten mixed up". He described the church as an "untouchable" organization that is secretive of its income and expenditure.<ref>{{cite news|title=No Separation of Church and State in Armenia? Opinion|url=http://www.epress.am/en/2010/12/23/no-separation-of-church-and-state-in-armenia-opinion.html|work=epress.am|date=23 December 2010}}</ref> Large-scale construction of new churches in the independence period<ref>{{cite news|last1=Papyan|first1=Siranuysh|title=Եկեղեցաշինության գումարներով կունենայինք ամենաարդիական զենքով զինված բանակ|url=http://www.lragir.am/index/arm/0/interview/view/110293|work=lragir.am|date=10 February 2015}}</ref> and the negligence of endangered historic churches by the Apostolic church (and the government) have also been criticized.<ref name="keghart" />

In recent years, a few high-profile leaders of the church have been involved in controversies.<ref name="keghart">{{cite news|last1=Mekhitarian|first1=V.|last2=Kojayan|first2=M.|last3=Abrahamian|first3=D.|title=Catholicos Karekin II Stands Accused|url=http://www.keghart.com/Editorial-Catholicos|work=keghart.com|date=13 August 2013|access-date=10 February 2015|archive-date=29 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200329222012/https://www.keghart.com/Editorial-Catholicos}}</ref> In 2013 Navasard Ktchoyan, the Archbishop of the [[Araratian Diocese]] and Prime Minister [[Tigran Sargsyan]] were alleged to have been partners with a businessman charged with laundering US$10.7&nbsp;million bank loan and then depositing most of it in accounts he controlled in Cyprus.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Baghdasaryan|first1=Edik|last2=Aghalaryan|first2=Kristine|title=Armenia: Church and State Deny Money Laundering|url=https://occrp.org/occrp/index.php/en/ccwatch/cc-watch-indepth/2304-armenia-church-and-state-deny-money-laundering|agency=[[Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project]]|date=31 January 2014}}</ref> In 2011 it was revealed that Ktchoyan drives a [[Bentley]] (valued at $180,000–280,000). Pointing out the 34% poverty rate in Armenia, ''[[Asbarez]]'' editor Ara Khachatourian called it "nothing but blasphemy". He added "Archbishop Kchoyan's reckless disregard and attitude is even more unacceptable due to his position in the Armenian Church."<ref>{{cite news|last1=Khatchatourian|first1=Ara|title=The Borgias of Etchmiadzin|url=http://asbarez.com/94712/the-borgias-of-etchmiadzin/|work=[[Asbarez]]|date=6 April 2011}}</ref>

In October 2013 Father Asoghik Karapetyan, the director of the Museum of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, stated on television that a non-Apostolic Armenian is not a "true Armenian". A spokesperson for the Armenian Apostolic Church stated that it is his personal view.<ref>{{cite news|title=Աթեիստ հայը հայ չէ՞. Մայր Աթոռը չի ցանկանում մեկնաբանել Տեր Ասողիկի խոսքերը|url=https://news.am/arm/news/175870.html|work=news.am|date=14 October 2013|language=hy}}</ref> The statement received considerable criticism,<ref>{{cite news|last=Hunanyan|first=Samvel|title=Ցանկացած մարդ, ով իրեն հայ է համարում, նա հայ է, վերջացավ|url=http://www.asparez.am/news-hy/cankacac_mard_haye-hy/|work=Asparez|date=1 November 2013|language=hy}}</ref> though Asoghik did not retract his statement.<ref>{{cite news|last=Hakobyan|first=Gohar|title=Տեր Ասողիկը հետ չի կանգնում իր խոսքերից. "Աթեիստ հայը լիարժեք հայ չէ"|url=http://www.aravot.am/2014/05/19/461776/|work=[[Aravot]]|date=19 May 2014|language=hy}}</ref> In an editorial in the liberal ''[[Aravot]]'' daily Aram Abrahamyan suggested that religious identity should not be equated with national (ethnic) identity and it is up to every individual to decide whether they are Armenian or not, regardless of religion.<ref>{{cite news|last=Abrahamyan|first=Aram|title=Բոլորը հայ են, ովքեր իրենց հայ են համարում|url=http://www.aravot.am/2013/10/15/396280/|work=[[Aravot]]|date=15 October 2013|language=hy}}</ref>

In 2019, the church issued a statement opposing ratification of the [[Istanbul Convention]] on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence on the grounds that the convention recognized rights for [[transgender]] individuals.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.armenianchurch.org/en/news/72-bishops-and-primates-of-armenia-have-issued-a-statement-over-council-of-europe-convention-on-pre/4163|website=[[Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin]]|title=Bishops and primates of Armenia have issued a statement over council of Europe convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (Istanbul convention).|date=July 26, 2019|access-date=September 17, 2025}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Christianity}}
* [[Religion in Armenia]]
*[[Armenian Catholic Church]]
*[[Armenian church architecture]]
*[[Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople]]
*[[Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem]]
*[[Holy See of Cilicia]]
*[[Saint Narek chapel]]

===Lists===
*[[List of Catholicoi of Armenia]]
*[[List of Armenian Catholicoi of Cilicia]]
*[[List of Armenian Patriarchs of Constantinople]]
*[[List of Armenian Patriarchs of Jerusalem]]

== Notes ==
{{NoteFoot}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Sources ==
{{refbegin|40em}}
* {{Cite journal |last=Brock |first=Sebastian P. |author-link=Sebastian P. Brock |title=Miaphysite, not Monophysite! |journal=Cristianesimo Nella Storia |year=2016 |volume=37 |number=1 |pages=45–52 |isbn=978-88-15-26168-7 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TwKJDAEACAAJ}}
* {{cite book |last=Corley |first=Felix |year=2025 |title=Catholicos and Commissar: The Armenian Church Under the Soviet Regime |publisher=Gomidas Institute |url=https://www.gomidas.org/books/show/171 |isbn=978-1-909382-84-8}}
* {{cite journal |last=Dočkal |first=Kamilo |date=1940a |title=Povijest Armenske crkve |trans-title=History of the Armenian Church |journal=Bogoslovska smotra |language=hr |volume=28 |issue=2 |pages=113–123}}
* {{cite journal |last=Dočkal |first=Kamilo |date=1940b |title=Povijest Armenske crkve |trans-title=History of the Armenian Church |journal=Bogoslovska smotra |language=hr |volume=28 |issue=3 |pages=182–192}}
* {{cite book |last=Fahlbusch |first=Erwin |contribution=Armenian Apostolic Church |year=1999 |title=Encyclopedia of Christianity |volume=1 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofch0001unse_t6f2/page/127 127–128] |location=Grand Rapids |publisher=Wm. B. Eerdmans |isbn=0-8028-2413-7 |url=https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofch0001unse_t6f2}}
* {{cite book |last=Krikorian |first=Mesrob K. |year=2010 |title=Christology of the Oriental Orthodox Churches: Christology in the Tradition of the Armenian Apostolic Church |publisher=Peter Lang |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iFEqAQAAMAAJ |isbn=978-3-631-58121-6}}
* {{Cite journal |last=Winkler |first=Dietmar W. |title=Miaphysitism: A New Term for Use in the History of Dogma and in Ecumenical Theology |journal=The Harp |year=1997 |volume=10 |number=3 |pages=33–40 |url=https://www.academia.edu/15344445}}
* {{cite book |author=Vrej Nerses Nersessian |year=2007 |chapter=Armenian Christianity |editor-last=Parry |editor-first=Ken |title=Blackwell Companion to Eastern Christianity |location=Malden, MA |publisher=Blackwell |pages=23–46 |chapter-url=http://www.ixoyc.net/data/Fathers/629.pdf#page=25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110813031634/http://www.ixoyc.net/data/Fathers/629.pdf#page=25 |archive-date=13 August 2011}}
* {{Cite book |last=Meyendorff |first=John |author-link=John Meyendorff |year=1989 |title=Imperial unity and Christian divisions: The Church 450–680 A.D. |location=Crestwood, NY |publisher=St. Vladimir's Seminary Press |isbn=978-0-88141-056-3 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6J_YAAAAMAAJ}}
* {{Cite book |last=Ostrogorsky |first=George |author-link=George Ostrogorsky |title=History of the Byzantine State |year=1956 |location=Oxford |publisher=Basil Blackwell |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Bt0_AAAAYAAJ}}
* [[Serafim Seppälä|Seppälä, Serafim]] (2021). [https://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/ress-2021-0021 The Struggle for Memory: The Khachkar Field of Julfa and Other Armenian Sacred Spaces in Azerbaijan], in ''Review of Ecumenical Studies.''
* {{cite book |last=Stopka |first=Krzysztof |title=Armenia Christiana: Armenian Religious Identity and the Churches of Constantinople and Rome (4th–15th century) |year=2016 |location=Kraków |publisher=Jagiellonian University Press |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eeq-DQAAQBAJ |isbn=978-83-233-9555-3}}

'''Armenian religious relations with the Roman Catholic Church'''
*[http://www.ewtn.com/library/ENCYC/B14ALLAT.HTM Pope Benedict XIV, ''Allatae Sunt'' (''On the observance of Oriental Rites''), Encyclical, 1755]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20150226085232/http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/chrstuni/anc-orient-ch-docs/rc_pc_christuni_doc_19961213_jp-ii-karekin-i_en.html Common Declaration of Pope John Paul II and Catholicos Karekin I, 1996] 
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20150226083835/http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/chrstuni/anc-orient-ch-docs/rc_pc_christuni_doc_19970125_jp-ii-aram-i_en.html Common Declaration of John Paul II and Aram I Keshishian, 1997]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20150226062538/http://w2.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/speeches/1999/june/documents/hf_jp-ii_mes_19990629_karekin-i.html John Paul II to Karekin I, 1999]
*[http://www.ewtn.com/library/PAPALDOC/ZJP2ARMN.HTM Joint Declaration signed by John Paul II and Karekin II, 2000]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20150226064258/http://w2.vatican.va/content/benedict-xvi/en/speeches/2008/november/documents/hf_ben-xvi_spe_20081124_catholicos.html Greeting by Pope Benedict XVI to Catholicos Aram I, 2008]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20180112010342/http://sor.cua.edu/Ecumenism/RC.html Dialogue and Joint Declarations with the Roman Catholic Church]
{{refend}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Armenian Apostolic Church}}
*[http://www.armenianchurch.org/ Armenian Church Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin website]
*[http://www.armenianorthodoxchurch.org/ Official site of the Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia]
*{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20130506211001/http://armenian-patriarchate.com Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem]}}

{{Armenian Apostolic Church}}
{{Religion in Armenia}}
{{Patriarchates in Christianity}}
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{{Asia topic|Oriental Orthodoxy in}}
{{Oriental Orthodoxy}}
{{History of Christianity}}
{{Christianity footer}}
{{Armenia topics}}

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