Armenian churches in Russia and in the world. Armenian Apostolic Church

The Armenian Apostolic Church is one of the oldest in the world. It was created in the second-third century AD. For example, Evsei of Caesarea (260-339) mentions the war of the Roman Emperor Maximinus with Armenia, unleashed precisely on religious grounds.

The Armenian Church in ancient times and in our days

In the seventh century AD, a rather large Armenian community resided in Palestine. It existed in this period of time in Greece. 70 monasteries of this state were owned by Armenians. In the Holy Land in Jerusalem, the Armenian Patriarchate was founded a little later - in the 12th century. At the moment, more than 3,000 Armenians live in this city. The community has many churches.

How did Christianity appear in Armenia?

It is believed that Christianity brought to Armenia two apostles - Thaddeus and Bartholomew. Apparently, hence the name of the church - the Apostolic Church. This is a traditional version, documented, however, not confirmed. For sure, scientists know only that Christian Armenia became in the time of King Tiridat in 314 AD. E. After the religious cardinal reform carried out by him, all pagan temples in the country were converted to Armenian churches.

Modern churches belonging to Armenians in Jerusalem

The most famous cult buildings of Jerusalem are:

• Church of St. James. It is located in the old city, on the territory of the Armenian quarter. In the 6th century a small church was built on this site. It was built in honor of one of the significant events of Christianity. It was at this place in 44 AD of the people of Herod Antipas that the apostle James was killed. This act is reflected in the New Testament. In the 12th century a new church was built on the site of the old church . There is it to this day. In the western part of the building there is a small door. She leads into a room in which the monks still keep Jacob's head.
• Church of the Angels. It is also located in the Armenian quarter, in its very depth. This is one of the oldest churches in Jerusalem. It was built in the place where the house of the high priest Anne once stood. According to the New Testament, it was to him that Christ was brought before interrogation by Caiaphas. In the yard of the church there is still an olive tree, which believers consider a "living witness" of those events.

Of course, there are Armenian churches in other countries of the world - in India, Iran, Venezuela, Israel, etc.

History of the Armenian Church in Russia

In Russia, the first Christian Armenian Diocese was formed in 1717. Its center was located in Astrakhan. This was facilitated by the friendly relations that existed between Russia and Armenia at that time. This diocese included all the existing Christian Armenian churches of the country. The first leader was Archbishop Galatatsi.

Actually the Armenian Apostolic Church was established in Russia several decades after that, during the reign of Catherine the Second - in 1773. Its founder was the Catholicos Simeon First Yerevantsi.

In 1809, the Armenian Diocese of Bessarabia was founded by the decree of Emperor Alexander the First. It was this church organization that controlled the territories reclaimed from the Turks in the Balkan war. The center of the new diocese was the city of Iasi. After the Iasi Treaty of Bucharest was outside the Russian Empire, it was moved to Chisinau. In 1830, Nicholas I separated Moscow, St. Petersburg, Novorossiysk and Bessarabian churches from Astrakhan, forming another Armenian diocese.

By 1842, 36 parochial, cathedral and cemetery churches had already been built and opened in Russia. Most of them belonged to the Astrakhan Diocese (23). In 1895 its center was moved to the city of Novaya Nakhichevan. By the end of the 19th century, the Central Asian Armenian communities were also united. As a result, two more dioceses - Baku and Turkestan - were formed. At the same time, the center of the Astrakhan diocese is the city of Armavir.

The Armenian Church in Russia after the Revolution

After the revolution of the seventeenth year, Bessarabia withdrew to the Romanian kingdom. The existing Armenian churches became part of the diocese of this state. At the same time, changes were made to the very structure of the church. All the communities were united in only two dioceses - Nakhichevan and North Caucasus. The center of the first was located in Rostov-on-Don, the second - in Armavir.

Most of the temples belonging to the Armenian Apostolic Church, of course, were closed and destroyed. This state of affairs persisted until the middle of the twentieth century. One of the most important events for Armenian Christians was the opening in Moscow in 1956 of the only Armenian church in the city. It was a small church of the Holy Resurrection, built in the 18th century. It became the center of the Armenian parish in Moscow.

AAC in the late 20th - early 21st century

In 1966, the Catholicos Vazgen the First created the Novo-Nakhichevan and Russian dioceses. At the same time the center of the Armenian Apostolic Church is transferred to Moscow. By the 90s of the last century, the Armenians had already 7 churches operating in major Russian cities - Moscow, Leningrad, Armavir, Rostov-on-Don, etc. Today, many ecclesial communities of the former Soviet republics are subordinate to the Russian diocese. It should be added that the modern Armenian churches in the majority are real architectural and historical monuments.

Church of Hripsime in Yalta

The Yalta Armenian church was built in the early 20th century. It represents a rather interesting architectural building. This compact, monolithic building looks very much like the ancient temple of Ripsime in Etchmiadzin. This is one of the most interesting sights that Yalta can boast of. The Armenian church of Hripsime is really an impressive building.

On the southern facade is equipped with a false entrance, framed by a wide arched niche. A long staircase leads to it, since there is a temple on the slope of the mountain. The building is crowned with a solid hexagonal tent. At the end of the climb another staircase is installed, leading this time to the present entrance, located on the western facade. The interior of the church is also interesting . The dome is painted from inside, and the iconostasis is decorated with marble and encrusted. This stone is generally traditional for the interior of such structures as the Armenian churches.

Saint-Petersburg Church of St. Catherine

Of course, there are churches belonging to this area of Christianity, and in other cities of Russia. There are also in Moscow, and in St. Petersburg, and in some other settlements. Of course, both capitals can boast the most magnificent buildings. For example, the building, which was built in 1770-1772, is very interesting in terms of historical and spiritual value. Armenian church on Nevsky Prospekt in St. Petersburg. This is a very elegant, light structure in the style of early Russian classicism. Against the background of strict St. Petersburg buildings, this church looks unusually elegant and festive.

Of course, the Armenian church on Nevsky Prospekt looks very majestic. However, in height, it is inferior to the Moscow temple on Trifonovskaya Street (58 m). The interior of the ancient St. Petersburg church is also magnificent. The walls are decorated with monumental painting, stucco moldings, and some are lined with colored marble. This same stone is used for finishing the floor and columns.

Armenian Church in Krasnodar

Not so long ago - in 2010 - a new Armenian church of St. Sahak and Mesrop was built and consecrated in Krasnodar. The building is designed in traditional style and is made of pink tuff. Quite large sizes, long arched windows and hexagonal domes give it a majestic look.

According to the style of performance, this building resembles that which Yalta can boast of. The Armenian church of Hripsime, however, is somewhat lower and monumental. However, the overall style is clearly traced.

What is the direction of Christianity in the Armenian Church?

In the West, all the Eastern churches, including the Armenian Apostolic Church, are considered orthodox. In Russian, this word is translated as "Orthodox". However, the understanding of these two names in the West and ours is somewhat different. Under this definition, there are quite a number of branches of Christianity. And although according to Western theological canons the Armenian church is considered Orthodox, in fact its teaching with Russian Orthodoxy is in many respects unlike. As for the ROC, at the level of the rank-and-file priesthood, the attitude towards the representatives of the AAC as to heretics-monophysites prevails. Officially, the existence of two branches of the Orthodox Church - Eastern and Byzantine-Slavic - is recognized.

Perhaps, therefore, the very believing Christian Armenians in most cases do not consider themselves Orthodox, or Catholics. A believer of this nationality can enter with the same success to pray both in the Catholic and in the Orthodox church. Moreover, Armenian churches in the world are not really numerous. For example, representatives of this nationality residing in Russia willingly baptize children in Russian Orthodox churches.

Differences between the Orthodox traditions of the AAC and the ROC

For comparison with the Russian Orthodox traditions, we will describe the baptism rite adopted in the Armenian church. There are not many differences, but they do exist.

Many Russian Orthodox who first came to the Armenian temple are surprised that candles are placed here not in special pedestals in small candlesticks, but in an ordinary box with sand. At the same time, they are not sold, but simply lie side by side. However, many Armenians, taking a candle, leave money for it at their own will. The believers themselves clean and cinder.

Some Armenian churches do not immerse themselves in the font of children at baptism. Just take water from a large bowl and wash. Baptism in the Armenian church has one more interesting feature. The priest, speaking a prayer, speaks in a sing-song manner. Because of the good acoustics of Armenian churches, it sounds impressive. They differ from Russians and christening crosses. Usually they are very beautifully decorated with grapevine. Suspended crosses on the knot (woven together red and white thread). Armenians are baptized - in contrast to Russians - from left to right. In other respects, the ritual of introducing the baby to the faith is similar to that of the Russian Orthodox.

Structure of the Modern Armenian Apostolic Church

The highest authority in the AC is the Church-National Council. At the moment it includes 2 patriarchs, 10 arichihipops, 4 bishops and 5 secular people. The AAC includes two independent Catholicosate - Cilicia and Etchmiadzin, as well as two Patriarchates - Constantinople and Jerusalem. The Supreme Patriarch (currently head of the Armenian Church Garegin II) is considered his representative and oversees the observance of church rules. Questions of laws and canons are within the competence of the Council.

Importance of the Armenian Church in the World

Historically, the formation of the Armenian Apostolic Church took place not only against the backdrop of oppression by non-Gentile and Muslim authorities, but also under the pressure of other, more powerful Christian Churches. However, despite this, she managed to preserve her uniqueness and uniqueness of many rituals. The Armenian church is Orthodox, but it is not without reason that the term "Apostolic" is preserved in its title. This definition is considered common to all Churches that do not belong to any of the leading areas of Christianity.

Moreover, in the history of the Armenian church there were times when many of its authoritative figures considered the Roman See to be the first one. The gravitation of the Armenian Church towards Catholicism ceased only in the 18th century, after the Pope created his own, separate branch - the Armenian-Catholic Church. This step was the beginning of some cooling relations between these two branches of Christianity. In certain periods of history there was a tendency of the figures of the Armenian Church to Byzantine Orthodoxy. It was not assimilated with other directions only because both Catholics and Orthodox Christians to some extent always considered it "heretical." So, the fact that this Church has been preserved in its original form, can to some extent be considered a divine providence.

The Armenian church in St. Petersburg, the churches in Moscow and Yalta, as well as other similar religious buildings really represent real architectural and historical monuments. And the very ritual of this trend of Christianity is original and unique. Agree that the combination of high "Catholic" headgear and Byzantine brightness of ritual clothing can not fail to impress.

The Armenian Church (a photo of the temples belonging to it, you can see on this page) was founded in 314. The division of Christianity into two main branches occurred in 1054. Even the appearance of the Armenian priests reminds that when it was once united . And, of course, it will be very good if the Armenian Apostolic Church retains its uniqueness further.