6.1 Armenian Church History

Front 1

Birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ

Back 1

0

Front 2

The apostles Thaddeus and Bartholomew bring Christianity to Armenia

Back 2

35-60

Front 3

St. Gregory the Illuminator converts King Trdat to Christianity and Armenia becomes the
first Christian nation

Back 3

301

Front 4

Holy Etchmiadzin (meaning the only-begotten descended) is established after St. Gregory has a vision

Back 4

303

Front 5

The First Ecumenical council is held in Nicea; the Nicene Creed is formulated, St. Aristakes
(St. Gregory's son, later catholicos, attends from Armenia)

Back 5

325

Front 6

St. Nerses the Great, St. Gregory's great grandson, establishes schools, hospitals, orphanages,
monasteries

Back 6

353-373

Front 7

The Third Ecumenical Council is held in Ephesus (the basic dogmas and teachings of the
Armenian Church are based on the declarations of the three ecumenical councils
(1st Nicaea 325, 2nd Constantinople 381)

Back 7

431

Front 8

The Fourth Ecumenical
Council is held at Chalcedon, which the Armenian Church does not attend

Back 8

451

Front 9

The Armenian Church formally objects to the Council of Chalcedon's formulation about Christ's
human and divine nature

Back 9

607

Front 10

Catholicos Komitas Aghtsetsi writes many hymns, rebuilds Mother Cathedral, St. Hripsimé
Monastery

Back 10

625

Front 11

St. Hovhan Odznetsi – Canonbook, Theology, Hymns

Back 11

717-728

Front 12

Aghtamar is built in Lake Van by architect Manuel

Back 12

915

Front 13

The Catholicos Anania moves the See from Varag to Argina (near Ani). During Anania's
pontificate, monasteries such as Sanahin and Narek, are built

Back 13

947

Front 14

St. Grigor Narekatsi, Book of Prayer (also known as Book of Lamentations), author of many
hymns and odes used in the Armenian Church

Back 14

951-1003

Front 15

St. Nerses Shnorhali, poet, writer, theologian, ecumenical leader, liturgical reformer,
revised Book of Hours, wrote many new hymns

Back 15

1100-1173

Front 16

The Holy See was moved to Hromkla, meaning 'Roman castle', just outside Cilicia

Back 16

1149

Front 17

The Holy See moved to Sis, the capital of the Armenian kingdom in Cilicia

Back 17

1292

Front 18

St. Grigor Tatevatsi, vardapet, philosopher, educator and theologian, is born in Vayots Dzor. Along with Hovhannes Vorotnetsi, his teacher and founder of the university at Tatev, he formulated the theology of the Armenian Church according medieval Western scholastic methods as a defense against proselytizing by Roman Catholic missionaries

Back 18

1346-1409

Front 19

At the Council of Jerusalem, Pilipos I Aghpagetsi Catholicos of All Armenians and Nerses Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, meet and set canons defining the limits of the
jurisdiction of the two Sees

Back 19

1651

Front 20

First printed Armenian Bible (Amsterdam) by Voskan vardapet

Back 20

1666

Front 21

A Benedictine order founded by Mkhitar Sebastatsi, who is invited by Roman Catholic Church to settle on the island of San Lazzaro in Venice; the order's scholarship and education helps fuel the Armenian 19th century renaissance

Back 21

1701

Front 22

Hovhannes KoloT Baghishetsi becomes Patriarch of Constantinople, Founds schools,
publishes Armenian classics

Back 22

1715

Front 23

GriGor Shirvantsi accepts the position of Patriarch of Jerusalem. called "shghtayaKir" ("chain bearer") because he wears a chain around his neck until the debts of the atriarchate of Jerusalem are fully paid

Back 23

1717

Front 24

Catholicos Simeon Yerevantsi founds first printing press at Etchmiadzin, introduces Der
Voghormya into the Badarak

Back 24

1790

Front 25

Polozhenie ("statute") adopted by Tsarist Regime to regulate Armenian Church

Back 25

1836

Front 26

Bishop Mgrdich Khrimian elected Patriarch of Constantinople, later Catholicos (1892-1907);
Khrimian Hayrig captured the imagination of the nation through his writings, patriotism, humility and spiritual leadership

Back 26

1869

Front 27

The Diocese of the Armenian Church in America is established by Catholicos Mkrtich Khrimian (its jurisdiction covers the entire U S and Canada)

Back 27

1898

Front 28

Catholicos Mkrtich resists Russian attempts to confiscate Armenian Church property

Back 28

1903

Front 29

Catholicos Gevorg V and Bishop Karekin Hovsepiants rally the troops at the Battle of Sardarapat (May 24), Bash-Abaran, Kharakilisa, ringing the bells of Armenia's churches and the Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin

Back 29

1918

Front 30

Archbishop Karekin Hovsepiants, primate of American Diocese (1940-44) is elected Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia (1943-1952)

Back 30

1943

Front 31

Catholicos Vazken I elected, greatly strengthens Etchmiadzin under the very difficult conditions of Soviet rule, builds ties with diaspora and in 1962 joins World Council of Churches

Back 31

1955

Front 32

Catholicos Khoren I dies at Antelias. Karekin II Sarkisian becomes Catholicos of the Great
House of Cilicia

Back 32

1983

Front 33

Abp. Torkom I Manoogian elected Patriarch of Jerusalem

Back 33

1990

Front 34

Vazken I, Catholicos of All Armenians dies

Back 34

1994

Front 35

Karekin II of the Great House of Cilicia is elected Karekin I, Catholicos of All Armenians at Etchmiadzin

Back 35

1995

Front 36

Aram I is elected Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia in Antelias, Lebanon

Back 36

1996

Front 37

Abp. Mesrob II Mutafian elected Patriarch of Constantinople, Turkey

Back 37

1998

Front 38

Catholicos Karekin I dies. Abp. Karekin Nersisian, Primate of the Araratian Diocese, is elected Karekin II Catholicos of All Armenians

Back 38

1999

Front 39

1700th Anniversary of Armenia's conversion to Christianity; Pope John-Paul II, first Roman Catholic Pope to visit Armenia; His Holiness Bartholomew I, first Ecumenical Patriarch of
Constantinople to visit Armenia

Back 39

2001