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| Armenian Apostolic Church |
The Armenian Apostolic Church is the oldest established national church in the
world. The oldest form of Christianity is the Oriental Orthodoxy and the Armenian
Apostolic Church forms part of that community. It is well known that in AD 301 Armenia
was the first country to adopt Christianity and with the formation of the Armenian
Apostolic Church Christianity officially became the national religion. What is
not so well known is that, according to the elders of the Armenian Apostolic
Church, they can trace their origins back to the missions of the Apostles Bartholomew
and Thaddeus in the early days of Christianity.
Apostles
The Armenian Apostolic Church is sometimes mistakenly referred to as the Gregorian Church, however, the church are not keen on this title as they consider the Apostles Bartholomew and Thaddeus to be the churches founders and so the church is rightly named after them. However, Gregory the Illuminator was not the founder of the church but instead the churches first official governor.
Legends
Legends with in Armenia tell of the early missions of Bartholomew and Thaddeus who visited Armenia on the orders of Abgar, who was the uncle of King Sanatrook of Armenia, with the express purpose of evangelizing the local population. However, as with many of these legends, the stories vary wildly. That said, what is common with all the stories is that Thaddeus converted Sandookdht, the kings daughter. It is said in some versions that Sanatrook was converted and in fact later apostatized, however, in other versions of the story he was never converted and was hostile to Christianity. What is clear is that Sanatrook martyred both Thaddeus and Sandookhdt but some versions do have the apostle Bartholomew arriving in Armenia at a similar time to be martyred.
Constitution
Within the Republic of Armenia the role of the Armenian Apostolic Church is defined in the constitution. In 2005 an amendment to the constitution was granted and it allowed the Armenian Apostolic Church an exclusive mission to provide for Armenians spiritual and cultural life.
Subsequently, in 2009, further amendments were made to the constitution so minority groups would be banned from spreading distrust in other faiths; however, these amendments were heavily criticized and put on hold when human rights activist Stepan Danielian stated "the Armenian Apostolic Church today wants to have a monopoly on religion".
Woman’s Role
The Armenian Apostolic Church do not ordain woman into the priesthood, however, woman have made a large impact on the church and have historically been ordained as a deaconesses when in a convent environment. That said, woman do serve the church in the choir and the organ, and well as on parish councils, volunteers, fundraiser, Sunday schools and as staff members in church offices.
Apostles
The Armenian Apostolic Church is sometimes mistakenly referred to as the Gregorian Church, however, the church are not keen on this title as they consider the Apostles Bartholomew and Thaddeus to be the churches founders and so the church is rightly named after them. However, Gregory the Illuminator was not the founder of the church but instead the churches first official governor.
Legends
Legends with in Armenia tell of the early missions of Bartholomew and Thaddeus who visited Armenia on the orders of Abgar, who was the uncle of King Sanatrook of Armenia, with the express purpose of evangelizing the local population. However, as with many of these legends, the stories vary wildly. That said, what is common with all the stories is that Thaddeus converted Sandookdht, the kings daughter. It is said in some versions that Sanatrook was converted and in fact later apostatized, however, in other versions of the story he was never converted and was hostile to Christianity. What is clear is that Sanatrook martyred both Thaddeus and Sandookhdt but some versions do have the apostle Bartholomew arriving in Armenia at a similar time to be martyred.
Constitution
Within the Republic of Armenia the role of the Armenian Apostolic Church is defined in the constitution. In 2005 an amendment to the constitution was granted and it allowed the Armenian Apostolic Church an exclusive mission to provide for Armenians spiritual and cultural life.
Subsequently, in 2009, further amendments were made to the constitution so minority groups would be banned from spreading distrust in other faiths; however, these amendments were heavily criticized and put on hold when human rights activist Stepan Danielian stated "the Armenian Apostolic Church today wants to have a monopoly on religion".
Woman’s Role
The Armenian Apostolic Church do not ordain woman into the priesthood, however, woman have made a large impact on the church and have historically been ordained as a deaconesses when in a convent environment. That said, woman do serve the church in the choir and the organ, and well as on parish councils, volunteers, fundraiser, Sunday schools and as staff members in church offices.
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