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Armenian Apostolic Church facts for kids

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The Armenian Apostolic Church (Armenian: Հայ Առաքելական Եկեղեցի), also called the Armenian Orthodox Church or the Gregorian Church, is the world's oldest national church and one of the most ancient Christian communities.

History

The Kingdom of Armenia was the first state to adopt Christianity as its official religion under the rule of King Tiridates in the early 4th century. The church claims to have originated in the missions of Apostles Bartholomew and Thaddeus in the 1st century, by tradition. The Church teaches that it was first preached by two Apostles of Jesus, St. Thaddeus and St. Bartholomew. The Armenian Apostolic Church claims to been in existence since the days of the apostles and therefore would be one of the oldest denominations of Christianity. Armenia was the first country to adopt Christianity as its official religion, when St. Gregory the Illuminator converted Tiridates III (the King of Armenia) and members of his court, traditionally dated to 301 (after Mikayel Chamchian 1784). The Church teaches that St. Gregory was imprisoned by Tiridates in an underground pit, called Khor Virab, for 13 years, after which he healed the King of an incurable disease, whereupon Tiridates accepted Christianity.

Related pages

  • Armenian Apostolic (Orthodox) Church Library Online: English | Armenian | Russian

Images for kids

  • Paradise - Armenian 1693 PAGE 19 25-s

    Paradise, in an Armenian manuscript (1693)

  • Tiridates III of Armenia-Baptism

    Baptism of Tiridates III

  • Tatev Monastery Armenia Syunik

    Tatev Monastery in Armenia, Syunik

  • Armenian Church Structure

    Procession of Armenian Priests.

  • Armenian Church Madras

    Armenian Church in Madras, India, constructed in 1712

  • Bishop Sebouh - Washing of Feet

    Archbishop Sebouh Chouldjian washing the feet of children during the Washing of Feet ceremony

  • Etchmiadzin Cathedral view

    The Etchmiadzin Cathedral, Armenia's Mother Church

  • Antelias - Armeni

    Saint Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral (1940) in Antelias, Lebanon

  • Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem Armenian Quarter (10804744755)

    Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem

  • Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople - P1040051

    Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople

  • 2014 Erywań, Katedra św. Grzegorza Oświeciciela (05)

    Saint Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in Yerevan is the largest Armenian Orthodox church in the world

  • Armenian Apostolic Prelacy 138 E39 jeh

    Armenian Apostolic Prelacy, New York

  • Catedral Vank, Isfahán, Irán, 2016-09-20, DD 101-103 HDR

    Vank Cathedral, Isfahan

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Iglesia apostólica armenia para niños

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