6.1 Armenian Church History

Birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ

0

The apostles Thaddeus and Bartholomew bring Christianity to Armenia

35-60

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

301

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

303

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

325

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

353-373

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)

431

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

451

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

607

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

625

St. Hovhan Odznetsi – Canonbook, Theology, Hymns

717-728

Aghtamar is built in Lake Van by architect Manuel

915

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

947

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

951-1003

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

1100-1173

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

1149

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

1292

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

1346-1409

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

1651

First printed Armenian Bible (Amsterdam) by Voskan vardapet

1666

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

1701

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

1715

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

1717

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

1790

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

1836

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

1869

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

1898

Catholicos Mkrtich resists Russian attempts to confiscate Armenian Church property

1903

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

1918

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

1943

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

1955

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

1983

Abp. Torkom I Manoogian elected Patriarch of Jerusalem

1990

Vazken I, Catholicos of All Armenians dies

1994

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

1995

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

1996

Abp. Mesrob II Mutafian elected Patriarch of Constantinople, Turkey

1998

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

1999

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

2001