Joshua Bennett
The Armenian Apostolic Church is the national church of Armenia and is one of the oldest Christian churches in the world, dating back to the 1st century AD. It became the first branch of Christianity to become a state religion in 301 AD. The Armenian Catholic Church, on the other hand, is an Eastern Catholic particular church in full communion with the universal Catholic Church. It was formed in the 1740s when Armenian bishop Abraham Artzivian, already a Catholic, was elected patriarch of Sis in Cilicia. Today, most Armenians in Armenia are Christians, with 97% belonging to the Armenian Apostolic Church. Outside of Armenia, there are significant numbers of Armenian Catholics in Russia, North America, France, and the Middle East.
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What You'll Learn
The Armenian Catholic Church
The head of the sui iuris Armenian Catholic Church is the Armenian Catholic patriarch of Cilicia, whose main cathedral and de facto archiepiscopal see is the Cathedral of Saint Elias and Saint Gregory the Illuminator, in Beirut, Lebanon. Armenian Caritas is the official aid organisation of the Catholic Church in Armenia.
Today, the Armenian Catholic Church is found widely in the Armenian diaspora, notably in Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, Turkey, Iran, France, the USA, Canada, Argentina, Uruguay, and Australia. There are tens of thousands of Armenian Catholics in Russia, and around 1.5 million Armenians in North America, of which 35,000 belong to the Armenian Catholic Church.
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Armenian Apostolic Church
The Armenian Apostolic Church is one of the world's most ancient Eastern Churches, distinct from the Orthodox Churches. It is the national church of Armenia, as recognised by the country's constitution.
The Armenian Apostolic Church came into existence around 451 AD, when the Armenian bishops rejected the decrees of the Council of Chalcedon at the Council of Dvin. This led to a split from the Churches of Rome and Byzantium. The Armenian Church formally broke communion with the Chalcedonian Churches in 610 AD. The Armenian Apostolic Church is headed by the Catholicos of All Armenians, resident since 1441 at the Catholicate at Etchmiadzin.
The Armenian Catholic Church, on the other hand, is an Eastern Catholic particular church sui iuris of the Catholic Church. It is in full communion with the universal Catholic Church, including the Latin Church and the 22 other Eastern Catholic Churches. The Armenian Catholic Church is led by the 'Patriarch of the Catholic Armenians and Katholikos of Cilicia'. The Armenian Catholic Church was formed in 1740 when the Armenian bishop of Aleppo, Abraham Artzivian, was elected patriarch of Sis. In 1911, the Armenian Catholic Church was divided into 19 dioceses, but many of these were dissolved during the Armenian genocide in Turkey between 1915 and 1918.
In 1991, after the fall of the Soviet Union, Pope John Paul II merged the Catholic communities in Georgia and Russia with those in Armenia, creating the Ordinariate for Catholics of Armenian Rite in Eastern Europe. This led to a decision by Vasken I, Catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church, that "The presence of the Armenian Catholic Church in Armenia is unacceptable and to be refuted".
Today, there are tens of thousands of Armenian Catholics in Russia and North America, with around 35,000 belonging to the Armenian Catholic Church in the United States and 10,000 in Canada.
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Catholicos Karekin I and Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II and Catholicos Karekin I's meeting built upon previous encounters between the Catholic Church and the Armenian Apostolic Church. In 1991, after the fall of the Soviet Union, Pope John Paul II merged the Catholic communities in Georgia and Russia with those in Armenia, creating the Ordinariate for Catholics of Armenian Rite in Eastern Europe. This move was seen as a step towards reconciliation with coreligionists across borders. However, the same year, Vasken I, Catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church, declared the presence of the Armenian Catholic Church in Armenia as "unacceptable and to be refuted."
Despite this, the meeting between Pope John Paul II and Catholicos Karekin I in 1996 marked a positive step in their relations. They acknowledged their common faith in Jesus Christ and the same succession of apostolic ministry, expressing their conviction that controversies and divisions should not overshadow their fundamental shared beliefs. Catholicos Karekin I maintained positive relations with Pope John Paul II, as evidenced by the Pope's visit to Armenia in 2001, where he stayed with Catholicos Karekin I.
The Armenian Catholic Church, an Eastern Catholic particular church, is in full communion with the universal Catholic Church. It is led by the "Patriarch of the Catholic Armenians and Katholikos of Cilicia," who takes the name Peter. The Armenian Catholic Church has a presence worldwide, with dioceses and communities in countries like Turkey, France, Brazil, the United States, Canada, and Lebanon. While the Armenian Catholic Church has faced challenges, including the dissolution of dioceses during the Armenian Genocide, it has also seen growth and spread among the Armenian diaspora.
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Armenian Catholics in North America
Armenian Catholics have a long and complex history, dating back to the early adoption of Christianity in Armenia around AD 300. Over the centuries, the Armenian Catholic Church has experienced periods of persecution, migration, and reconciliation with the larger Catholic Church. Today, there are significant Armenian Catholic populations in various parts of the world, including North America.
In North America, the Armenian Catholic Church has a notable presence, with an estimated 35,000 members in the United States and 10,000 in Canada. These communities are primarily concentrated in major cities such as New York, Boston, Detroit, Los Angeles, and other cities in California. The establishment of these communities can be traced back to the 19th century when Catholic Armenians from Western Armenia migrated to the United States in search of employment. The Hamidian Massacres at the end of the 19th century also led many survivors to settle in U.S. cities, particularly New York.
Armenian Catholic educational organizations and colleges were established in several cities, including Philadelphia and Boston, where Armenian sisters founded educational institutions that taught hundreds of children. The Armenian Catholic Church in the United States is organized under the Eparchy of Our Lady of Nareg, which was established in 2005 by Pope Benedict XVI. The eparchy has jurisdiction over Armenian Catholics in both the United States and Canada and is headed by Bishop Mikael Mouradian, who was appointed in 2011.
The Armenian Catholic community in North America continues to thrive and preserve its cultural and religious traditions. The establishment of churches, educational institutions, and community organizations reflects the resilience and dedication of Armenian Catholics in fostering their faith and identity in a new homeland. Their history is a testament to the enduring nature of religious conviction and cultural perseverance in the face of adversity.
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Catholic Armenians in Russia
The Armenian Catholic Church is an Eastern Catholic particular church sui iuris of the Catholic Church. It accepts the leadership of the bishop of Rome, and is therefore in communion with the universal Catholic Church, including the Latin Church and the 22 other Eastern Catholic Churches. The Armenian Catholic Church is regulated by Eastern canon law, summed up in the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches. The head of the sui iuris Armenian Catholic Church is the Armenian Catholic patriarch of Cilicia, whose main cathedral and de facto archiepiscopal see is the Cathedral of Saint Elias and Saint Gregory the Illuminator, in Beirut, Lebanon.
The Armenian Catholic Church came into being in 1740, when the Armenian bishop of Aleppo, Abraham Artzivian, already a Catholic, was elected patriarch of Sis (now Kozan, Turkey), in Cilicia. In 1911, the Armenian Catholic Church was divided into 19 dioceses. However, many of these dioceses were dissolved during the Armenian genocide in Turkey between 1915 and 1918, and a number of its followers migrated to different countries.
There are tens of thousands of Armenian Catholics in Russia, due to extensive migration from Armenia to Russia since the collapse of the Soviet Union. Comparatively large groups of Catholic Armenians appeared in Russia during the 1768-1774 Russian-Turkish war, after the conquest of Crimea and the third partition of Poland (1775). In the 19th century, there were Catholic Armenians in a number of cities of the Russian Empire, including Astrakhan, Odessa, some districts of the Crimea, Kizlar, and Mozdok. The first Catholic Armenian community and Armenian Catholic Church were established in Kizlar and Mozdok and have been functioning to this day. Catholic Armenian communities were also established in Grozny, Vladikavkaz, Patigorsk, Temirkhan, Shura, Ekaterinodar, and Novorossiysk.
In 1991, after the fall of the Soviet Union, Pope John Paul II merged the communities in Georgia and Russia with those in Armenia, creating the new Ordinariate for Catholics of Armenian Rite in Eastern Europe, with its residence in Gyumri.
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Frequently asked questions
The Armenian Apostolic Church is one of the oldest Christian churches, founded in the 1st century AD. It is neither Roman Catholic nor Eastern Orthodox, but Oriental Orthodox, which separated from the rest of the Christian world in the 5th century AD. It became the first branch of Christianity to become a state religion in 301 AD.
The Armenian Catholic Church is an Eastern Catholic particular church of the Catholic Church. It accepts the leadership of the bishop of Rome and is in full communion with the universal Catholic Church. It was founded in 1740 when the Armenian bishop of Aleppo, Abraham Artzivian, a Catholic, was elected patriarch of Sis.
Most Armenians, both in Armenia and overseas, belong to the Armenian Apostolic Church. However, some members of the Armenian diaspora became Catholics, and in 1742 an Armenian Uniate Catholic Church was founded, which currently has about 750,000 members. There are tens of thousands of Armenian Catholics in Russia and North America, and France holds the largest number of Armenian Catholics outside the Middle East and Eastern Europe.
Armenia is the world's oldest Christian nation and one of the most devoutly Christian societies. The Armenian Apostolic Church is the national church of Armenia and is recognised by its constitution, which provides for freedom of religion.
