The Armenian Apostolic Church is the national church of Armenia. Part of Oriental Orthodoxy, it is one of the most ancient Christian institutions. The Kingdom of Armenia was the first state in history to adopt Christianity as its official religion under the rule of King Tiridates III, of the Arsacid dynasty in the early 4th century.
A catholicos is the head of certain churches in some Eastern Christian traditions. The title implies autocephaly and, in some cases, it is the title of the head of an autonomous church. The word comes from ancient Greek καθολικός, derived from καθ' ὅλου from κατά and ὅλος, meaning "concerning the whole, universal, general"; it originally designated a financial or civil office in the Roman Empire.
The title of patriarchs of the East is used by primates of several Christian denominations within Eastern Christianity. Historically, the title originated as ecclesiastical designation for primates of the Church of the East. It was, and still is, officially used by different branches of the historical Church of the East.
Aram I has been the head of the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia since 1995 and he resides in Antelias, Lebanon.
Karekin I served as the Catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church between 1994 and 1999. Previously, he served as the Catholicos of Cilicia from 1983 to 1994 as Karekin II.
Armenians have lived in Lebanon for centuries. According to Minority Rights Group International, there are 156,000 Armenians in Lebanon, around 4% of the population. Prior to the Lebanese Civil War, the number was higher, but the community lost a portion of its population to emigration.
The Armenians in Syria are Syrian citizens of either full or partial Armenian descent.
The Armenian Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia is an autocephalous Oriental Orthodox church. Since 1930, the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia has been headquartered in Antelias, Lebanon. Aram I is the Catholicos of Cilicia since 1995.
Sahak II or Isaac II, last name Khabayan, was Catholicos of Cilicia of the Armenian Apostolic Church in 1902–1939.
Armenians in United Arab Emirates refers to ethnic Armenians living in the United Arab Emirates. They number around 5,000.
Zareh I Payaslian was Catholicos of Cilicia and the Whole Armenian Apostolic of the World Church of the Armenians from 1956 to 1963.
The Forty Martyrs Armenian Cathedral of Aleppo, Syria, is a 15th-century Armenian Apostolic church located in the old Christian quarter of Jdeydeh. It is significant among the Armenian churches for being one of the oldest active churches in the Armenian diaspora and the city of Aleppo. It is a three-nave basilica church with no dome. Its bell tower of 1912, is considered to be one of the unique samples of the baroque architecture in Aleppo.
Archbishop Leon Tourian was a cleric of the Armenian Apostolic Church. Appointed primate of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America in 1931, he was assassinated in New York City by Armenian Revolutionary Federation members.
Established in 1983, St. Mary Armenian Apostolic Church is at church in Toronto, Ontario, Canada in the district of North York. It belongs to the Holy See of Cilicia.
Archbishop Varoujan Hergelian was the Catholicosal Vicar of the Armenian Prelature of Cyprus from August 1997 until May 2014.
The Armenian Prelacy of Canada, is a diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church affiliated with the Holy See of Cilicia, formed in 2002. The prelacy building is located at 3401 Oliver Asselin in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Armenian Prelacy of Cyprus, is one of the oldest dioceses of the Armenian Apostolic Church outside the historic Armenian territories, covering the Republic of Cyprus. It has been founded during the 12th century and currently has around 3,500 followers, comprising around 95% of the Armenians in Cyprus. The diocese is under the jurisdiction of the Holy See of Cilicia of the Armenian Church.
Sepuh Sargsyan or Sebouh Sarkissian is an Armenian Apostolic clergyman. Currently he is prelate and archbishop of the Armenian Diocese of Tehran located at Saint Sarkis Cathedral, which is under the jurisdiction of the Holy See of Cilicia.
The Armenian Prelacy of Atrpatakan, is Oriental Orthodox Christian diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Tabriz, Azerbaijan, Iran. It is within the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Catholicossate of the Great House of Cilicia, seated in Antelias. The Diocese of Atrpatakan is currently headed by Archbishop Grigor Chiftchian.
Meghrig Parikian was an Armenian bishop who served in the Armenian Apostolic Church under the jurisdiction of the Holy See of Cilicia. Parikian was the Dean of the Armenian Theological Seminary in Bikfaya, Lebanon. Meghrig Parikian was also a musician and composer who had studied at Juilliard and the Mannes School of Music in New York.
