How does the Armenian faith differ from the Orthodox faith? Religion of Armenians. Matah - offering in gratitude to God

A year later, Armenian representatives did not take part in the IV Ecumenical Council, and the decisions of the Council were distorted by translation. The rejection of the conciliar decisions marked a gap between the Orthodox and the anti-Chalcedonians among the Armenians, which shook the life of Christians in Armenia for more than two hundred years. The councils and Catholicoses of this period either reconciled or broke again with the Orthodox Church until the Council of Manazkert in the year, as a result of which the rejection of Orthodoxy prevailed among the Christians of Armenia for centuries. Since then, the Armenian Apostolic Church has existed as an anti-Chalcedonian community, at different times consisting of a number of administratively independent canonical fiefs recognizing the spiritual primacy of the Catholicos of “all Armenians” with a see in the Etchmiadzin Monastery. In its dogmatics, it adheres to the Christological terminology of St. Cyril of Alexandria (so-called miaphysitism); recognizes the seven sacraments; honors the Mother of God, icons. It is widespread in areas where Armenians live, being the largest religious community in Armenia and having a network of dioceses concentrated in the Middle East, the former USSR, Europe and America.

Historical sketch

Information relating to the most ancient period of the history of the Armenian Church is scarce. The main reason for this is that the Armenian alphabet was created only at the beginning of the century. The history of the first centuries of the existence of the Armenian Church was passed down orally from generation to generation and only in the 5th century was it recorded in writing in historiographical and hagiographical literature.

A number of historical evidence (in Armenian, Syriac, Greek and Latin) confirm the fact that Christianity in Armenia was preached by the holy apostles Thaddeus and Bartholomew, who were thus the founders of the Church in Armenia.

According to the Holy Tradition of the Armenian Church, after the Ascension of the Savior, one of His disciples, Thaddeus, arriving in Edessa, healed the king of Osroene Abgar from leprosy, ordained Addaeus as a bishop and went to Greater Armenia preaching the Word of God. Among the many who converted him to Christ was the daughter of the Armenian king Sanatruk Sandukht. For professing Christianity, the apostle, together with the princess and other converts, accepted martyrdom by order of the king in Shavarshan, in the Gavar Artaz.

A few years later, in the 29th year of the reign of Sanatruk, the Apostle Bartholomew, after preaching in Persia, arrived in Armenia. He converted the sister of King Vogui and many nobles to Christ, after which, by order of Sanatruk, he accepted martyrdom in the city of Arebanos, which is located between lakes Van and Urmia.

A fragment of a historical work has reached us, telling about the martyrdom of Sts. Voskeans and Sukiaseans in Armenia at the end - beginning of centuries. The author refers to the "Word" of Tatian (II century), who was well acquainted with the history of the apostles and the first Christian preachers. According to this scripture, the disciples of the Apostle Thaddeus, led by Hryusiy (Greek “gold”, in Armenian “wax”), who were Roman ambassadors to the Armenian king, after the martyrdom of the Apostle, settled at the sources of the Euphrates River, in the Tsaghkeats gorges. After the accession of Artashes, they came to the palace and began to preach the Gospel.

Being busy with the war in the east, Artashes asked the preachers to come to him again after his return and continue conversations about Christ. In the absence of the king, the Voskeans converted to Christianity some of the courtiers who arrived from the country of the Alans to Queen Satenik, for which they were martyred by the king's sons. The Alan princes, converted to Christianity, left the palace and settled on the slopes of Mount Jrabashkh, where, after living for 44 years, they suffered martyrdom led by their leader Sukias on the orders of the Alan king.

Dogmatic features of the Armenian Church

The dogmatic theology of the Armenian Church is based on the terminology of the great fathers of the Church - centuries: Saints Athanasius of Alexandria, Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, Gregory of Nyssa, Cyril of Alexandria and others, as well as on the dogmas adopted at the first three Ecumenical Councils: Nicaea, Constantinople and Ephesus.

As a result, it was concluded that the Armenian Church does not accept the resolution of the Council of Chalcedon due to the fact that the Council accepted the confession of the Pope, St. Leo the Great. The following words cause rejection of the Armenian Church in this confession:

"For although in the Lord Jesus there is one person - God and man, yet there is another (human nature) from which comes the common humiliation of both, and another (Divine nature) from which comes their common glorification.".

The Armenian Church uses the formulation of St. Cyril, but not to count natures, but to indicate the ineffable and indivisible unity of natures in Christ. Also used is the saying of St. Gregory the Theologian about the “two natures” in Christ, due to the incorruptibility and immutability of the divine and human natures. According to the confession of Nerses Shnorali set out in the “Conciliar Epistle of St. Nerses Shnorali to the Armenian people and correspondence with Emperor Manuel Komnenos”:

"Is one nature accepted for the sake of an indissoluble and inseparable union, and not for the sake of confusion - or are two natures posited only for the sake of showing an unmixed and unchangeable being, and not for separation; both expressions remain within Orthodoxy" .

Department in Vagharshapt

• St. Gregory I the Illuminator (302 - 325)
• Aristakes I Parthian (325 - 333)
• Vrtanes the Parthian (333 - 341)
• Hesychius (Iusik) Parthian (341 - 347)
• Daniel (347) chorep. Taronsky, elected archbishop.
• Paren (Parnerseh) Ashtishatsky (348 - 352)
• Nerses I the Great (353 - July 25, 373)
• Chunak(? - no later than 369) installed as Catholicos during the exile of Nerses the Great
• Isaac-Hesychius (Shaak-Iusik) of Manazkert (373 - 377)
• Zaven of Manazkert (377 - 381)
• Aspurakes of Manazkert (381 - 386)
• Isaac I the Great (387 - 425)
• Surmak (425 - 426)
• Barkisho Syrian (426 - 429)
• Samuel (429 - 434)
• 434 - 444 - widowhood of the throne

The history of Armenian culture dates back to ancient times. Traditions, way of life, religion are dictated by the religious views of the Armenians. In the article we will consider the questions: what kind of faith do the Armenians have, why did the Armenians accept Christianity, about the baptism of Armenia, in what year did the Armenians accept Christianity, about the difference between the Gregorian and Orthodox churches.

Adoption of Christianity by Armenia in 301

The religion of the Armenians originated in the 1st century AD, when the founders of the Armenian Apostolic Church (AAC), Thaddeus and Bartholomew, preached in Armenia. Already in the 4th century, in 301, Christianity became the official religion of the Armenians. This was started by King Trdat III. He came to rule the royal throne of Armenia in 287.

Apostle Thaddeus and Bartholomew - founders of the Armenian Apostolic Church

Initially, Trdat was not favorable to Christianity and persecuted believers. He imprisoned Saint Gregory for 13 years. However, the strong faith of the Armenian people prevailed. One day the king lost his mind and was healed thanks to the prayers of Gregory, a saint preaching Orthodoxy. After this, Trdat believed, was baptized and made Armenia the first Christian state in the world.

Armenians - Catholics or Orthodox - today make up 98% of the country's population. Of these, 90% are representatives of the Armenian Apostolic Church, 7% are representatives of the Armenian Catholic Church.

The Armenian Apostolic Church is independent of the Orthodox and Catholic churches

The Armenian Apostolic Church stood at the origins of the emergence of Christianity for the Armenian people. It belongs to the oldest Christian churches. Its founders are considered to be the preachers of Christianity in Armenia - the apostles Thaddeus and Bartholomew.

The dogmas of the AAC differ significantly from Orthodoxy and Catholicism. The Armenian Church is autonomous from the Orthodox and Catholic churches. And this is its main feature. The word apostolic in the name refers us to the origins of the church and indicates that Christianity in Armenia became the first state religion.

The AAC keeps chronology according to the Gregorian calendar. However, she does not deny the Julian calendar.

During times of lack of political governance, the Gregorian Church took over the functions of government. In this regard, the role of the Catholicosate in Etchmiadzin became dominant for a long time. For several centuries in a row, it was considered the main center of power and control.

In modern times, the Catholicosate of All Armenians operates in Etchmidizian and the Cilician Catholicosate in Antilias.

Catholicos - bishop in the AAC

Catholicos is a related concept to the word bishop. The title of the highest rank in the AAC.

The Catholicos of All Armenians includes the dioceses of Armenia, Russia, and Ukraine. The Cilician Catholicos includes the dioceses of Syria, Cyprus and Lebanon.

Traditions and rituals of the AAC.

Matah - offering in gratitude to God

One of the most important rituals of the AAC is the matah or treat, a charity dinner. Some people confuse this ritual with animal sacrifice. The meaning is to give alms to the poor, which is an offering to God. Matah is performed as a thank you to God for the successful end of some event (the recovery of a loved one) or as a request for something.

To perform matakh, livestock (bull, sheep) or poultry are slaughtered. The meat is used to make broth with salt, which has been consecrated in advance. Under no circumstances should the meat remain uneaten until the next day. Therefore, it is divided and distributed.

Forward post

This post precedes Lent. Advanced fasting begins 3 weeks before the Great Fast and lasts 5 days - from Monday to Friday. Its observance is historically determined by the fast of St. Gregory. This helped the apostle to cleanse himself and heal King Trdat with prayers.

Communion

Unleavened bread is used during communion, however, there is no fundamental difference between unleavened and leavened. Wine is not diluted with water.

The Armenian priest dips the bread (previously consecrated) into wine, breaks it and gives it to those who wish to receive communion to taste.

Sign of the Cross

Performed with three fingers from left to right.

How does the Gregorian Church differ from the Orthodox Church?

Monophysitism - recognition of the one nature of God

For a long time, the differences between the Armenian and Orthodox churches were not noticeable. Around the 6th century, differences became noticeable. Speaking about the division of the Armenian and Orthodox churches, we should remember the emergence of Monophysitism.

This is a branch of Christianity, according to which the nature of Jesus is not dual, and he does not have a corporeal shell, like a man. Monophysites recognize one nature in Jesus. Thus, at the 4th Council of Chalcedon, a split occurred between the Gregorian Church and the Orthodox Church. The Armenian Monophysites were recognized as heretics.

Differences between the Gregorian and Orthodox churches

1. The Armenian Church does not recognize the flesh of Christ, its representatives are convinced that his body is ether. The main difference lies in the reason for the separation of the AAC from Orthodoxy.
2. Icons. In Gregorian churches there is not an abundance of icons, as in Orthodox churches. Only in some churches there is a small iconostasis in the corner of the temple. Armenians do not pray in front of holy images. Some historians attribute this to the fact that the Armenian Church was engaged in iconoclasm.

1. Difference in calendars. Representatives of Orthodoxy are guided by the Julian calendar. Armenian 1 to Gregorian.
2. Representatives of the Armenian Church cross themselves from left to right, Orthodox Christians - vice versa.
3. Spiritual hierarchy. In the Gregorian Church there are 5 degrees, where the highest is the Catholicos, then the bishop, priest, deacon, and reader. There are only 3 degrees in the Russian Church.
4. Fasting for 5 days - arachawork. Starts 70 days before Easter.
5. Since the Armenian Church recognizes one hypostasis of God, only one is sung in church songs.. Unlike the Orthodox, where they sing about the trinity of God.
6. During Lent, Armenians can eat cheese and eggs on Sundays.
7. The Gregorian Church lives according to the tenets of only three councils, although there were seven of them. The Armenians were unable to attend the 4th Council of Chalcedon, and therefore did not accept the tenets of Christianity and ignored all subsequent councils.

I'm not God knows what kind of theologian.

Or rather, I am not a theologian at all. But every time I read in the blogosphere about the foundations of the Armenian church, the compiler, editor and a little author of the book “Applied Religious Studies for Journalists” begins to speak in me.

And now, in connection with the Christmas holiday, I decided to examine several of the most frequently encountered issues related to the Armenian Apostolic Church - the AAC.

Is the Armenian Church "Gregorian"?

Did the Armenians convert to Christianity in 301?

Is the AAC Orthodox?

Are all Armenians part of the AAC flock?

The Armenian Church is not Gregorian

The name “Gregorian” was coined in Russia in the 19th century, when part of Armenia was annexed to the Russian Empire. It means that the Armenian Church originates from Gregory the Illuminator, and not from the apostles.

Why was this done?

And then, when the church originates directly from the apostles, this means that its origins go back directly to Christ. The Russian Orthodox Church can call itself apostolic with great stretch, because it is known that Orthodoxy came to Rus' from Byzantium, and relatively late - in the 10th century.

True, here the concept of the catholicity of the church comes “to the aid” of the Russian Orthodox Church, that is, its spatial, temporal and qualitative universality, which the parts possess to the same extent as the whole, that is, the Russian Orthodox Church, being one of the Orthodox churches, also seems to rise straight to Christ, but let’s not go too deep into theology - I noted this in fairness.

Thus, by making the Armenian church “Gregorian,” the Russian Empire (where the church was not separated from the state, and therefore the Russian Orthodox Church should have had all the advantages), seemed to deprive it of the grounds to elevate itself directly to Christ. Instead of Christ and his disciples-apostles, it turned out to be Gregory the Illuminator. Cheap and cheerful.

However, all this time the Armenian Church called itself the Apostolic Church (AAC), and it was and is called the same throughout the world - with the exception of the Russian Empire, then the Soviet Union, and now Russia.

By the way, another misconception is connected with this, which has become very popular in recent years.

Armenians did not accept Christianity in 301

The teaching about the Son of God began to spread in Armenia in the first century, naturally, AD. They even say 1934, but I’ve seen articles that say it was apparently 12-15 years later.

And it was like that. When Christ was crucified, after which he died, resurrected and ascended, his disciples-apostles went to different lands to spread his teaching. We know that, for example, Peter in his travels reached Rome, where he died, and the famous Vatican Church of St. was built over his grave. Petra.

And Thaddeus and Bartholomew - two of the 12 first apostles - went to the northeast, to Syria, from where they soon reached Armenia, where they successfully spread the teachings of Christ. It is from them - from the apostles - that the Armenian Church originates. That is why it is called “apostolic”.

Both of them ended their lives in Armenia. Thaddeus was tortured: he was crucified and pierced with arrows. And it was on the very spot where the monastery of St. Thaddeus, or, in Armenian, Surb Tadei vank. This is in what is now Iran. This monastery is revered in Iran and thousands of pilgrims flock there every year. Relics of St. Thaddeus is kept in Etchmiadzin.

Bartholomew was also martyred. He brought the hand-made face of the Mother of God to Armenia and built a church dedicated to her. In 68, when the persecution of Christians began, he was executed. According to legend, two thousand Christians were executed along with him. Relics of St. Bartholomew is kept in Baku, since the place of execution was the city of Alban or Albanopol, which is identified as modern Baku.

So Christianity began to spread in Armenia in the first century. And in 301, King Trdat proclaimed Christianity, which had been spreading throughout Armenia for about 250 years, as the official religion.

Therefore, it is correct to say that the Armenians adopted Christianity in the middle of the first century, and in 301 Christianity was adopted in Armenia as the state religion.

Is the AAC Orthodox?

Yes and no. If we talk about the theological foundations of the teaching, then it is Orthodox. In other words, the Christology of the AAC, as current theologians claim, is identical to Orthodoxy.

Yes, because the head of the AAC - Catholicos Karekin II - himself recently stated that the AAC is Orthodox. And the words of the Catholicos are a very important argument.

No - because according to Orthodox doctrine, the decrees of the seven Ecumenical Councils that took place from 49 to 787 are recognized. As you can see, we are talking about a very long history. The AAC recognizes only the first three.

No - because Orthodoxy is a single organizational structure with its own autocephalies, that is, separate, independent churches. There are 14 recognized autocephalous churches, and there are also several so-called autonomous churches that are not recognized by everyone.

Why are the seven Ecumenical Councils so important? Because at each of them decisions were made that were important for Christian teaching. For example, at the first council they adopted the postulate that it was not necessary to observe certain Jewish rituals, at the second they adopted a creed (“creed”), at the third and fifth they condemned Nestorianism, at the seventh they condemned iconoclasm and separated the veneration of God and the worship of icons, and so on.

The Armenian Church accepted the decrees of the first three councils. The fourth ecumenical council, called the Council of Chalcedon, took place in 451. If you are familiar with the history of Armenia, then you will immediately remember that this year is known for the famous Battle of Avarayr, where Armenian troops led by Vardan Mamikonyan fought against Sasanian Persia for religious and state independence.

And since the clergy played the most important role during the uprising that ended with the Battle of Avarayr, as well as after it, the churchmen did not have the time or desire to send a delegation to the Ecumenical Council.

And this is where the problem turned out to be, because the Council made the most important decision about the essence of Christ. And the question was, is Christ God or man? If he was born of God, then, probably, he himself is also a god. But he was born from an earthly woman, therefore, he must be human.

One theologian, Nestorius from the city of Caesarea (Syria), argued that Christ is both God and man. These two essences coexist in one body due to the fact that it exists in two hypostases, which are in union and together create the “face of unity.”

And another - Eutychius from Constantinople - believed that Christ is God. And period. There is no human essence in him.

The Council of Chalcedon found a kind of middle line, condemning both the “right-wing” line of Nestor and the “left-wing opportunist” line of Eutyches.

The decisions of this council were not accepted by six churches: the Armenian Apostolic, Coptic Orthodox, Ethiopian Orthodox, Eritrean Orthodox, Syrian Orthodox and Malankara Orthodox (in India). They began to be called “ancient eastern Christian churches”, or “ancient Orthodox churches”.

So, by this parameter, the AAC is an Orthodox Church.

All Armenians, by definition, are the flock of the Armenian Apostolic Church, just as all Jews are Jews.

This is also a misconception. Of course, the AAC is the largest and most influential church with two Catholicosates in Etchmiadzin and the Lebanese Antelias. But she's not the only one.

There is an Armenian Catholic Church. In fact, this is a Uniate church, that is, a church that combines elements of Catholicism and the AAC, in particular, the Armenian rite of worship.

The most famous congregation of Armenian Catholics is Mkhitari with its famous monastery on the island of St. Lazarus in Venice. Churches and monasteries of Armenian Catholics exist throughout Europe, including in Rome and Vienna (oh, what a liqueur the Viennese Mekhitarists prepare...).

In 1850, Pope Pius IX established the Artvin diocese for Catholic Armenians. At the beginning of the twentieth century, the diocese disintegrated, leaving the flock in the care of the bishop who was in Tiraspol. Yes, yes, Moldavian and Romanian Armenians, just like Ukrainian ones, were also Catholics.

The Vatican even established an ordinariate for Catholic Armenians in Gyumri. In northern Armenia, Catholics are called “frang”.

There are also Protestant Armenians.

The Evangelical Armenian Church was founded in Constantinople in the mid-19th century and now has parishes in a variety of countries, united in three evangelical unions - the Middle East, centered in Beirut, France (Paris) and North America (New Jersey). There are also many churches in Latin America, Brussels, Sydney and so on.

They say that Protestant Armenians are called “ynglyz,” but I haven’t heard that myself.

Finally, there are Muslim Armenians. A major scientific conference dedicated to Armenians who converted to Islam was recently held in Istanbul under the patronage of the Hrant Dink Foundation.

The idea that in reality there is not much difference and, in the end, all Churches are talking about the same thing, to put it mildly, is far from the truth. In fact, the Armenian Apostolic Church has serious reasons to claim that it has retained special fidelity to the apostolic tradition. Each Church has taken a special name for itself; the Armenian Church calls itself Apostolic. In fact, the name of each of the Churches is much longer than just Catholic, Orthodox, Apostolic. Our Church is called the Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Holy Church (Orthodox - in the sense of the truth of faith). Look how many definitions there are, but we most often use one, the closest and dearest to us and the most characteristic.

For centuries, our Church has had to defend the purity of the dogmas of faith. In 451, not only the Armenian Church, but also other Eastern Orthodox Churches - Coptic, Syrian, Ethiopian - did not accept the decision of the Council of Chalcedon, having significant dogmatic reasons. There were serious grounds for fears that Chalcedon was restoring what was condemned at the Third Ecumenical Council of Ephesus - primarily the heresy of Nestorius.

The main reason for the disagreement is that the Armenians preferred to remain faithful to the theological tradition of the Alexandrian school, founded by the great feat primarily of St. Athanasius the Great and Cyril of Alexandria. Only after the death of the latter was it possible to implement the decisions taken by the Council of Chalcedon. The cathedral was led not by clergy, but by Emperor Marcian himself and Empress Pulcheria. It must be admitted that Chalcedon only confirmed the already existing theological contradictions between the Alexandrian and Antiochian schools. These differences had roots in different spiritual and cultural layers; they arose as a result of the collision of the holistic religious contemplation of the East and differential Hellenistic thinking, the unity and dualism of the confession of the Savior, the specific and generalized perception of the human reality of Christ.

The Armenians remained faithful to the decisions of the three Ecumenical Councils, which without distortion defined the faith coming from the apostolic period. We did not have an empire, we did not even have time for respite, forced to constantly fight for existence. We did not try to adapt Christology to imperial ambitions, to the service of empire. Christianity was the main thing for us, for the sake of it we were ready to give up what we had - this property was mainly life. As for the churches with which, unfortunately, we do not have Eucharistic communion, we must take from them all the best. There is a lot of good there, especially in Russian spiritual literature, in the amazing evidence of spiritual life. We have a special spiritual closeness with the Russian people. We constantly pray for the restoration of the Eucharistic unity of the Church of Christ. But until this happens, everyone must be in their own spiritual reality. This does not mean that we prohibit our believers from going to Russian Orthodox churches. Thank God, we are not characterized by such fanaticism. You can come in, light a candle, and pray. But during Sunday liturgy you must be in your Church.

Sometimes a dispute arises when Armenians themselves can prove that they are not Orthodox. This creates an absurd situation - the person actually claims that his faith is not true. Orthodox Christians in Russia do not consider Armenians Orthodox. The same is reflected in our theological tradition - we recognize the Orthodoxy of only five eastern churches - ours, Coptic, Ethiopian, Syrian, Indian-Malabar. The Chalcedonian Churches, from the point of view of the doctrine of the AAC, are not considered Orthodox. In our theological literature they are simply called the Greek Church, the Roman Church, the Russian Church, etc. True, we can also briefly call our Church Armenian.

Of course, Churches have their own official name, and in official relations we call them what they call themselves. But, recognizing all the differences between us and the Orthodox Chalcedonians, we cannot shy away from the assertion that we have the Orthodox, in other words, the correct, true faith.

Father Mesrop (Aramyan).

From an interview with Aniv magazine

The Armenian Orthodox Church was founded a very long time ago - in the 4th century, and therefore is one of the oldest Christian communities. Moreover, Armenia is the first country to have a state religion. And now, after almost two thousand years, the Russian and Armenian Orthodox Churches do not have Eucharistic communion due to the dogmatic contradictions that exist between them.

What is the difference between the Armenian Church and the Orthodox Church? At what stage and for what reason did the separation occur? The fact is that in the 6th century, the heresy of Monophysitism arose in the Christian Church - a teaching that rejects the two natures of Jesus Christ, divine and human, and recognizes only God in Him. Monophysitism was officially condemned at the IV Council of Chalcis, and since then the Armenian Orthodox Church has been separated from the Ecumenical Church.

The attitude of Orthodox Armenians towards holy icons

Some church historians believe that at a certain period of its existence the Armenian Orthodox Church supported iconoclasm. True, there is no documentary evidence of this, and the only justification is the fact that among Orthodox Armenians it is not customary to pray in front of icons, and the churches of the Armenian Church look very ascetic in comparison with Russian Orthodox churches - as a rule, they do not have frescoes with images of saints faces, and only a small iconostasis with a small number of icons indicates that the person is in the Orthodox Church. However, other researchers are inclined to believe that this custom is explained by the need to consecrate each image with the holy world, and this should be done by the bishop.

Therefore, in the Armenian Orthodox Church, the icon is considered a purely church utensil, while at home Orthodox Armenians prefer to pray in front of the crucifix.

What calendar do Orthodox Armenians live by?

Another difference between the Armenian Church and the Russian Orthodox Church is that it belongs to different calendar systems. The Armenian Orthodox Church lives according to the Gregorian calendar, and the Russian one lives according to the Julian calendar, so representatives of these two churches, as well as all the holidays associated with it, are on different days. And among the ritual differences, the main one can be called the sign of the cross: Orthodox Armenians cross themselves with three fingers, but not from right to left, but from left to right. &1