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The overwhelming majority of the population of Armenia is Christians of Armenian Apostolic Church which possesses the status of national church of Armenian people. There are also believers of Russian Orthodox Church, Moslems, Hebrews and representatives of other faiths including the so-called religious minorities in Armenia.
Islam in Armenia was practiced mainly by Azerbaijanis and Kurds. However, most part of Muslims fled the country after Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The largest Muslim community, including Kurds, Iranians and Middle East nations has survived only in Yerevan. Most of them are Shafiit Sunnites. Among Kurds there are a lot of jezids whose religious beliefs include elements of Zoroastrism, Islam and animism.
The Constitution guarantees the freedom of worship including the right to practice any religion or atheism.
Characteristics
To the middle of the 5th century Armenian Apostolic Church was one of the branches of uniform Christian Church. However, aspiring to strengthen the independence of Byzantium and and refusing to recognize the decisions of the 4th (Khalkidon) Ecumenical Council (451), Armenian Apostolic Church actually separated itself from both Oriental and Roman Catholic Church. Read more...
History of Religion
St. Thaddaeus and St. Bartholomew, the first illuminators, are considered to be the founders of Armenian Church. St. Thaddaeus mission lasted for eight years (35-43); the mission o St. Barthlomew– sixteen (44-60). Read more...
Armenian Apostolic Church
The head of Armenian Apostolic Church is the Supreme Patriarch and the Catholicos of all Armenians (Garegin II) whose permanent residence is in Echmiadzin. Read more...
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