Araratian Pontifical Diocese
|
Diocese of Araratian Արարատյան Հայրապետական թեմ |
|
|---|---|
|
|
| Location | |
| Country | Armenia |
| Statistics | |
| Population - Total |
(as of 2011) 1,300,000 |
| Information | |
| Denomination | Armenian Apostolic Church |
| Rite | Armenian Rite |
| Established | 4th century |
| Cathedral | Saint Sarkis, Yerevan |
| Current leadership | |
| Patriarch | Karekin II |
| Pontifical vicar | Archbishop Navasard Kchoyan |
| Website | |
| Official website | |
Araratian Pontifical Diocese (Armenian: Արարատյան Հայրապետական թեմ Araratyan Hayrapetakan t'em) is the largest diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church and one of the oldest dioceses in the world, covering the city of Yerevan and the Ararat Province within the Republic of Armenia.
The origin of Araratian Pontifical Diocese dates back the beginning of the 4th century. With the Christianzation of Armenia, Saint Gregory the Illuminator established the Catholicosate of All Armenians in Vagharshapat, as well as the Araratian Pontifical Diocese and appointed Bishop Albianus as the first primate vicar of the newly-founded diocese. The name of the diocese is derived from Mount Ararat; the symbol of the Armenian nation. At first, the diocese included the territories of Ararat plain, Nakhijevan, Kotayk and the western territories of Lake Sevan. It is believed that the diocese was commonly known as the Diocese of Yerevan between the 15th and 19th centuries. Under the Russian rule during the mid 19th century, the jurisdiction of the diocese was expanded to included the territories of Syunik and Shirak as well, followed by the area of Kars in 1878, covering almost the entire area of Eastern Armenia.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the Araratian Pontifical Diocese had 643 churches, 13 monastic complexes and more than 150 schools functioning under its jurisdiction. In August 1920, upon a kontakion issued by Catholicos George V, the territory of Shirak was separated from the Araratian Diocese to form the Diocese of Shirak. After the Treaty of Moscow in 1921, the Araratian Diocese lost the territories of Kars and Nakhijevan. The diocese lost most of its properties under the Soviet rule between 1920 and 1991.
With the independence of Armenia in 1991, the Armenian Church was reorganized, most of the properties were returned to the church and many new dioceses were established based on the administrative divisions of Armenia.
...
Wikipedia