The Armenian Apostolic Oriental Orthodox Church, is one of the original Oriental Orthodox churches. The Armenian Church recognizes the Ecumenical Councils of Nicaea (325), Constantinople (381), and Ephesus (431). The decisions and the dogmatic formulations of these councils are the basis of the theological thought of the Armenian Church which help her to protect herself against different sects and religious denominations which threatened her in the past as well as today.
In 451 the Council of Chalcedon, the Universal Church realized its first divergence because of the dangerous ideas put forward regarding the problem of the human and divine nature of Christ. Some oriental bishops did not accept the conclusions of the Chalcedonic Council and were thus separated from the West. Among the oriental Orthodox Church family are the Armenian Apostolic, Coptic, Ethiopian, Assyrian, and Indian Malabar. In fact, Armenian Church did not participate in the Council of Chalcedon (451), because in 451 Armenia were having one of the important battles of his history, Battle of Vartanants. The Armenian church has been labeled monophysite because they rejected the decisions of this council, which condemned monophysitism.
The Faith of the Armenian Church is transmitted through the church’s Holy Tradition, that is, the ongoing life of the church from the time of Christ to our times.
The Bible, liturgy and worship, writings of the church fathers, church councils, saints, canons, religious art and rituals — organically linked together — formulate the Holy Tradition of the Church. This Faith is articulated in the Creed of the Armenian Church, the formal declaration of beliefs, which in turn defines the church’s reason to be and sets the parameters of its mission and functioning.
The Armenian Church professes her faith in the context of her worship. Theologically, whatever the church believes, the church prays. As such, the Armenian Church’s worship and liturgy constitute a prime source for teaching and living her faith. Tradition, on the other hand, defines and formulates the “articles of faith” and transmits them from generation to generation.
As articulated in the Creed, the Armenian Church believes in One God, the Father Almighty who is the Creator of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible. Humanity (male and female) is created in the image and likeness of God, and as such is a special creature. And our salvation is founded in Christ Jesus, the incarnate Son of God, who came and died for our sins and rose again on the third day.
Glossary of the Faith of the Armenian Church
Հայ Եկեղեցու Հաւատքը
Sacraments/Խորհուրդներ
- Ա. Մկրտութիւն……….Baptism
- Բ. Դրոշմ……….Confirmation
- Գ. Ապաշխարութիւն……….Penance
- Դ. Հաղորդութիւն……….Holy Communion
- Ե. Պսակ……….Marriage
- Զ. Օծում Հիւադաց…….Untion (Annointing of the Sick)
- Է. Ձեռնադրութիւն……….Ordination
7 Virtues/ Եօթ Առաքինութիւններ
- Ա. Խոնարութիւն……….Humility
- Բ. Եղբայրասիրութիւն……….Charity
- Գ. Ապաշխարութիւն……….Repentence
- Դ. Ողորմութիւն……….Compassion
- Ե. Ժուժկալութիւն……….Abstinance
- Զ. Ողջխոհութիւն…….Chastity
- Է. Պարկեշտութիւն………Modesty
7 Deadly Sins/Եօթ Մահացու Մեղք
- Ա. Հպարտութիւն……….Pride
- Բ. Նախանձ……….Envy
- Գ. Բարկութիւն……….Anger
- Դ. Ծուլութիւն……….Laziness
- Ե. Ագահութիւն……….Covetousness
- Զ. Որկրամոլութիւն…….Greediness
- Է. Բղջախոհութիւն……….Lust
Which of Christ’s Apostles came to Armenia?
Քրիստոսի Առաքեալներէն որոն՞ք եկան Հայաստան։
- Սրբ. Թադէոս եւ Սրբ. Բարթողիմէոս
- St. Thaddeus and St. Bartholomew
Which Ecumenical Council’s does the Armenian Church recognize?
Երեք Տիեզերական Ժողովները Հայ Առաքելական Եկեղեցւոյ։
- Ա. Նիկիոյ, որ գումարուեցաւ 318 Հայրապետներով 325 թուին։
- Nicea, 318 Holy Fathers in 325 AD
- Բ. Կոստանթնուպոլսոյ, որ գումարուեցաւ 150 Հայրապետներով 381 թուին։
- Constantinople, 150 Holy Fathers in 381 AD
- Գ. Եփեսոս, որ գումարուեցաւ 200 Հայրապետներով 431 թուին։
- Ephesus, 200 Holy Fathers in 431 AD
Summary of Who are we:
- We are the Holy Apostolic, Orthodox Universal Church
- We are not involved in “partisan politics,” but we are involved on the political scene
- We always encourage only a peaceful and prayerful presence in regards to political and socially polarizing issues
- All life matters, from the womb to the grave as established by God through the Holy Scriptures
- We provide love and compassion to all people whether we agree or disagree
- We spread the teachings of our Lord and Savior Christ Jesus and the Church is open to all torn, hurting, and suffering
- We support not just the Armenian Church but reach out to our communities local or afar