Armenian Apostolic Church

The Armenian Apostolic Church is an autocephalous Oriental Orthodox church rooted in Armenia. Its tradition traces the beginnings of Christianity there to the missions of Saints Thaddeus and Bartholomew.

Oriental Orthodox Churches: A communion of churches that accepts the first three ecumenical councils and rejects the Council of Chalcedon. The Armenian Apostolic Church belongs to this communion, alongside several other ancient churches.
Thaddeus of Edessa: An apostle associated by Armenian tradition with the early evangelization of Armenia. The church's origin tradition names Thaddeus among Armenia's first missionaries.
Nerses the Great: A fourth-century Armenian catholicos known for church reforms and charitable institutions. His reforms helped define the church's pastoral and social responsibilities.
Eastern Orthodox Church: A communion of churches that accepts the Council of Chalcedon and shares Byzantine liturgical traditions. The Armenian Apostolic Church belongs to a separate communion formed around a different reception of Chalcedon.
Armenian alphabet: The writing system created for Armenian in the early fifth century. Its creation made scripture and learning accessible in Armenian and strengthened church institutions.
Miaphysitism: A Christological doctrine describing Christ as one incarnate nature in which divinity and humanity are united. This Christology distinguishes Armenian Apostolic theology from the Chalcedonian definition.
Bartholomew the Apostle: One of the Twelve Apostles, traditionally identified as an early missionary to Armenia. Armenian tradition pairs Bartholomew with Thaddeus in its account of apostolic beginnings.
Mesrop Mashtots: The fifth-century Armenian scholar credited with creating the Armenian alphabet. The alphabet he devised enabled Armenian scripture and theological literature.
Chalcedonian Definition: The 451 statement that Christ is one person in two natures, divine and human. Its formulation became the doctrinal fault line separating Armenian and Chalcedonian churches.
Armenian illuminated manuscripts: Handwritten Armenian books decorated with painted images and ornamental designs. Monasteries and church patrons sustained a distinctive tradition of religious bookmaking.

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