Diocese of Armavir ( hy, Արմավիրի թեմ ''Armaviri t'em''), is a diocese of the

Armenian Apostolic Church , native_name_lang = hy , icon = Armenian Apostolic Church logo.svg , icon_width = 100px , icon_alt = , image = Էջմիածնի_Մայր_Տաճար.jpg , imagewidth = 250px , a ...

covering the

Armavir Province Armavir ( hy, wikt:Արմավիր, Արմավիր, ), is a administrative divisions of Armenia, province (''marz'') in the western part of Armenia. Located in the Ararat plain dominated by Mount Ararat from the south and Mount Aragats from the n ...

Armenia Armenia (), , group=pron officially the Republic of Armenia,, is a landlocked country in the Armenian Highlands of Western Asia.The UNbr>classification of world regions places Armenia in Western Asia; the CIA World Factbook , , and ''Ox ...

. The name is derived from the historic city of Armavir which served as the capital of the ancient Kingdom of Armenia between 331 and 210 BC. The diocese was officially founded on May 30, 1996, by Catholicos

Karekin I Karekin I ( Armenian: ) (August 27, 1932 – June 29, 1999) served as the Catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church between 1994 and 1999. Previously, he served as the Catholicos of Cilicia from 1983 to 1994 as Karekin II ( Armenian: ). ...

. The seat of the diocese is the Cathedral of Saint Gregory of Narek in the town of Armavir. Bishop Sion Adamyan is currently the primate of the diocese, serving since 2001.

History

Being home to many of the most important churches and monasteries of the Armenian Apostolic Church, the territory of Armavir has been the spiritual centre of the Armenian nation. Throughout the history, the territory has been regulated by several dioceses of the Armenian Church, including the diocese of Amberd, Hovhannavank and Bjni. The territory remained an active religious centre of the Armenian church with the inauguration of many churches and monastic complexes during the medieval period. During the 7th century, the churches of Saint Hripsime,

Saint Gayane The Saint Gayane Church ( hy, Սուրբ Գայանե եկեղեցի; pronounced ''Surb Gayane'') is a 7th-century Armenian church in Vagharshapat (Etchmiadzin), the religious center of Armenia. It is located within walking distance from the Etch ...

, Zvartnots and Targmanchats were built. After the independence of Armenia, the Diocese of Armavir was officially founded upon a ''

kontakion The kontakion (Greek , plural , ''kontakia'') is a form of hymn performed in the Orthodox and the Eastern Catholic liturgical traditions. The kontakion originated in the Byzantine Empire around the 6th century and is closely associated with Sain ...

'' issued by Catholicos

on May 30, 1996. The church of

Holy Mother of God ''Theotokos'' (Greek: ) is a title of Mary, mother of Jesus, used especially in Eastern Christianity. The usual Latin translations are ''Dei Genitrix'' or ''Deipara'' (approximately "parent (fem.) of God"). Familiar English translations are " ...

in Vagharshapat has served as the seat of the diocese until 2014, when it was moved to the newly built Saint Gregory of Narek Church in the town of Armavir. Currently, the diocese has 26 churches under its jurisdiction, while the

Etchmiadzin Cathedral Etchmiadzin Cathedral) or simply Etchmiadzin. Alternatively spelled as Echmiadzin, Ejmiatsin, and Edjmiadsin. ( hy, Էջմիածնի մայր տաճար, Ēǰmiatsni mayr tačar) is the mother church of the Armenian Apostolic Church, located i ...

and the churches of Hripsime, Gayane, Shoghakat, and the Holy Archangels are under the direct regulation of the Mother See.

Primates

*Bishop Asoghik Aristakesyna 1996-1998 *Priest Khoren Manukyan 1998-1999 (as vicar) *Priestmonk Arshen Sanosyan 1999 (as vicar) *Bishop Grigoris Buniatyan 1999-2001 (acting primate) *Priest Artak Simonyan 2001 (acting primate) *Bishop Sion Adamyan 2001-present

Active churches

*Surp Harutyun Church, Geghakert, 13th century * Holy Mother of God Church, Vagharshapat, 1767 *Surp Harutyun Church, Parakar, 1859 *Saint Stephen Church, Doghs, 19th century *Holy Mother of God Church, Aygeshat (Vagharshapat), 19th century *Surp Hovahnnes Church, Argavand, 19th century, rebuilt in 2009 *Saint George's Church, Aygeshat (Armavir), 1854Վերաբացվեց Արմավիրի Մարզի Այգեշատ գյուղի Սուրբ Գևորգ եկեղեցին
/ref> *Holy Mother of God Church, Parakar, 1855 *Holy Mother of God Church, Artimed, 1876 *Holy Mother of God Church, Sardarapat, 1882 *Surp Nshan Church, Gai, 1894 *Holy Mother of God Church, Mrgashat, 1903 *Holy Mother of God Church, Arshaluys, 1909 *Surp Hovahnnes Church, Mrgastan, 1912 *Surp Sahak Church, Tandzut, 1912 *Holy Mother of God Church, Bambakashat, 1914 *Holy Saviour's Church, Musaler, 2000 *Saint Lazarus Church, Metsamor, 2005 *Surp Vartan Church, Baghramyan, 2009 *Holy Mother of God Church, Shahumyan, 2010 *Church of Saint Basil of Caesarea, Nor Kesaria, 2011 *Surp Anna Church, Aghavnatun, 2012 *Surp Karapet Church, Janfida, 2014 *Saint Gregory of Narek Cathedral, Armavir, 2014 *Holy Mother of God Church, Aratashen, 2015 *Surp Vartan Church, Dalarik, 2015 File:Geghakert-S. Harutyun Church 13th c. (south).JPG, Surp Harutyun Church, Geghakert File:Vagharshapat, S. Astvatsatsin - panoramio.jpg, Holy Mother of God Church, Vagharshapat File:Pharaqar, S. Haruthyun, 2014.05.27 - panoramio.jpg, *Surp Harutyun Church, Parakar File:Holy Mother of God Church, Aygeshat, Vagharshapat, 19th century.jpg, Holy Mother of God Church, Aygeshat (Vagharshapat) File:Սբ Աստվածածին Եկեղեցի 01.jpg, Holy Mother of God Church, Sardarapat File:Բամբակաշատի Սուրբ Աստվածածին Եկեղեցի 05.jpg, Holy Mother of God Church, Bambakashat File:Սուրբ Ամենափրկիչ եկեղեցի (Մուսալեռ) (8).jpg, Holy Saviour's Church, Musaler File:Saint Lazarus Church, Metsamor, Armenia.jpg, Saint Lazarus Church, Metsamor File:St Anna, Aghavnatun, Armavir.jpg, Surp Anna Church, Aghavnatun File:Սուրբ Աստվածածին եկեղեցի (51).JPG, Holy Mother of God Church, Shahumyan File:Սուրբ Գրիգոր Նարեկացի եկեղեցի (Արմավիր), ArmAg (17).jpg, Saint Gregory of Narek Cathedral, Armavir

Inactive/ruined churches and monasteries

Zvartnots Cathedral Zvartnots Cathedral ( hy, Զուարթնոց ( classical); (reformed), sometimes rendered in scholarly works as Zuart'nots' or Zuart'noc' ; literally 'celestial angels cathedral') is a medieval Armenian cathedral near Vagharshapat (Ejmiatsin), ...

, Vagharshapat, 652 * Targmanchats Monastery, Aygeshat (Vagharshapat), 6-7th centuries File:Zvartnots cathedral ruins.jpg, Zvartnots Cathedral, Vagharshapat, 652 File:Aygeshat Targmanchats Vank.JPG, Targmanchats Monastery, Aygeshat (Vagharshapat), 6-7th centuries

References

External links

Churches of the Armavir Diocese
{{coord missing, Armenia Armavir Oriental Orthodox dioceses in Armenia Armavir Province