Christianization of Armenia
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Christianity first spread to Armenia prior to the official adoption of the faith in the early fourth century, although the details are obscure. In the early fourth century, the Kingdom of Greater Arme
The Baptism of the Armenian People (1892), by Ivan Aivazovsky
Jude Thaddeus the Apostle
St. Thaddeus Monastery: The First Church of Armenia
Bartholomew the Apostle
Gregory the Illuminator
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Gregory the Illuminator was the founder and first official head of the Armenian Apostolic Church. He converted Armenia from Zoroastrianism to Christianity in the early fourth century, making Armenia t
Christianization of Armenia
…as its state religion, becoming the first (or one of the first) state to do so. The Arsacid king of Armenia at the time, Trdat, was converted by Gregory the Illuminator, who became the first head of the Armenian Church. The traditional date for the conversion of Armenia is 301, although alternative dates have been…
A 10th century bas relief of St. Gregory at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross of Aghtamar (Akdamar), Lake Van (today Turkey)
A miniature of Gregory and Trdat (as a boar) by Vardan Baghishetsi on a manuscript from Baghesh, Vaspurakan, c. 1569–70
Etchmiadzin Cathedral, 17th century