A Short History of Christianity in Armenia Part I
FROM THE DESK OF
MIHRAN KULHANJIAN
President and Founder
April 14, 2026
My dearly beloved in Christ,
I will be leaving for Armenia soon and since Armenia has been in the news lately on CBN and Christian World News, regarding the current war in Iran with Israel and the U.S., I thought I would offer a short history of Christian Armenia and its roots. This paper is in three parts. I will present the foundation of Christianity in Armenia in Part I. In Part II, I will introduce the Armenian Apostolic Church and its liturgy and the Armenian Evangelical Church and its formation. In Part III, I will share with you the events of the Armenian Genocide. This was the first mass extermination of ethnic Christians of the 20th Century (1915-1923). The Turkish Ottomans (known as the Young Turks) attempted to annihilate every Armenian Christian in the region. Over 1.5 million Armenians were murdered. This was almost the entire population of Christian Armenians living in Turkey.
Over two thousand years ago, the Armenian Empire covered most of eastern Turkey, Syria, most of Iraq and parts of northern Iran. There are dozens of Armenian monasteries and churches throughout these countries. The ancient city of Ani, which is now in Turkey, was once a thriving Armenian city in Armenia. It had a population of 110,000 and was known as the city of 1001 churches. Today, Ani does not exist except for a crumbled Armenian cathedral. It was noted as an UNESCO World Heritage site. Muslims destroyed the Armenian city as with other Armenian areas and put to ruin all the churches. After killing all the Armenians, they needed to get rid of all images of Christianity. Churches, gravestones and anything Armenian was destroyed.
The small nation of Armenia (3 million population) sits in a region surrounded by demonic nations of Islam. It borders Turkey (a Muslim nation) on its west. Turkey closed its border with Armenian in 1993. But has recently opened its border (with restrictions) on March 11, 2026 for the first time in over 30 years. But again, there is a problem. The crossing is for third party counties and diplomatic passports, not citizens of Armenia, as I understand it. This means tourists or international business people, and Turkish businesses to sell to Armenians. Why now has Turkey opened the border with Armenia? Turkey and Azerbaijan are Turkic brothers; they are allies. It is a way to slowly get into grace with Armenia. But we have to look deeper into this move and decipher the true motive. It is about money, land and conquest. The President of Turkey wants to reinstate the Ottoman Empire which was crushed to defeat in the First World War. We will have to wait and see what develops. Let’s pray for the peace and wellbeing for Armenia, a small Christian nation in a part of the world of pagan, Islamists. Let us also pray for all who follow Islam and those under Islamic oppression. Pray that the revelation of Jesus Christ fills their hearts and minds.
Azerbaijan on its lower west and eastern borders is extremely hostile to Armenia. The country of Georgia, predominantly an Orthodox Christian nation on its northern border, has a good to fair relationship with Armenia. Armenia is landlocked, so trade moves through Georgia to Russia, then on to ships in the Black Sea. Iran on Armenia’s southern border is governed by a radical regime. This Islamic region has been in power since 1979. Iran has been on friendly terms with Armenia and does trade with Armenia. The border between Armenia and Iran continues to remain open as of this writing.
The First Christian Nation
Armenia was the first nation in the world to adopt Christianity as its national religion in 301 AD. The Armenian Empire at one time, reached past modern day Syria, Lebanon and Judea, modern day Israel. And to the east, the Kingdom reached the Caspian Sea (modern day Azerbaijan). The Empire comprised of half of modern day Turkey, and Cilicia to the Mediterranean and Antioch. The Kingdom was expanded by King Tigranes (II) the Great, 69 BC.
At least three of the Apostles preached the Gospel in Armenia. Saint Thaddeus also known as Jude, one of the “Seventy,” (Luke 10:1, 17), the half-brother of Jesus, preached in Armenia: According to tradition, he arrived in Armenia around 43 A.D. He was martyred in southeastern Armenia. Saint Bartholomew, the sixth apostle, is believed to have arrived in Armenia around 66 A.D.; and Mariamne, Philip the Apostle's sister, is said to have preached in Armenia with Bartholomew after Philip's death. King Abgar of Edessa (Urfa) around 5 BC-AD 32, wrote to Jesus to heal him from a certain sickness. It is said that Jesus replied in a letter delivered by Abgar’s messenger, Ananias, that a disciple would visit him after His ascension. Thaddeus appeared and the King was healed and converted along with his people to Christianity. Saint Thaddeus visited King Sanatruk, the nephew of Kin Abgar. Sanatruk was a King from another province in Greater Armenia. He was converted to Christianity by Thaddeus. Under great pressure from other nobles, Sanatruk had Thaddeus and then Bartholomew killed.
The Apostle Matthias is believed to have preached in Armenia and was martyred their between 40-50 AD. There are over 4,000 monasteries and churches in Armenia. The oldest is the Etchmiadzin Cathedral built in 303 AD. Armenia has a rich history of Christianity which extends back to the First Century Apostles. The Armenian Apostolic Church is the predominate church, which is Oriental Orthodox.
In the year 284 AD (appx), Gregory the Illuminator (Grigor Lusavorich), a Christian from Caesarea (on the Mediterranean coast, modern day Israel), traveled to Armenia. He was born of nobility. Years before, his father, Anak the Parthian, assassinated the previous Armenian king and others in his family. At this time, Gregory fled to Caesarea, but years later returned to serve King Tiridates III to atone for what his father did. When Tiridates discovered Gregory was Christian and who his father was, he was tortured and thrown into a pit with snakes. Gregory refused to renounce Christianity. He survived 13 years in the pit by a widow who secretly brought him food and water. Around 300 AD, King Tiridates suffered a severe madness, turning into a wild boar after murdering Christians. He was possessed by a demon(s), similar to King Nebuchadnezzar in the Book of Daniel Chapter 4. A vision revealed to Nebuchadnezzar’s sister that only Gregory could heal him. Gregory healed the king and baptized the royal family and his court. The King received Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
In 301 AD, King Tiridates declared Christianity the state religion. Armenia was the first Christian nation. Gregory became the first Bishop and Patriarch of Armenia. He appointed bishops throughout Armenia and changed pagan temples into churches for Christ. Gregory became known as “Gregory the Illuminator,” for he brought the light of God to the people of Armenia.
- The Mountains of Ararat, where the Ark of Noah rests, was in the region of the coming Kingdom of Armenia for over 4,000 years. Before the land was called Armenia it was known as Urartu. Today, Ararat is within the borders of Turkey. Nonetheless, Mount Ararat and Noah’s Ark are symbols of Armenia. And the mountains of Ararat are clearing visible from Yerevan, Armenia.
- The Garden of Eden, according to many historians, was in historic Armenia. It was likely in the Armenian Highlands where the Tigris and Euphrates rivers begin. The land was called Ararat or Urartu 3,000 years ago.
- In the Bible, Armenia was called the land of Ararat (2 Kings 19:37, Jeremiah 51:27).
- Abraham, came from the southern Armenia Empire, which is upper Iraq today.
- The Apostle Paul grew up in Tarsus which was in the Armenian Empire. It’s likely he knew and associated with Armenians
Armenians are an ancient people from an ancient land. It is important that we know the history of the Church. History shows us the holy men God used to advance His Kingdom. Let’s be grateful for those who came in the name of God.
Տերը օրհնի քեզ և պահպանի քեզ (Armenian) Phonetic: Deruh orhneh kez yev bahbaneh kez. (English: The Lord bless you and keep you),
Mihran Kulhanjian
Mihran Kulhanjian
President and Founder
Christian Revival Mission, Inc.