Religion in Armenia
As of 2011, most Armenians in Armenia are Christians (97%)[2] and are members of the Armenian Apostolic Church, which is one of the oldest Christian churches. It was founded in the 1st century AD, and in 301 AD became the first branch of Christianity to become a state religion.
Demographics
Approximately 98.1% of the country's population is ethnically Armenian, the vast majority of whom belong to the Armenian Apostolic Church.[1]
According to a survey done by the Pew Research Center, 51% of adults in Armenia are "highly religious", and the survey ranked Armenia as the second-most religious out of 34 European countries, after Romania. 79% of Armenians surveyed reported that they believe in God with "absolute certainty", and 53% consider religion very important in their lives.[3]
Religion | Population (2011)[2] | % | Population (2022)[1] | % |
---|---|---|---|---|
Total population | 3,018,854 | 2,932,731 | ||
Armenian Apostolic Church | 2,797,187 | 92.7% | 2,793,042 | 95.2% |
Catholicism | 13,996 | 0.5% | 17,884 | 0.6% |
Evangelicalism | 29,280 | 1% | 15,836 | 0.5% |
Yezidism | 23,374 | 0.8% | 14,349 | 0.5% |
Orthodoxy | 7,587 | 0.3% | 6,316 | 0.2% |
Jehovah's Witnesses | 8,695 | 0.3% | 5,282 | 0.2% |
Paganism | 5,416 | 0.2% | 2,132 | 0.1% |
Molokan | 2,874 | 0.1% | 2,000 | 0.1% |
Nestorian Church | 1,733 | 0.06% | 524 | 0.02% |
Islam | 812 | 0.03% | 515 | 0.02% |
Hare Krishna | - | - | 204 | <0.01% |
Judaism | - | - | 118 | <0.01% |
Other Protestant | 773 | 0.03% | - | - |
Mormon | 241 | <0.01% | - | - |
Other | 5,299 | 0.2% | 7,675 | 0.3% |
None | 34,373 | 1.1% | 17,501 | 0.6% |
Refused to answer | 10,941 | 0.4% | 49,353 | 1.7% |
Unspecified | 76,273 | 3.5% | - | - |
Geographic distribution
Yazidis are concentrated primarily in agricultural areas around Mount Aragats, northwest of Yerevan. They live in 19 villages in the Aragatsotn Province, two villages in the Armavir Province, and one village in the Ararat Province.
Armenian Catholics live mainly in the northern region, in seven villages in the Shirak Province and six villages in the Lori Province.
Molokans live in 10 villages in the Lori Province, two villages in the Shirak Province, and two villages in the Gegharkunik Province.
Most Jews,
Freedom of religion
The Constitution as amended in 2005 provides for freedom of religion and the right to practice, choose, or change religious belief. It recognizes "the exclusive mission of the Armenian Church as a national church in the spiritual life, development of the national culture, and preservation of the national identity of the people of Armenia." The law places some restrictions on the religious freedom of religious groups other than the Armenian Church. The Law on Freedom of Conscience establishes the separation of church and state but it grants the Armenian Church official status as the national church.
Traditional Armenian religions
Armenian Apostolic Church
According to tradition, Christianity was first introduced to this area by the
The
Hetanism
Hetanism (
Other Christians and other religions
Other Christian denominations
Catholic Church
The Catholic Church in Armenia is divided between Latin Church parishes (subject to the Apostolic Administration of the Caucasus) and the Armenian Catholic Church's parishes. The 2011 census counted 13,996 Catholics.
Protestantism
Since the end of the Soviet Union, American Protestant missionaries have been proselytising in the country. The 2011 census counted 29,280 Evangelicals (1% of the population) and 773 other Protestants.
Eastern Orthodoxy
According to the Census of 2011, there are 7,587 adherents of Eastern Orthodoxy in Armenia, mainly Russians, Ukrainians, Georgians and Greeks.[2] Russian Orthodox community is centered around Church of the Intercession of the Holy Mother of God in Yerevan, consecrated in 1912.
Molokans
According to the Census of 2011, there are 2,874 Molokans in Armenia.
Nestorianism
According to the Census of 2011, there are 1,733 Nestorians in Armenia.
Restorationism
The Jehovah's Witnesses have estimated their membership at 11,500; the 2011 census found 8,695.[2]
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints claims approximately 3,000 adherents in Armenia at the end of 2011; the 2011 census found 241.[2][9]
Yazidism
About 1% of Armenia's population (23,374 as per the 2011 census), mostly ethnic
Judaism
Currently there are an estimated 750 Jews in the country, a remnant of a once larger community. Most left Armenia for Israel after the collapse of the Soviet Union in pursuit of better living standards. Still, despite the small numbers, high intermarriage rate and relative isolation, a lot of enthusiasm exists to help the community meet its needs.[11]
Islam
Azerbaijanis and Kurds living in Armenia traditionally practised Islam, but most Azerbaijanis, who were the largest minority in the country, fled during the First Nagorno-Karabakh War.[12][13] In 2009, the Pew Research Center estimated that less than 0.1% of the population, or about 1,000 people, were Muslims.[citation needed]
The 18th century Blue Mosque is open for Friday prayers.
Throughout history, Armenians did not convert to Islam in large numbers despite long periods of Muslim rule. During the Arabic conquest, Islam came to the Armenians; however, very few Armenians converted to Islam, since Christians were not required to convert by Muslim law.
There is, however, a minority of ethnic Armenian Muslims, known as
.Baháʼí Faith
The
Hinduism
With shared interests in many aspects, Indians and Armenians established economic and cultural ties almost 4000 years ago. Per the writings of Zenobius Glak, an early classical Armenian writer, two princes and their families fled to Armenia in 149 BC. They were granted a grand welcome and given land there. They built a temple for Hindu gods and goddesses in Ashtishat, a famous religious center in Armenia. Eventually, their society grew to 20 villages and was called Hindkastan, the Armenian name for India. At one time, there were over 15,000 Hindus living in Armenia.[21]
See also
References
- ^ a b c Republic of Armenia Census (Report). Statistical Committee - Republic of Armenia. 2022. Table 5.5.
- ^ a b c d e Republic of Armenia Census (PDF) (Report). Statistical Committee - Republic of Armenia. 2011. p. 7.
- ^ Evans, Jonathan; Baronavski, Chris (5 December 2018). "How do European countries differ in religious commitment?". Pew Research Center.
- ISBN 9798868951473.
- ^ Augusti, Johann Christian Wilhelm; Rheinwald, Georg Friedrich Heinrich; Siegel, Carl Christian Friedrich. The Antiquities of the Christian Church. p. 466.
- ^ "Armenian Apostolic Church". Encyclopædia Britannica.
- ISBN 978-1-920382-37-7.
- ^ Yulia Antonyan. Re-creation of a Religion: Neopaganism in Armenia. Yerevan State University. This and other papers about Armenian Hetanism are available here.
- ^ "Statistics and Church Facts | Total Church Membership". newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org.
- ^ Sherwood, Harriet (25 July 2016). "World's largest Yazidi temple under construction in Armenia". The Guardian. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
- ^ Advocates on Behalf of Jews in Russia, Ukraine, the Baltic States, and Eurasia: Armenia and Jews Archived 2012-05-22 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ International Protection Considerations Regarding Armenian Asylum-Seekers and Refugees Archived 2014-04-16 at the Wayback Machine. United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Geneva: September 2003
- ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices – 2003: Armenia U.S. Department of State. Released 25 February 2004
- ^ Quinn, Sholeh A. (2009). "Aqasi, Haji Mirza ('Abbas Iravani)(c. 1783–1849)". In Morrison, Gayle (ed.). the Baháʼí Encyclopedia Project. Vol. Online. National Spiritual Assembly of the Baháʼís of the United States.
- ^ Balci, Bayram; Jafarov, Azer (2007-02-21), "The Baháʼís of the Caucasus: From Russian Tolerance to Soviet Repression {2/3}", Caucaz.com, archived from the original on 2008-08-15
- ^ Effendi, Shoghi (1936-03-11). The World Order of Bahá'u'lláh. Haifa, Palestine: US Baháʼí Publishing Trust, 1991 first pocket-size edition. pp. 64–67.
- ^ Monakhova, Elena (2000). "From Islam to Feminism via Baháʼí Faith". Women Plus…. Vol. 2000, no. 3.
- ^ a b Hassall, Graham. "Notes on Research on National Spiritual Assemblies". Research notes. Asia Pacific Baháʼí Studies. Retrieved 2009-05-05.
- ^ Ahmadi, Dr. (2003). "Major events of the Century of Light". homepage for an online course on the book “Century of Light”. Association for Baháʼí Studies in Southern Africa. Archived from the original on 2009-09-02. Retrieved 2009-05-05.
- ^ "QuickLists: Most Baha'i Nations (2010)". Association of Religion Data Archives. 2010. Retrieved 2020-10-17.
- ISSN 0376-9836.
Further reading
- Guroian, Vigen. "Armenia." In The Encyclopedia of Christianity, edited by Erwin Fahlbusch and Geoffrey William Bromiley, 125–126. Vol. 1. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1999. ISBN 0802824137
- Stopka, Krzysztof (2016). Armenia Christiana: Armenian Religious Identity and the Churches of Constantinople and Rome (4th-15th century). Kraków: Jagiellonian University Press. ISBN 9788323395553.
External links
- Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church Library
- Charles, Robia: "Religiosity in Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan" in the Caucasus Analytical Digest No. 20
- Harutyunyan, Harutyun: "The Role of the Armenian Church During Military Conflicts" in the Caucasus Analytical Digest No. 20