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301
Christianity becomes official religion of Armenia
Before the rule of Tiridates III, the most popular religion in Armenia was Zoroastrianism and paganism. In the year of 301, Armenia's official religion became Christianity. The switch of religions was difficult, resulting in a battle between the king's military and the pagan camp. Defeated, the Pagans were forced to accept Christianity as their country's religion. Today, 94.7% of Armenia's population practice Christianity. Most Armenians follow the Armenian Apostolic Church. -
303
Vagharshapat Cathedral
Vagharshapat Cathedral, also known as Echmiadzin Cathedral, is currently Armenia's main spiritual center and the head of the Holy Armenian Apolistic Church. St. Gregory the Illuminator built it in 303. However, its original wood frame was replaced with stone in 618 to preserve the structure. This cathedral is the most important religious site in the entire country. It is located in the ancient town of Echmiadzin. -
572
Revolt Against Persia
During the mid sixth century, the Persians executed a policy of excessive taxation and religious conversion. The policy stated Armenians who were of the Zoroastrianism religion had to convert. Meanwhile, the Roman and Persian empires were at war. The Romans made a secret agreement to support an Armenian rebellion against the Persians in 570. Later, under the leadership of Varadan Mamikonian, the Armenians defeated the Persian governor and captured his headquarters. -
Jan 1, 640
Arab Invasion
The first Arab invasion of Armenia was in the year 640 AD. The Arabs were a new force surfacing in the Middle East. In such a short time span, the Arabs had rivaled Byzantium and Persia in power. They moved onto Armenia and invaded it in 640. In 652, Theodore Rshtuni, the Armenian leader at the time, came to an agreement with the Arabs who exempted the Armenians from taxes, provided protection for Armenia, and allowed Armenian people the freedom of religion. -
Armenian Church in U.S.
Armenian immigration to the United States increased substantially in the late nineteenth century. Many of them settled in New England in a small town called Worchester Massachusetts. There was a sizeable Armenian population in community, however they had no place to practice the Armenian Protestant religion. The Protestants among the Armenian community organized the Armenian Congregational Church of the Martyrs in 1881. This was the first Armenian Protestant Church in the United States. -
Hamidian Massacre
The Hamidian Massacres refer to the slaughtering of as much as 300,000 Armenian people by the Ottoman Empire. Hostility towards Armenia began when they became known as a wealthy religious minority. This was perceived as a threat to Ottoman leadership and to the empire's Islamic character. Russia gained a lot of power and could now overthrow the Ottoman Empire. The empire was losing dominion over many Christian regions as well. The fear of losing power of Armenia is what provoked the massacres. -
Armenian Genocide
The Armenian Genocide began on April 24, 1915 when several hundred Armenian intellectuals were arrested, unprovoked, and later executed. The Ottoman Empire was ruled by an Islamic leader who treated any religious minority unfairly. The empire began to fall because much of the territory was lost and there were many revolts against them. Turks seized power of the empire and portrayed Armenians as a threat because they sided with the Russians in WWI. Over 1.5 million Armenians died in the genocide. -
Recognized as Independent
Armenia had been a part of the Soviet Socialist Republic since 1920. In 1991, the people of Soviet Armenia used their right guaranteed to them in the Soviet constitution to perform a referendum to withdraw from the USSR and declare independence. The referendum to secede from the Soviet Union was unanimous. Almost every single Armenian citizen wished to leave from the USSR. Armenia became independent and elected Levon Ter Petrossian as their first president.
