Armenian and Russian cultures have long been closely intertwined. Probably, this was facilitated to a greater extent by some kindred religions. More than 200 years ago, the first Armenian churches appeared in Moscow, the addresses of which were constantly changing. Let us trace the history of their origin and flowering.
Armenian religion
The Armenians profess Orthodoxy, called the Armenian Apostolic Church. Also, some Armenians belong to the Catholic Church. This state adopted Christianity as a state religion before all other countries, in ancient times. It is believed that the apostles Bartholomew and Thaddeus contributed to the emergence and spread of Christianity in this country.
The Armenian Apostolic Church refers to myaphysitism, professing a single entity from the two hypostases of our God Jesus Christ. Let's talk first about the Armenian Apostolic Church.
What is the difference and the similarity between Armenian Christianity and Russian Orthodoxy
The Russian Orthodox Church professes one face of our God Jesus Christ and two of its essence: divine and human. Armenian Christianity denies human nature. This is the most important difference.
They also differ from Orthodox posts, some rites.
On top of everything, the Armenians of the Cross have the three-fingered sign, only they are baptized from left to right.
However, the Armenian services often use Orthodox chants and canons.
Features of the Armenian Church
The buildings of Armenian sanctuaries are traditionally rectangular in shape, in Armenia it is customary to build single-domed churches. Only the cathedral in the Armenian temple complex in Moscow has 5 domes. This allowed him to fit perfectly into the architectural ensemble of our capital.
For the most part, the interior of the Armenian temple or church is rather ascetic. Usually this is the minimum number of icons, by the way, it’s not accepted to store the house’s icons with Armenians either.
The altar, according to ancient traditions, is always facing east. Usually it is made of marble and is located on a certain hill, and steps lead to it.
The most famous Armenian churches in Moscow
The addresses of these churches are known to every "Russian" Armenian. Temples are very popular among them, and among tourists, the architecture is amazing.
- Church of the Holy Resurrection.
- Armenian temple complex.
- Church of Srbot Naatakac.
- Church of the Assumption of the Virgin on Presnya.
- Holy Cross Church.
These are Armenian churches in Moscow, whose addresses can be seen below.
Church of the Holy Resurrection
This is the Armenian Apostolic Church in Moscow, whose address is Sergey Makeev Street 10, at the Armenian Cemetery. It was founded in 1815 by the brothers Mina and Yakim Lazarev. In Soviet times, this temple was closed, it housed a coffin warehouse. And only in 1956 he was returned to believers.
In the outer part of the temple there is a place for candles, only three niches in which believers leave candles. There is also a khachkar to which funeral wreaths are laid on mourning days. The entrance to the temple is decorated with two icons and images of saints.
Inside the Church of the Holy Resurrection there is no place for candles, but there are about 10 icons.
The temple is decorated with a beautiful dome, on the inside of which there are many images of saints and evangelists.
Armenian temple complex
The construction of the Armenian temple complex ended in 2011 and lasted almost 13 years.
Now it is the spiritual center of the Armenian religion and culture in Russia. It includes:
- Chapel of the Holy Christ.
- Cathedral.
- Residence of the Catholicos.
- Museum
- Administrative building.
- Sunday school (educational center).
- Underground parking.
All this takes about 11 thousand square meters. meters of land.
The Cathedral of the Novo-Nakhichevan and Russian Dioceses of the Armenian Apostolic Church is also called the "Armenian Church in Moscow". Address - Prospect Mira and Trifonovskaya street.
Sunday school of this complex is always in demand.
Many people wonder where the Armenian church in Moscow is located, the address of its location. The temple complex is known to all, the scale of its buildings is so impressive, it is the largest object of the Armenian religion outside of Armenia.
The cathedral, which is part of the complex, is the highest Armenian temple in the world, its height is about 57 meters. Its facade is decorated with 27 crosses, according to the number of disciples of Jesus Christ, and bells, which were cast in Voronezh.
Numerous bas-reliefs are not built in, but are carved directly on the reddish cladding of the temple.
All buildings of the Armenian temple complex are different in color. On the territory adjoining it, in the courtyard, marble paving stones lie underfoot.
Srbot Naatakac Church
Srbot Naatakac Church is the new Armenian church in Moscow, whose address is not yet known. It is built on Poklonnaya Hill, in a place where they honor the dead soldiers in World War II, where they worship peace and love.
Church Srbot Naatakac in translation means the Church of the Holy Great Martyrs. It is assumed that it is being built in honor of the fallen Armenian soldiers.
It is known that the bulk of the money for the future church was obtained through the donation of ordinary citizens.
Church of the Assumption of the Virgin on Presnya
In the 17th century, quite a lot of Armenians lived in the Presnensky district. Therefore, in 1746, they built the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin at the Presnensky Cemetery. She became the first famous Armenian church in Moscow.
However, in the 20s of the last century, this building was destroyed, the remains of the Lazarev’s relatives were transferred from the Presnensky cemetery to the Church of the Holy Resurrection.
Now on the site of the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin is part of the Moscow Zoo.
Holy Cross Church
The Holy Cross Church is an Armenian church in Moscow, whose address (how to get to it) is of no interest to anyone. It was demolished by the Soviet authorities in 1930, and a school was built in its place.
The Cross Exaltation Church stood for about two hundred years, was rebuilt twice by different architects and had a rich history. Lazar Nazarovich Lazarev was involved in its foundation and construction, and a church was erected on the donations of his son Ivan in Armenian Lane. The loss of this sanctuary is sad.
Armenian Catholicism
Despite the fact that the majority of Armenians belong to the Armenian Apostolic Church, there are Catholics, or, in other words, Jesuit Armenians who have remained in contact with the Pope.
The history of the emergence of Catholicism in Armenia is quite a long and extremely complicated one, which began in the fifth century, during the Chalcedon Cathedral. But the fact remains: this branch of Christianity is extremely popular among Armenians.
In Russia, part of the visiting Armenians also have the opportunity to profess Catholicism, although there are not many parishes for this. Meanwhile, according to recent estimates, the number of people wishing to visit the Armenian Catholic Church is about 200 thousand people. This is all over Russia, but most of them are concentrated in the capital of our homeland.
Armenian Catholic Church in Moscow
The address of the location of the Armenian Catholic Church in Moscow was changing all the time. The fact is that until now the Jesuit Armenians do not have their own temple.
Back in 2000 in Moscow, they organized the Catholic community, whose services were held in different places.
Since its inception, the community has gathered in the Catholic Church of St. Louis of France, located at ul. Malaya Lubyanka 12. The services were led by Nune Poghosyan’s sister, but after 2 years she was forced to leave, and the meetings stopped temporarily.
Since 2002, Armenian Catholics have been gathering in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which is located in Moscow at ul. Little Georgian 27/13.
Catholic services in many languages are performed in this temple, including services according to Armenian customs.
Recall that in Moscow there are only two Catholic churches and one chapel of St. Olga.
During the Soviet era, many Orthodox and Catholic churches were forgotten, including the Armenian churches in Moscow, whose addresses are no longer remembered.
But in recent decades, a revival of Christianity has been taking place in Russia. The main thing in this is to create constant conditions for parishioners to visit temples, churches and chapels.
Armenian Catholics have a much harder time in this regard. Even in the residence of the main Armenian Catholic priest - the city of Gyumri, there is still no normal church, but a small chapel.
In Russia, the Armenians consider Moscow to be the main spiritual center of Catholics. Here lives the largest Armenian community in Russia and here is the Russian residence of the Armenian Catholic bishop.
Now believers are fighting for the foundation and construction of an Armenian Catholic church.