A Dictionary of All Religions and Religious Denominations/Armenians

ARMENIANS, a division of Eastern Christians, so called from Armenia in Asia, a country they originally inhabited. Their sentiments are similar to those of the Greek Church. Sec that article.

In the rites and ceremonies of the Armenian church, there is so great a resemblance to those of the Greeks, that a particular detail might be superfluous. Their liturgies also are either essentially the same, or at least ascribed to the same author. See Syrian Christians.

The Armenian was considered as a branch of the Greek Church, professing the same faith, and acknowledging the same subjection to the See of Constantinople, till near the middle of the sixth century. At that time the doctrine of the Monophysites spread far and wide through the regions of Africa and Asia, comprehending the Armenians also among its votaries. When they receded from holding communion with the Greeks, they made no change in their ancient Episcopal form of church government; but only claimed the privilege of choosing their own spiritual rulers.

The Armenians are scattered all over Asia, and have formed settlements, wherever they have found an opening for trade. They have churches at Calcutta, Madras, Bombay, and in all the principal trading countries in that part of the globe, and extend to Jerusalem, Constantinople, and Russia.