Written by Gevork Nazaryan

n the year 2001 Armenia will celebrate the 1700 th anniversary of official state Christendom, the first to be established officially and the first to finally end the Christianity world status as a cult religion. In the year 301 A. D. all of the nation was finally converted to Christianity, thus ending the centuries of persecutions of Armenia's Christians. The establishment of Armenia's Holy Apostolic Church traditionally dates back to the time of Jesus's two apostles, St. Thaddeus and St. Bartholomew who preached in Armenia in the first part of first century A. D. and were martyred by king Sanatrook of Armenia because of their preaching among the people of Armenia in provinces of Syunik and Goghtan. But the Christian faith in Armenia did not die out, but moreover quickly spread amongst peasantry and noble classes alike. One of the first converts were sister of king Sanatrook and other members of the upper class.

Holy Apostles: Thaddeus and Bartholomew and their preaching in Armenia

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