Araratian Pontifical Diocese

The origin of Araratian Pontifical Diocese dates back the beginning of the 4th century. With the Christianzation of Armenia, Saint Gregory the Illuminator established the Catholicosate of All Armenians in Vagharshapat, as well as the Araratian Pontifical Diocese and appointed Bishop Albianus as the first primate vicar of the newly-founded diocese. The name of the diocese is derived from Mount Ararat; the symbol of the Armenian nation. At first, the diocese included the territories of the Ararat plain, Nakhijevan, Kotayk and the western territories of Lake Sevan. It is believed that the diocese was commonly known as the Diocese of Yerevan between the 15th and 19th centuries. Under the Russian rule during the mid-19th century, the jurisdiction of the diocese was expanded to include the territories of Syunik and Shirak as well, followed by the area of Kars in 1878, covering almost the entire area of Eastern Armenia. At the beginning of the 20th century, the Araratian Pontifical Diocese had 643 churches, 13 monastic complexes and more than 150 schools functioning under its jurisdiction. In August 1920, upon a kontakion issued by Catholicos George V, the territory of Shirak was separated from the Araratian Diocese to form the Diocese of Shirak. After the Treaty of Moscow in 1921, the Araratian Diocese lost the territories of Kars and Nakhijevan. The diocese lost most of its properties under the Soviet rule between 1920 and 1991. With the independence of Armenia in 1991, the Armenian Church was reorganized, most of the properties were returned to the church and many new dioceses were established based on the administrative divisions of Armenia. Currently, the Araratian Pontifical Diocese is the largest diocese of the Armenian Church, with around 1.3 million people under its jurisdiction. The primate vicar of the diocese is Archbishop Navasard Kchoyan, serving since 1999. The diocesan headquarters are located in the capital Yerevan, next to the Saint Sarkis Cathedral. ==Active churches==

As of June 2017, the diocese has the below listed churches and chapels functioning under its jurisdiction, operating throughout Yerevan and Ararat Province, with the exception of the 17th-century Khor Virap monastic complex in Ararat Province, the Cathedral of Saint Gregory in Yerevan opened in 2001, and the Surp Anna Church in Yerevan opened in 2015, which are directly regulated by the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. Here is the list of churches, monasteries and chapels functioning under the jurisdiction of the Araratian Pontifical Diocese, along with their location and year of consecration: Churches ;In Yerevan • Katoghike Church, 1264 • Saint Hakob Church of Kanaker, 1679 • Zoravor Surp Astvatsatsin Church, 1694 • Surp Gevork Church of Noragavit, 17th century • Saint John the Baptist Church, 1710 • Saint Sarkis Cathedral, 1842 • Surp Kiraki Church, 19th century • Holy Mother of God Church of Nork-Marash, 1995 • Holy Vartanants Martyrs Church of Yerablur, 1998 • Holy Mother of God Church of Malatia-Sebastia, 1998 • Saint Sarkis Church of Nor Nork, 1999 • Holy Mother of God Church of Avan, Yerevan, 2002 • Holy Martyrs Church of Davtashen, 2003 • Holy Trinity Church, 2005 • Surp Khach Church of Charbakh, 2006 • Holy Mother of God Church of Nor Nork, 2014 • Holy Martyrs Church of Nubarashen, 2015 File:Kathoghile, Yerevan.JPG|Katoghike Church, 1264 File:S. Hakob Church 1679 Kanaker.JPG|Saint Hakob Church of Kanaker, 1679 File:Zoravar 1.JPG|Zoravor Surp Astvatsatsin Church, 1694 File:Եկեղեցական Համալիր Նորագավթի Ս. Գևորգ (48).JPG|Surp Gevork Church of Noragavit, 17th century File:St John The Baptist Church of Yerevan.jpg|Saint John the Baptist Church, 1710 File:Saint-sarkis erevan.JPG|Saint Sarkis Cathedral, 1842 File:Surb Kiraki Church, Noragavit.JPG|Surp Kiraki Church, 19th century File:Yerevan, Nork-Marash district, Surb Astvatsatsin Church.JPG|Holy Mother of God Church of Nork-Marash, 1995 File:Yerablur and Saint Vartan chapel, 2009 (1).jpg|Holy Vartanants Martyrs Church of Yerablur, 1998 File:Erevani Surb Mariam Astvacacin ekexeci 38.JPG|Holy Mother of God Church of Malatia-Sebastia, 1998 File:Սուրբ Սարգիս եկեղեցի, Նոր Նորք, Երեւան.JPG|Saint Sarkis Church of Nor Nork, 1999 File:Եկեղեցի Ս. Աստվածածին (11).JPG|Holy Mother of God Church of Avan, Yerevan, 2002 File:Holy Martyrs church, Davtashen.jpg|Holy Martyrs Church of Davtashen, 2003 File:The Holy Trinity Church, Malatia-Sebastia district, Yerevan, Armenia adjusted.JPG|Holy Trinity Church, 2005 File:Surb Khach Church (15).jpg|Surp Khach Church of Charbakh, 2006 File:Նանսենի թանգարան.jpg|Holy Mother of God Church of Nor Nork, 2014 File:Holy Martyrs, Nubarashen.jpg|Holy Martyrs Church of Nubarashen, 2015 ;In Ararat Province • Surp Hakob Church, Ararat village, 1866 • Saint Gregory Church, Byuravan, mid 19th century, rebuilt in 1999 • Holy Mother of God Church, Dimitrov, 1868 • Holy Mother of God Church, Verin Artashat, 19th century • Surp Hovhannes Church, Mkhchyan, 1890 • Holy Mother of God Church, Dalar, 1890 • Surp Sarkis Church, Argavand, 1897 • Surp Hakob Church, Mrgavan, 1905 • Saint George's Church, Kanachut, 1908 • Holy Mother of God Church, Vedi, 2000 • Surp Harutyun Church, Nerkin Dvin, 2000 • Saint George's Church, Marmarashen, 2002 • Holy Mother of God Church, Arevshat, 2006 • Holy Mother of God Church, Shahumyan, 2009 • Saint George's Church, Masis, 2009 • Holy Mother of God Church, Norabats, 2014 • Saint John the Evangelist's Church, Artashat 2015 • Saint Thaddeus Church, Masis, 2015 File:Saint Hakob church, Ararat (2).jpg|Surp Hakob Church, Ararat village, 1866 File:St Astvatsastin, Dimitrov, ArmAg.jpg|Holy Mother of God Church, Dimitrov, 1868 File:Սուրբ Աստվածածին եկեղեցի (Վերին Արտաշատ) (1).JPG|Holy Mother of God Church, Verin Artashat, 19th century File:Դալարի սուրբ Աստվածածին եկեղեցին, ArmAg (3).jpg|Holy Mother of God Church, Dalar, 1890 File:St. Sarkis church (Argavand), 2016 (11).JPG|Surp Sarkis Church, Argavand, 1897 File:Սուրբ Հակոբ եկեղեցի (5).jpg|Surp Hakob Church, Mrgavan, 1905 File:St Gevorg, Kanachout, Ararat Region (20).JPG|*Saint George's Church, Kanachut, 1908 File:Սուրբ Աստվածածին, Վեդի.JPG|Holy Mother of God Church, Vedi, 2000 File:Saint Harutyun Church, Dvin ! (1).jpg|Surp Harutyun Church, Nerkin Dvin, 2000 File:Arevchat.jpg|Holy Mother of God Church, Arevshat, 2006 File:St Mary Church, Shahumyan (6).JPG|Holy Mother of God Church, Shahumyan, 2009 File:St Gevorg Church, Masis (11).jpg|Saint George's Church, Masis, 2009 File:St. Hovhannes, Artashat, 2016 (9).JPG|Saint John the Evangelist's Church, Artashat, 2015 File:Saint Tadeos6.jpg|Saint Thaddeus Church, Masis, 2015 Chapels • Saint Ananias' Chapel, Yerevan, 1889 • Surp Khach Zoravor Chapel, Yerevan, 1991 • Surp Karapet Chapel, Berkanush, rebuilt in 2006 File:Ananias' chapel, Yerevan, Jan. 6, 2016 (2).jpg|Saint Ananias' Chapel, Yerevan, 1889 File:Սուրբ Կարապետ մատուռ, Բերքանուշ (3).jpg|Surp Karapet Chapel, Berkanush, rebuilt in 2006 ==Inactive/ruined churches and monasteries==

This is an incomplete list of inactive or ruined churches and monasteries in the territory regulated by the Araratian Pontifical Diocese: • Holy Mother of God Chapel of Avan, Yerevan, 4th century • Katoghike Tsiranavor Church of Avan, Yerevan, 591 • Surp Hovhannes Chapel of Avan, Yerevan, 12-13th centuries • Aghjots Vank near Goght and Garni, 13th century • Hovhannes Karapet Monastery near Lusashogh, 13th century • Holy Mother of God Church of Kanaker, Yerevan, 1695 • Holy Mother of God Parochial Church of Avan, Yerevan, 19th century File:Sb Astvatsatsin Chapel, Avan, Yerevan1.JPG|Holy Mother of God Chapel of Avan, Yerevan, 4th century File:S. Hovhannes Avan.JPG|Surp Hovhannes Chapel of Avan, Yerevan, 5th century File:Avan 1.JPG|Katoghike Tsiranavor Church of Avan, Yerevan, 591 File:Աղջոց վանք 02.jpg|Aghjots Vank near Goght and Garni, 13th century File:ՀՈՎՀԱՆՆՈՒ Ս. ԿԱՐԱՊԵՏ 14.jpg|Hovhannes Karapet Monastery near Lusashogh, 13th century File:S. Astvatsatsin Church 1695 Kanaker.jpg|Holy Mother of God Church of Kanaker, Yerevan, 1695 File:Avan Oldchurch.JPG|Holy Mother of God Parochial Church of Avan, Yerevan, 19th century ==References==