Mount Ararat with the historic Khor Virap monastery visible at center-left

Armenian Diaspora

The Armenian Apostolic Church, the world's oldest national church (established 301 AD), maintains an elaborate diaspora structure organized under two rival Catholicosates: the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin in Armenia and the Holy See of Cilicia (headquartered in Antelias, Lebanon since 1930). In the United States alone this split produces four separate dioceses and prelacies โ€” a division rooted in Cold War-era politics that the diaspora continues to navigate.

Source

Theย Armenianย Apostolicย Church,ย theย world'sย oldestย nationalย churchย (establishedย 301ย AD),ย maintainsย anย elaborateย diasporaย structureย organizedย underย twoย rivalย Catholicosates:ย theย Motherย Seeย ofย Holyย Etchmiadzinย inย Armeniaย andย theย Holyย Seeย ofย Ciliciaย (headquarteredย inย Antelias,ย Lebanonย sinceย 1930).ย Inย theย Unitedย Statesย aloneย thisย splitย producesย fourย separateย diocesesย andย prelaciesย โ€”ย aย divisionย rootedย inย Coldย War-eraย politicsย thatย theย diasporaย continuesย toย navigate.ย 

839Armenian Diaspora