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

Mythology

The Armenian gods were not wholly erased by Christianization but demoted and syncretized: Aramazd's name became a folk term for 'sky'; Anahit was partially fused with the Virgin Mary in popular devotion; and Vahagn's dragon-slaying function was transferred to Saint George iconography. These survivals were documented by Manuk Abeghian in his foundational study of Armenian folk beliefs.

Source

Theย Armenianย godsย wereย notย whollyย erasedย byย Christianizationย butย demotedย andย syncretized:ย Aramazd'sย nameย becameย aย folkย termย forย 'sky';ย Anahitย wasย partiallyย fusedย withย theย Virginย Maryย inย popularย devotion;ย andย Vahagn'sย dragon-slayingย functionย wasย transferredย toย Saintย Georgeย iconography.ย Theseย survivalsย wereย documentedย byย Manukย Abeghianย inย hisย foundationalย studyย ofย Armenianย folkย beliefs.ย 

1029Mythology