Home / News / 1700th Anniversary of the Proclamation of Christianity as the State Religion of Armenia

1700th Anniversary of the Proclamation of Christianity as the State Religion of Armenia

By Barlow Der Mugrdechian
Advisor

Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, sixth from left, Primate of the Diocese of Canada and Executive Director of the Holy Etchmiadzin 1700th Anniversary Committee meeting with the San Joaquin Valley committee of the Western Diocese of the Armenian church in January 2001
Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, sixth from left, Primate of the Diocese of Canada and Executive Director of the Holy Etchmiadzin 1700th Anniversary Committee meeting with the San Joaquin Valley committee of the Western Diocese of the Armenian church in January 2001

It was a cold and snowy New Year’s Eve in Etchmiadzin as the 1700th Anniversary of the Proclamation of Christianity as the State Religion of Armenia was ushered in with great ceremony.

Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, sixth from left, Primate of the Diocese of Canada and Executive Director of the Holy Etchmiadzin 1700th Anniversary Committee meeting with the San Joaquin Valley committee of the Western Diocese of the Armenian church in January 2001.

His Holiness Karekin II and Robert Kocharian, President of the Republic of Armenia, joined in spreading the light of the Christian nation from Khor Virab to Etchmiadzin and then on to all of the Dioceses of the world.

Activities are being planned throughout the world to mark this important anniversary in the life of the Armenian people.