If you ever wondered what can be a drive and a motivation for one of the most ancient nations in the world to stay strong fight as one unity, the answer is very simple-it’s religion.

Armenia is the first country to ever adopt Christianity as its state religion. In the 1st century AD, when the main religion of the state was Armenian paganism, Christianity was, for the first time, introduced to the Armenian people by apostles Bartholomew and Thaddeus. In 301 AD. St. Gregory the Illuminator was able to convince the Armenian king Tiridates the Great to adopt Christianity.

More than 90 percent of Armenians consider themselves followers of Armenian Christianity and the church. Although it is clear that Armenians have strong ties with their religion, both transparency and freedom of choice are an essential part of their belief and ideology. Not only the constitution but also the mentality of people give an exceptional opportunity to freedom of religion for all its citizens and guests. Religious communities who practice Eastern Orthodoxy, Judaism, Protestantism, Restorationism, Islam, Yezidism are present all over the country. Armenia is also a home for Russian Molokans who practice Spiritual Christianity originating from the Russian Orthodox Church. Armenians also have a strong Protestant community such as the Word of Life, the Armenian Brotherhood Church, the Baptists, and many others who do not face any obstacles while practicing whatever they believe in.

Historically, the connection between the people and religion was so important that even the Armenian language was primarily created in order to translate the Bible into Armenian. A devoted scholar Mesrop Mashtots traveled all over the country in order to collect the sounds of Armenian speech, after which, in 405 AD, the Armenian alphabet was created that gave people a chance to translate the main book of faith into their own language.

Armenia is not only famous for its Christian history but also its practice of paganism. Throughout the country, there are a number of monuments dedicated to ancient Armenian gods. A perfect example of such a structure is Garni temple that is a must-see for every tourist who decides to explore Armenia! The temple was constructed in the 1st century AD, dedicated to the god of Sun-Mihra. Interesting fact: many Armenian monuments, especially the religious ones, were destroyed either during enemy invasions or as a result of earthquakes. However, Garni temple is standing still to this day! It is hard to answer the question of why both other nations and nature did not want to destroy this building, but the history behind the temple is yet another reason to give a visit to this beautiful site. Today, Garni temple is one of the most famous tourism destinations in the country- the historical monument records more than 200.000 annual visits.

One of the most important spiritual centers in Armenia is the Etchmiadzin Cathedral. Originally, the church was built in the 4th century. According to a legend, St. Gregory the Illuminator had a vision of Jesus the Christ appearing from heaven and striking the earth with a golden hammer in order to indicate where exactly the cathedral should be situated.

Religion has always played a major role in the life of the Armenian people. Throughout the territory of both historical and present-day Armenia, there is a huge number of preserved churches from ancient times. Even one of the oldest capitals of Armenia, Ani (nowadays situated in the territory of Turkey), is called “the city of 1.0001 churches.”

Armenian churches and religion in general also play a significant role in the wedding traditions of the nation. Along with locals, foreign visitors who are interested in making their special day a spiritual one, frequently choose ancient Armenian churches as the place of tying the bond with their loved ones. Thus, if you ever imagined having a wedding with an ancient theme, this country is always ready to provide you with the most exciting and breathtaking spiritual experience possible.

The mission of the religion and the church, starting from ancient times, was to preserve the Armenian identity. Being under the influence of foreign invasions, religion, language, and faith were the most important factors that were keeping people together. And to this day, even those who do not consider themselves followers of the Christian church, agree with the fact that it was with the help of religion that this ancient nation overcame every single obstacle on its way!