Bible Society plays leading role in Armenia’s celebration of Christianity

YEREVAN, Armenia —The Armenian Apostolic Church is currently celebrating the 1,700th anniversary of the adoption of Christianity as the country’s state religion. Armenia was the first nation to embrace Christianity officially, in AD 301.

For a people scattered around the world, with a diaspora twice as numerous as the republic’s population, the occasion presents both a unique and special opportunity and a challenge.

Allegiance

Together with the churches and other organisations, the Bible Society of Armenia (BSAr) has been planning this celebration over the past six years.

Also playing key roles in the planning are the Armenian Church, which claims the allegiance of more than 90 per cent of the population, and a special commission headed by the President of the Republic, Robert Kochorion.

“For the Bible Society, the aim of participation has been to return the Bible to the centre of national consciousness,” explained the Rev Hratsch Sarkissian, BSAr General Secretary. “The process of Christianisation in Armenia was crowned by the creation of the Armenian alphabet – a process undertaken by a monk – with the blessing and support of the heads of the ecclesiastical and secular orders of the day in order to translate the Bible into Armenian.

“Thus the origin of our alphabet – and literature – can be found in the need for the people to understand and live the truth of the Scriptures. So in celebrating the 1,700th anniversary of the adoption of Christianity we must indeed celebrate the Scriptures and their impact on us as individuals as well as a community.”

Historical context

Deacon Sarkissian noted that it was in this historical context that a new common-language translation of the New Testament was delivered to Armenia in January.

“This long-awaited translation has been dedicated to the anniversary and carries the blessing of His Holiness Karekin II, Patriarch-Catholicos of All Armenians, the spiritual head of the entire Armenian Church,” he said. “A special ‘white’ edition was also produced by the Bible Society to help celebrate the weddings and baptisms taking place during the anniversary year and thus to unite many Armenian families living in various parts of the world.”

The Catholicos has also requested that a special edition bear the imprint of both the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and the Bible Society of Armenia, and include his personal blessing and a special preface written by him. This edition will be distributed during his pontifical visits to almost every Armenian diocese across the world during the celebration year.

Privilege

The Patriarch, who is Patron and Honorary President of the Bible Society, has stressed the importance of combining Bible work with the ministry of the Church.

He has declared that for him to be able to carry the Good News to Armenians living in the four corners of the world is a privilege and an honour, and that the combination of the Bible and the Church is a powerful tool in uniting all Armenians, wherever they live.