646 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. vol. 5C. 



Armenian people appear in history about the middle of the sixth cen- 

 tm'y B. C. The last refuge of Armenian independence was destroyed 

 by the Mamelukes in 1375, and the country is now divided between 

 Turkey, Russia, and Persia. 



The establishment of Christianity in Ai-menia is ascribed to St. 

 Gregory the Illuminator, the apostle of Armenia, Certain is that 

 Christianity at an early date passed from Syria over into Armenia, 

 and that the Bible was translated into Armenian in the fifth century. 



The Armenian Church agrees in many doctrines and practices with 

 the Greek Orthodox Church. It teaches the procession of the Holy 

 Ghost from the Father only, but maintains the formula of one nature 

 in Christ (monopJiysitism) . Baptism is performed by partially im- 

 mersing and then thrice pouring water on the head of the person. 

 Confirmation is performed by the priest at baptism. The Lord's 

 Supper is administered in both kinds, the broken bread or wafer 

 (unleavened) being dipped in undiluted wine and laid on the tongue 

 of the fasting communicant. Like the Roman Catholic Church the 

 Armenian Church professes belief in seven sacraments, in transub- 

 stantiation, and adores the host in mass, but rejects the doctrine of 

 purgatory, though prayers are offered for the dead. It venerates the 

 cross, the saints and then* pictures, and insists on the perpetual 

 virginity of Mary. The church services are performed in the an- 

 cient Armenian language. 



There are kept by the Armenian Chm-ch 105 fast days, when no 

 animal food can be eaten; 14 great feast days observed more strictly 

 than Sunday; and more minor feasts than days of the year. 



The clergy of the jirmenian Church is divided into nine grades or 

 orders: The catholicos, who is at the head of the entire hierarchy 

 with his seat at Etchmiadzin, near Erivan, the capital of Russian 

 Armenia; patriarchs; archbishops; bishops; priests; deacons; sub- 

 deacons; porters; readers; exorcists; and candle lighters. The priests 

 are divided into two classes — the doctors or teachers {vartaheds) , who 

 must live in celibacy ; and the parish priests, who must marry before 

 attaining the rank of subdeacon. Besides the secular clergy there 

 are also monks in the Armenian Church, 



Armenian church buildings are usually small and have massive 

 walls, sometimes 7 or 8 feet thick, and very small windows. They 

 are square and are adorned with a polygonal tower terminating in a 

 short spire. 



251. Costume of an Armenian ^^msf.— Consisting of— 1, tunic; 2, 

 sou tana; 3, girdle; 4, shoes with galoshes; 5, cylindrical hat of blue 

 velvet, with waul ted and fluted top. — Constantinople, Turkey. 

 (Plate 92, fig. 2, Cat. No. 154774, U.S.N.M.) 



252. Armenian patriarch's staf. — Made of copper, silvered, ter- 

 minating in a gilded orb surmounted by a cross. Height, 5 feet 9 



