Armenia Church Records

For information about records for non-Christian religions in Armenia, go to the Religious Records page.

Online Resources and Websites
Primarily Armenian Apostolic Church records, but also includes some records for other religious denominations

1. Use the Locality List for Armenian Parish Registers, listed by historic name and former Russian Empire jurisdictions. Partially in Russian.

2. Use the fond, opis, and item number(s) (see the two far-right columns from the link above) to locate the records in the Family History Library catalog: The red link in the FHL catalog to the digital records is incomplete. Scroll to the list of microfilms to view the digital images.
 * State Historical Archive of Armenia: Fond 47 or Fond 62
 * State Historical Archive of Armenia: Fond 53 or Fond 357. (Example: fond 53, opis 2, file 109 = Ֆ: 53՝ ց: 2՝ մ: 109)

Armenian Apostolic Church
The forms below reflect a typical church record form for the Armenian Apostolic Church, but there will be some variation in column headers over time.

Baptism Record Form
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSMD-N6T6?i=101&cat=2526331

Marriage Record form
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSMV-N729-Y?i=23&cat=2526331

Burial Record Form
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSMD-NXKQ?i=227&cat=2526331

Historical Background
Armenia was the first nation to adopt Christianity as a state religion, an event traditionally dated to AD 301. The predominant religion in Armenia is Christianity. The roots of the Armenian Church go back to the 1st century. According to tradition, the Armenian Church was founded by two of Jesus' twelve apostles – Thaddaeus and Bartholomew – who preached Christianity in Armenia between AD 40–60. Because of these two founding apostles, the official name of the Armenian Church is Armenian Apostolic Church. Over 93% of Armenian Christians belong to the Armenian Apostolic Church, a form of Oriental Orthodoxy, roughly comparable to the Coptic and Syriac churches.

The Armenian Evangelical Church has a very sizeable and favourable presence among the life of Armenians with over several thousand members throughout the country. It traces its roots back to 1846 which was under patronage of the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople the aim of which was to train qualified clergy for the Armenian Apostolic Church.

Other Christian denominations practicing faith based on Nicene Creed in Armenia are the Pentecostal branches of Protestant community such as the Word of Life, the Armenian Brotherhood Church, the Baptists which are known as of the oldest existing denominations in Armenia and were permitted by the authorities of Soviet Union, and Presbyterians.

Catholics also exist in Armenia, both Latin rite and Armenian rite Catholics. The Armenian Catholic denomination is headquartered in Bzoummar, Lebanon.

Armenia is home to a Russian community of Molokans which practice a form of Spiritual Christianity originated from the Russian Orthodox Church.

Information Recorded in the Records
Different denominations, different time periods, and practices of different record keepers will effect how much information can be found in the records. This outline will show the types of details which might be found (best case scenario):

Baptisms
In Catholic and Anglican records, children were usually baptized a few days after birth, and therefore, the baptism record proves date of birth. Other religions, such as Baptists, baptized at other points in the member's life. Baptism registers might give:

Marriages
Marriage registers can give:

Burials
Burial registers may give:

Digital Copies of Church Records in the FamilySearch Catalog
Watch for digitized copies of church records to be added to the collection of the FamilySearch Library. Some records might have viewing restrictions, and can only be viewed at a Family History Center near you, and/or by members of supporting organizations. To find records:
 * a. Click on the records of Armenia.
 * b. Click on the subject "Armenia - Church records". Click on the blue links to specific record titles.
 * Or
 * b. Click on Places within Armenia and a list of towns will appear.
 * 1. Click on your town if it appears, or the location which you believe was the parish which served your town or village.
 * 2. Click on the "Church records" topic. Click on the blue links to specific record titles.
 * c. Some combination of these icons will appear at the far right of the listing for the record. FHL icons.png. The magnifying glass indicates that the record is indexed. Clicking on the magnifying glass will take you to the index. Clicking on the camera will take you to an online digital copy of the records.

Writing for Records
You will probably need to write to or email the national archives, the diocese, or local parish priests to find records. Use Letter Writing Guide for Genealogy for help with composing letters. Next, use an Armenian translation service.
 * Maps.me Church Listings for Armenia

Writing to a Local Parish
Earlier records can be held at the diocese, with more recent records still kept in the local parish. To locate the mailing address or e-mail address for a diocese or local parish, consult:
 * The Catholic Directory: Armenia

Historical Background
The Armenian Catholic church in the Transcaucasian region had four deaneries, (Akhaltsykh-Atskhur [previously part of the Tiflis province of Russia, now in Georgia], Akhalhalak [previously part of the Tiflis province of Russia, now in Georgia], Lori [previously part of the Tiflis province of Russia, now split between Georgia and Armenia], and Alexandrapol [previously part of the Erivan province of Russia, now in Armenia) within the the Diocese of Tiraspol. This diocese was originally created on 3 July 1848 and was called the Diocese of Kherson until 1852. Prior to 1848 the area belonged to the Archdiocese of Mohilev.

Armenian Catholics in the Ėrivan province of the Russian Empire lived primarily in the Aleksandrapolʹ district (uyezd).

Roman Catholics in Armenia belonged to the Tiflis deanery which was also in the Diocese of Tiraspol.

Roman Catholics in the Ėrivan province of the Russian Empire lived primarily in the Sharur-Daralagyoz district (uyezd).

Online Records
Online church information is available to current members, deceased members, and immediate family members who are still living. Sign in to FamilySearch and then select Family Tree in the drop-down menu.

Historical Background
The gospel has been preached among Armenians living outside of their homeland since the 1880s. In Turkey, Mr. Vartooguian and three members of his family were baptized in January 1885, the first Armenians to join the Church. Continued violence and persecution caused Armenian Latter-day Saints to be driven from their homes and spread across the Near East. In 1921, the Church held a special fast to benefit Church members in need. A portion of the fast offerings (monies donated by members equal to the cost of food they would have eaten) was given to Armenian Latter-day Saints.

On December 7, 1988, portions of Armenia were devastated by an earthquake. Approximately 50,000 people died and half a million became homeless. One week later, Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve (the second highest governing body of the Church) met with Soviet Ambassador Yuri Dubinin and his wife, Liana, in Washington, D.C., to convey condolences and to present a check for humanitarian aid. In response to the earthquake, Utah industrialist and Church leader Jon M. Huntsman, working with American philanthropist Armand Hammer, established a concrete plant in Yerevan in late 1991. It produced reinforced concrete plank used to build homes and apartment buildings. The plant was staffed with Latter-day Saints humanitarian service couples who had expertise in seismic engineering and plant operations. The humanitarian effort was headed by David M. Horne, who operated the plant and was also involved in managing shipments of food and supplies. In light of these efforts, the Church was registered in Armenia in December 1995. Total Church Membership: 3,579. Congregations: 11.

Writing for Records

 * Google Maps search results for Armenian Apostolic Church in Armenia

Writing for Records

 * Google Maps search results for Armenian Evangelical churches in Armenia

Historical Background
This church is an autonomous body comprised of congregations throughout Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, Egypt, Greece, Iran, and also Australia. It began in the 19th century as an indigenous reform movement within the Armenian Apostolic Church, and developed into an independent community in 1846 in Istanbul, and in subsequent decades registered a membership of 60,000 throughout the Ottoman empire.

Writing for Records

 * Google Maps search results for Armenian Brotherhood churches in Armenia

Writing for Records

 * Google Maps search results for Baptist churches in Armenia

Writing for Records

 * Google Maps search results for Pentecostal churches in Armenia

Writing for Records

 * Google Maps search results for Presbyterian churches in Armenia

Writing for Records

 * Google Maps search results for Word of Life churches in Armenia