ARMENIAN CHURCH. Christianity ap pears to have been introduced
in Armenia as early as the Second Century. It was for the first
time firmly established, however, when Bishop Gregory the
Illuminator baptized Tiridates, the King (301), and a great
party of the people. became immediately baptized Christians.
(See ARMENIA.) The Bible was translated into the Armenian
language in the Fifth Century, by 3lesrob and Sahak. After this
period great ani mation prevailed in the Armenian Church. Num
bers flocked to the colleges at Athens and Con stantinople. In
the ecclesiastical controversy concerning the twofold nature of
Christ. the Armenian Christians held with the Monophys Res
(q.v.) ; refused to at-knowledge the authority of the Council of
Chalcedon; and constituted themselves a separate Church. which
took the title of Gregorian from Gregory himself. For several
centuries a spirit of scientific inquiry, especially in
theology, manifested itself among them to a far wider extent
than in the other Eastern churches. Their