The Construction of Russian Orthodox Churches in Erebuni
The present state of relations between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Armenian Apostolic Church accounts for the relevance of the issues discussed in the article. When Eastern Armenia became part of Russia, the relations between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Armenian Apostolic Church acquired a systemic character. In our time, Russian Orthodox churches functioning in the territory of Armenia and Armenian eparchies promote religious and political connections between the two countries. The aim of the article is to analyze the construction of Russian Orthodox churches in Erebuni, the administrative center of Eastern Armenia (now known as Yerevan, the capital of the Republic of Armenia) in the late 19th- early 20th centuries. The article explores the circumstances associated with the appearance of Russian Orthodox churches in Erebuni. The article investigates previously unpublished archival documents stored in the National Archival Fund of the Republic of Armenia. The article reconstructs the details of the construction of St. Nicolas Orthodox Cathedral and Erebuni parochial school. The article shows some architectural drawbacks of the cathedral which became obvious when the cathedral was opened and started functioning. The article provides names and surnames of the first priests who served in the cathedral. The analyzed data enables the author to conclude that at the turn of the 19th - 20th centuries, the Russian Orthodox church strengthened its position in Erebuni and in Eastern Armenia, in general. The situation was politically motivated by the pro-Russian sentiments Transcaucasia and by the desire of the Russian government to exert pressure on Russian sectaries. The appearance of Russian Orthodox churches in Erebuni is historically significant, for it encouraged the spread of Russian Orthodox traditions in the capital of Armenia, promoted the establishment of the Armenian Apostolic Vicariate in Russia in 1912, and encouraged the inter-confessional relations between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Armenian Apostolic Church in modern conditions.