The Armenian Evangelical Church (Armenian: Հայ Աւետարանական Եկեղեցի) was established on July 1, 1846 by thirty-seven men and three women in Constantinople. Map of Constantinople. ...

History

In the 19th century there was intellectual and spiritual awakening in Constantinople. This awakening and enlightenment pushed the reformists to study the Bible. Under the patronage of the Armenian Patriarchate, a school was opened, headed by Krikor Peshdimaljian, one of the leading intellectuals of the time. The principal aim of this school was to train qualified clergy for the Armenian Apostolic Church. Official standard of Karekin II Catholicos of Armenia The Armenian Apostolic Church, sometimes called the Armenian Orthodox Church or the Gregorian Church, is the worlds oldest national church and one of the most ancient Christian communities. ...

The result of this awakening was the formation of a society called “Pietistical Union.” The members held meetings for the study of the Bible. Naturally, during these meetings and Bible studies, questions were raised regarding the practices and traditions of the church, which to them seemed to conflict with biblical truths. Unfortunately, the church authorities of the day decided to silence these questions by force, instead of understanding the needs of the time.

These reformists faced strong retaliation from the Armenian Patriarchate of Istanbul. Eventually, after Patriarch Matteos Chouhajian excommunicated the reformists, they were forced to organize themselves into a separate religious community, the Protestant Millet. This separation led to the formation of the Armenian Evangelical Church in 1846.

Today, there are 88 Armenian Evangelical Churches in the following countries: Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Cyprus, Egypt, England, France, Georgia, Greece, Iran, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, Uruguay, and the United States of America.

Armenian Evangelical Unions

• Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East (UAECNE, 1924)
• Armenian Evangelical Union of North America (AEUNA, 1971)
• Armenian Evangelical Union of France (AEUF, 1924)
• Union of Evangelical Churches in Armenia (1995)
• Armenian Evangelical Union of Eurasia (1995)
• Armenian Evangelical Fellowship of Europe
• Union of Armenian Evangelical Unions in Bulgaria (1995)

The Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East (UAECNE) is an autonomous body of churches comprising 25 congregations throughout Syria, Lebanon, Turkey, Greece, Egypt, Iran and Australia. ... The Armenian Evangelical Union of North America resulted from the merger of the Armenian Evangelical Union of Eastern States and Canada (founded in 1901) and the Armenian Evangelical Union of California (founded in 1908). ...

References

• Rev. Hagop A. Chakmakjian, The Armenian Evangelical Church and The Armenian People