Armenia became the first state to adopt Christianity as its official religion.
Armenian tradition dates the state’s conversion to the early fourth century, traditionally 301 CE, under King Tiridates III. Gregory the Illuminator is credited with converting the king and establishing Christianity as the kingdom’s official faith. Some modern historians place the formal adoption slightly later, around 314, but Armenia is consistently recognized as the first Christian state.
The Armenian Apostolic Church belongs to the Oriental Orthodox family. Etchmiadzin, near modern Vagharshapat, became a major spiritual centre and is often regarded as the oldest cathedral in the world.
Armenia is landlocked in the South Caucasus and borders Georgia, Azerbaijan, Iran and Turkey. It should not be confused with Georgia, which also has an ancient Christian tradition but adopted Christianity as a state religion later.