Discreet Armenia! Who, apart from those who live there or are from Armenian descent, knows that it was the first Christian state in history?
According to Christian tradition, the region was evangelized by the apostles Thaddeus and Bartholomew, which is why the Armenian Church is called “apostolic.” However, it was Saint Gregory the Illuminator who, some three centuries later, converted King Tiridates IV. Christianity was proclaimed the official religion of the kingdom in 301, twelve years before the Edict of Milan, which recognized it as a legitimate religion within the Roman Empire.
Even today, with 98% of the population identifying with it, Armenia is one of the countries in the world where Christianity remains most vibrant. However, the Soviet occupation period was tough for believers: the Church faced fierce repression, not only for ideological reasons but also because it was a pillar of Armenian identity that Stalin sought to weaken. Under his orders, a patriarch was assassinated, priests and bishops were persecuted, seminaries and churches were closed, and believers were threatened. Yet, faith continued to be passed on within families, thanks in particular to mothers and grandmothers.
One can imagine that this crucifix was carefully hidden until the 1990s. Moreover, it is not representative of Armenian tradition, in which crosses do not bear the body of Christ. Instead, they are often adorned with plant motifs, corresponding to their designation as the “Tree of Life.”
