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Russian Dioceses of the Armenian Apostolic Church

In 1717 the first Russian diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church with the center in the townof Astrakhan was established. The new diocese included all Armenian churches in the territoryof Russia.

In 1809 during the war with Turks (1806-1812), in the territory occupied by Russian troops,Bessarabian diocese of the Armenian Church with the center in the town of Yassy wasestablished by king’s order. According to the treaty of peace signed on 16 May 1812 inBucharest, the territory between the rivers Dniester and Prut became a part of Russia asBessarabian region with the center in Kishinev. Since the town of Yassy was in the territory ofthe Ottoman Empire, Kishinev became the new center of Bessarabian diocese.

In 1830 by king’s order Bessarabian and Novo-Nakhichevanskaya diocese was reorganized. Theterritory of the Don region, Crimea, Moscow, Ruthenia, Novorossija and Saint Petersburg wasexcluded from Astrakhan diocese and included into the territory of Bessarabian diocese. In 1895 Novo-Nakhichevan became its center.Astrakhan diocese of the Armenian Church included the territory of the Volga region, NorthCaucasus, Central Asia and Siberia.Therefore, in the last century in the territory of the Russian Empire there were two dioceses ofthe Armenian Apostolic Church: Bessarabian and Novo-Nakhichevanskaya diocese andAstrakhan diocese.

After the October Socialist Revolution the following administrative changes took place:

1. The Armenian churches of Bessarabian region united with Romanian diocese of theArmenian Church.
2. The borders of Astrakhan diocese were reduced to the territory of the Volga region andNorth Caucasus; and the diocese was renamed into Astrakhan and North Caucasusdiocese with the center in the town of Armavir.
3. With time, the territory of Novo-Nakhichevanskaya diocese with the center in Rostov-on-Don was reduced to the Don region.
4. The Armenian churches of Central Asia were excluded from Astrakhan diocese andjoined to the churches in Baku. As a result, Turkestan and Baku diocese was established.

So, in Russia during the period from 1950 to 1960 there were the following dioceses of theArmenian Apostolic Church:- Novo-Nakhichevanskaya diocese with the center in Rostov-on-Don;- Astrakhan and North Caucasus diocese with the center in Armavir.