Armenian Christianity in Cilicia

After the weakening and eventual collapse of Armenian political power in much of the historic Armenian Highlands, Armenian communities established important political centers in Cilicia.

The Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia emerged during the medieval period and was recognized as a kingdom in 1198/1199.

Its rulers maintained extensive relationships with neighboring Crusader states, Byzantine authorities, and European powers.

Religious and Cultural Exchange

Cilician Armenia became a center of Armenian manuscript production, theology, and artistic development.

Armenian religious leaders interacted with Latin Christian institutions.

These relationships sometimes encouraged discussions of ecclesiastical union, but they also generated disagreement within Armenian communities.

The Catholicosate in Cilicia

The Armenian catholicosal seat moved through several locations over the centuries.

Sis became an important center of Armenian ecclesiastical authority.

After the restoration of the Catholicosate of All Armenians at Etchmiadzin in 1441, a separate catholicosal line continued in Cilicia.

The Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia later established its headquarters in Antelias, Lebanon.

This history helps explain the existence of two major catholicosates within the Armenian Apostolic Church today.