ARMENIANS

ARMENIANS, in respect of Religion, a Sect, or Division among the Eastern Christians; thus called from Armenia, the Country anciently inhabited by them.

See SECT.

The Armenians, since the Conquest of their Country by Shah Abbas King of Persia, have had no fixed Place of Habitation, but are dispersed in various Parts of Persia, Turkey, and even some Parts of Europe.—Their chief Employment is Merchandise, in which they excel.
The Cardinal de Richelieu, we are told, had a Design to make an Establishment of them in France, for promoting the Commerce of that Country.



With regard to Religion, there are two Kinds of Armenians; the one Catholics, and subject to the Pope, having an Archbishop in Persia, and another in Poland.—The other make a peculiar Sect, having two Patriarchs in Anatolia. They have their Printing-house at Marseille.

The Armenians are of the Sect of Miaphysites, and only allow of one Nature in Jesus Christ. See MIAPHYSITE. As to the Eucharist, they agree with the Greeks, except in this, that they mix no Water with their Wine, and use unleavened Bread after the manner of the Latins. See GREEK, AZYMUS, etc. They abstain very rigorously from eating of Blood and Meats strangled, and are much addicted to Fasting, insomuch, that to hear them talk, one would conclude that their whole Religion consisted in Fasting.

The Monastic Order is in great Repute among them, since one of their Patriarchs introduced that of St. Basil; but part of them which have united with the Church of Rome, have changed their ancient Rule, for that of the Dominicans. See BASILIAN and DOMINICAN.

ARMENIANS