Armenian Trivia

Geography Trivia
  • Noah's Ark came to rest on Mount Ararat.
  • Mount Ararat has two summits. Pokr Massis (Lesser Massis) and Medz Massis (Greater Massis.)
  • The capital city of Modern Armenia is Yerevan.
  • Yerevan is as old as Babylon, and is fifty years older than Rome. In 1968, the city of Yerevan marked its 2750th Anniversary.
  • The borders of Armenia are Georgia, Azerbaijan, Turkey and Iran.
  • 5 major cities in Armenia are Yerevan, Etchmiadzin, Gyumri, Apovian and Dilijan.
  • 5 major products that come from Armenia today are cognac, cotton, silk, metal, crystal.
  • The famous stone used for buildings in Armenia is "Tufa," a porous rock of volcanic origin, lighter and more durable than brick. Tufa comes in more than 40 shades.
 Religion Trivia
  • The apostles who brought Christianity into Armenia were Thaddeus and Bartholomew who came to be knows as the first illuminators.
  • In 301 AD, Armenia became the first nation to adopt Christianity as her state religion. Drtad III was the King and that time and St. Gregory the Illuminator was the first Catholicos. 
  • The Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin is the name of the first Armenian Church built in Armenia in 303 AD. St. Gregory had a vision of Christ descending to that spot upon which the first Armenian Church was built. "Etchmiadzin" means "The descent of the only begotten Son."
  • The Cathedral of Etchmiadzin still exists in Armenia, and it is the religious and spiritual center for all Armenians.
  • Armenian Christmas is celebrated on January 6th.
  • The 4 Religious orders of the Armenian Church are Catholicos, Bishop, Priest, Deacon.
  • The 7 sacraments of the Armenian Church are Baptism, Chrismation, Confession, Holy Communion, Marriage, Ordination, Anointing of the sick.
  • The 5 Major Feast Days of the Armenian Church are Christmas (Epiphany), Easter, Transfiguration, Assumption, Exaltation of The Holy Cross.
  • 5 Armenian Saints are St. Krikor Loosavoreetch, St. Mesrob Mashdots, St. Vartan Mamegonyan, St. Krikor Naregatsee, St. Nersess Shunorhalee.
  • We greet a Bishop by saying Asdvadz Oknagan Surpazan Hayre (God be your helper).
  • We greet a Celibate Priest by saying Orhnetsek Der Hayr (Bless me, Father).
  • We greet each other at Christmas with Krisdos Dzunvav yev Haydnetsav (Christ was Born and Manifested) and respond with Ohrnayl e Haydnetyunun Krisdosee (Blessed is the Manifestation of Christ).
  • We greet each other at Easter with Krisdos Haryav e Merelots (Christ is Risen from the Dead) and respond with Ohrnyal e Harutyounun Krisdosee (Blessed is the Resurrection of Christ).
  • We greet each other at New Year's with Shnorhavor Nor Daree yev Paree Gaghant (Happy New Year).
  • There arc two Dioceses in the USA. The Eastern Diocese, the Western Diocese, and a Diocese in Canada.
  • The first Cathedral of the Armenian Church is called St. Vartan Cathedral. It was built in 1968 and is located in New York City.
Alphabet Trivia 
  • Mesrob Mashdots invented the Armenian Alphabet in 404 AD. 
  • There are 38 letters in the Armenian Alphabet.
  • The Armenian Language belongs to the Indo-European languages.
  • The Bible was the first book that was translated into Armenian in the 5th century and and is called the "The Queen of All Translations."
Literature Trivia
  • The 5th century was called "The Golden Age of Literature" as manuscripts were translated and decorated with illustrations.
  • Armenia's architecture influenced the architecture of other countries. Armenians are the originators of "Gothic Art".
  • KhachKar is the Armenian word for Cross Stone. KhachKar is an artistic tradition to the Armenians, which is carved with inscriptions and designs. The Cross, the Christian symbol of faith, forms the central motif.
  • The First Armenian Historian was Movses Khorenatsi.
  • Oskan Yerevantsee printed the first Armenian Bible in 1666 in Holland.
  • Hagop Meghabard published the first 5 Armenian Books in Venice Italy in the years 1512-1513.
  • The Rev. Father Shumavon Harootyoonyan published the first Armenian Newspaper "Aztarar" in 1794 in Madras, India.
  • Armenians invented red ink. They obtained it from a worm called "Vortan Garmeer" which was found in Armenia. 
 History Trivia 
  • The Cilician Kingdom was the last kingdom of Armenia from 1080-1375.
  • King Levon the 5th was the last King of Armenians. He died and was buried in Paris in 1393.
  • With the fall of the Cilician Kingdom, Armenia lost her Independence.
  • After the fall of the Cilician Kingdom Armenia was ruled by Persia, Russia and Turkey.