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26 The Armenian Church

Aderbadagan, Iran, is still a major center of
pilgrimage. The apostolic origin of the Ar-
menian Church has become a sacred legacy
and a source of spiritual renewal, permeating
all spheres and aspects of its life. The throne
of the catholicos has been referred to as the
Apostolic See or Apostolic Throne. Aposto-
licity has served as a constant reminder to the
Armenian Church to fulfill the Great Com-
mission and remain faithful to the tradition
and faith of the early church transmitted by
the apostles.

Christianity as the state religion
Before their martyrdom, both apostles
ordained bishops to continue their mission.
Historical evidence provided by the Ar-
menian historians, such as the martyrdom of
Woskiank, five Roman envoys who were
converted by St. Thaddeus, and Soukias-
iank, nineteen Alans who became Christians
in Armenia, as well as references to bishops
and dioceses (see Appendix D for the full list
of the Armenian Catholicoi) by Eusebius
(Church History), Tertullian (Against the Jews),
St. Augustine (Against Manichaeans), and by
other early church fathers prove that Chris-
tianity, although a hidden and persecuted
religion, continued its clandestine existence
in Armenia. By general consensus, the for-
mal conversion of Armenia to Christianity