The Armenian Catholic Church

Semi-independent Christian church that is affiliated to the Roman Catholic Church through the Eastern Rite regime. The church has about 72,000 members in the Middle East. Outside the region of this encyclopaedia there are about 400,000 adherents, mainly living in Armenia, the USA and France.
In Lebanon their centre is in Beirut, but the church is spread all over the central parts of the country. In Syria the majority lives in Aleppo. In Iraq they are centred to Baghdad. The Iranian centre is in Esfahan.
The Armenian Catholic Church has retained its identity distinct from the Roman Catholic Church, and the liturgy is performed in Classical Armenian. Today, the leader of the church, the Patriarch of the Catholic Armenians and Katholikos of Cilicia resides in Beirut, Lebanon.
There are 3 archdioceses: Aleppo (Syria), Baghdad (Iraq) and Istanbul (Turkey); 3 dioceses: Alexandria (Egypt), Esfahan (Iran) and Qamishle (Syria).

HISTORY

12th century: Some of the Armenians are reported to be Catholics. They formed the kingdom of Little Armenia in Cilicia.
1375: Little Armenia collapses, and for about 350 years there are no Armenian Catholics.
1742: Abraham Artzivian, who was a Catholic, is elected patriarch of Sis. He forms the Armenian Catholic Church, and even becomes Bishop of Aleppo.
1911: The Armenian Catholic Church is divided into 19 dioceses.
1915- 18: The Armenians suffer from heavy persecution from the Ottoman regime, where about 1 million are killed. During these times, many dioceses disappeared. Many adherents left for Europe and USA.
1932: The head of the church, now called Patriarch of the Catholic Armenians and Katholikos of Cilicia, moves to Beirut.