Diocese of Artik ( ''Artiki t'em''), is a diocese of the
Armenian Apostolic Church
The Armenian Apostolic Church () is the Autocephaly, autocephalous national church of Armenia. Part of Oriental Orthodoxy, it is one of the most ancient Christianity, Christian churches. The Armenian Apostolic Church, like the Armenian Catholic ...
covering the southern part of
Shirak Province
Shirak (, ) is a provinces of Armenia, province () of Armenia. It is located in the north-west of the country, bordering the provinces of Lori Province, Lori to the east and Aragatsotn Province, Aragatsotn to the south and southeast, and the cou ...
of
Armenia
Armenia, officially the Republic of Armenia, is a landlocked country in the Armenian Highlands of West Asia. It is a part of the Caucasus region and is bordered by Turkey to the west, Georgia (country), Georgia to the north and Azerbaijan to ...
, including the towns of
Artik,
Maralik, and their surrounding villages.
The diocese is based in the historical Armenian town of
Artik, within the historic ''Shirak canton'' of
Ayrarat province of ancient
Greater Armenia.
The Diocese of Artik was officially founded on 2 December 2012, when it was separated from the Diocese of Shirak, upon a
kontakion
A kontakion (Greek , ''kondákion'', plural κοντάκια, ''kondákia'') is a form of hymn in the Byzantine liturgical tradition.
The kontakion form originated in Syriac hymnography and gained prominence in Byzantium during the 6th century, ...
issued by Catholicos
Karekin II
Catholicos Garegin II (, also spelled Karekin; born 21 August 1951) is the Catholicos of All Armenians, the supreme head of the Armenian Apostolic Church, since 1999. In 2013 he was unanimously elected the Oriental Orthodox head of the World Cou ...
. The seat of the diocese is the 7th-century Saint Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral, currently being entirely reconstructed. The prelacy is based in the nearby ''Varagatun'' religious complex, consecrated in 2012.
References
External links
Churches of Gegharkunik Province
{{coord missing, Armenia
Artik
Oriental Orthodox dioceses in Armenia
Shirak Province