The New Status of the Catholicosate of Aghvank in the Context of Church Reforms of the Russian Empire (the first half of the 19th Century)

The article presents information about the new status of the Catholicosate of Armenian Aghvank during the rule of the Russian Empire. After the Russo-Persian War of 1804-1813, on October 12, 1813, by the peace treaty signed in the Gulistan Fortress of Artsakh, Karabakh, Gandzak and a number of other adjacent Persian-subject khanates came under Russian rule.Based on factual materials, we have addressed the events related to the restoration of the Catholicosate of Armenian Aghvank in 1815. The Artsakh Diocese was formed in accordance with the articles of the “Polozhenie” Statute adopted in 1836. We have also presented interesting information about Armenian church reforms during the rule of Tsarist Russia based on materials kept in the Mesrop Mashtots Matenadaran of the Republic of Armenia.