It is part of Oriental Orthodoxy and is one of the most ancient Christian communities. Armenia was the first country to adopt Christianity as its official religion in the early fourth century (traditionally in 301) in establishing this church.The church claims to have originated in the missions of Apostles Bartholomew and Thaddeus in the 1st century and is an early center of Christianity.n independent Armenia, the Armenian Apostolic Church has often been criticized for its perceived support of the government despite the formal separation of church and state in Armenia. According to former Prime Minister Hrant Bagratyan religion and state management have completely gotten mixed up.