The 'Armenian Rite' is independent
liturgy. This rite is used by both the
Armenian Orthodox Church and the
Armenian Catholic Church. The liturgy of
Saint Gregory the Illuminator, who is the founder and patron saint of The Armenian Church, is patterned. Unlike the
Byzantine Church, churches of the Armenian rite are usually devoid of
icons and have a curtain concealing the priest and the
altar from the people during parts of the
liturgy, an influence from early apostolic times. The use of bishop's
mitre and of unleavened bread, is reminiscent of the influence Western missionaries once had upon both the
miaphysite Orthodox Armenians as well as upon the Armenian
Uniate Catholics.
External link
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New Catholic Dictionary: Armenian Rite