Chair of Religious Studies

In 1973, the Chair of History and Theory of Atheism was founded at YSU, which was headed by famous scientists, Dr., Professor Levon Abrahamyan, Torgom Isayan, and Hrant Hakobyan.

In 1991, the Chair was renamed into the Chair of History and Theory of Religion. From March 2001 to 2014 the head of the Chair was Ph.D., Associate Professor Avetis Kalashyan, and from 2015 to 2021, Dr., Professor Samvel Mkrtchyan. Since April 2021, the Chair has been led by Ph.D., Associate Professor Pargev Barseghyan.

In 2022, the Chair was renamed into the Chair of Religious Studies.

In the course of its activity, it carried out the teaching of Undergraduate general education and optional courses "History of Religions" and "Fundamentals of Religious Studies" in all faculties of the university. The Chair organizes general, special, and optional courses in various Undergraduate educational programs of the Faculty of Theology. Since the 2019-2020 academic year, the Chair has been implementing the "Religious Studies" Master's degree, and since the 2021-2022 academic year, the "Religious Studies" Undergraduate educational programs.

The main directions of basic and applied research of the Chair are many directions of religious science: philosophy of religion, sociology of religion, psychology of religion, phenomenology of religion, anthropology of religion, and history of religions. Different periods of the history of religions are studied (pre-Christian religious and cultural layers, history of mythology, modern world and national religions (Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism, Shintoism, etc.), modern religious denominations, sects, closed groups, etc.).

Outstanding specialists of the Republic, who are included in various scientific and educational programs, teach at the Chair. The scientists of the Chair publish educational manuals, textbooks, scientific articles, and monographs, which are of great importance in the development of Armenian religious thought.

Let us mention that the Chair also operates the YSU Cross-cultural Religious Studies Center.