The Armenian Apostolic Church is the national church of the Armenian people. It is part of Oriental Orthodoxy and is one of the most ancient Christian communities. Armenia is an early center of Christianity, and it was the first country to adopt Christianity as its official religion in the early 4th century (traditionally in 301), by establishing this church. The church claims to have originated in the missions of Apostles Bartholomew and Thaddeus in the 1st century.