ARMENIAN CILICIA. — Catholic patriarchate since 26 Nov. 1742, when Benedict XIV confirmed Apraham Artzineam, Catholic bishop, elected katholikós of Sis by an assembly of priests and laity desirous of forming an independent group from the dissident Armenians. The see was fixed at Krain, in Lebanon. Its jurisdiction extended to Syria and Egypt. It was later extended to Mesopotamia (1760) and to Tokat and Perkemik, in Asia Minor (1769). The present residence of the patriarch of C. is at Bizommar, near Beirut. The patriarchate numbers 12,000 faithful, 6 parishes and 31 priests.
BIBL.: F. Tournebize, Histoire politique et religieuse de l'Arménie, Paris 1907, p. 126 ff.; J. de Morgan, Histoire du peuple arménien depuis les temps les plus reculés de ses annales jusqu'à nos jours, Paris-Nancy 1919, p. 63 ff.; Ann. pontif. 1949.