For millennia, the Armenian nation has been a unique bridge between the East and the West. In consequence of the loss of statehood and numerous foreign invasions Armenian colonies have been formed in a number of countries and regions since the Middle Ages. As a result of the genocide, hundreds of thousands of Armenian survivors found refuge in different parts of the world, forming, as it is said today "classical diaspora". The latter was later expanded as a result of the collapse of the USSR and the subsequent economic and regional crisis. Armenian-Spanish relations date back to ancient times, but became active only in the Middle Ages, during the period of the Cilician Armenian Kingdom. In 1385, the King of Castile presented Madrid (along with the cities of Villarreal and c) by proclamation to King Levon Z Lusinyan with the right to rule for life. In the XVI-XVII centuries the visits of Armenian merchants to the commercial centers of Spain were frequent. In Spain, according to some sources, a small number of Armenian communities were formed in Cadiz in the 18th century, in Madrid during the First World War. The community expanded especially after 1991 because of the Armenians who moved from the Republic of Armenia. Armenians mainly live in Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Alicante, Malaga, La Rioja, San Sebastian, Bilbao, Seville and their surrounding cities. There are dozens of Armenian structures, including media, day schools. There are many Armenians working in agriculture, construction, trade in Spain. Here the Armenian community does not have a special legal status. In Spain, the Armenian Apostolic Church has its clergy, but the Armenians do not have a church with the right of ownership. Masses are currently served by renting Catholic churches. In 2009 an agreement was reached with the local church authorities of the town of Calonje, near Barcelona, to lease a chapel (Saint Gevorg) for a period of 30 years, which was to serve as the Armenian Apostolic Church. In the same year, the first ceremony was performed in the church, but currently the church is not functioning. Currently, they are discussing to build Armenian churches in cities of Spain full of Armenians. Armenian Catholic and Evangelical churches do not function in Spain either. The Armenian Apostolic Church is registered with the Ministry of Justice as a legal entity carrying out religious activities. Currently, according to unofficial data, there are about 5,000 Armenians living in Spain. National life is not organized, no community organization has been established yet, it is in the stage of organizing community structures. There are many community organizations of Spanish Armenians, but the number of members is small. The Embassy of the Republic of Armenia in Madrid was opened on August 25, 2010. There are also honorary consulates in Barcelona and Valencia.