Antiochian Greeks
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Antiochian Greeks are the members of the Antiochian Orthodox Church who have resided in the territory of contemporary Turkish province of Hatay. They are primarily speakers of Levantine Arabic, but also of Greek and Turkish.
Historically, they were considered as a part of Rûm millet by the Ottoman authorities. The community had a notable tendency of immigration in early 20th century. As the Sanjak of Alexandretta was then a part of Syria, Antiochian Greeks were not subject to population exchange of 1923. After Hatay was annexed by Turkey in 1939, many emigrated to Syria and Lebanon. Following 1960s, a new wave of immigration has drawn Antiochian Greeks to Western countries.
According to a census conducted by the Patriarchate of Antioch in 1895, there were 500,000 Antiochian Greeks in the Sanjak, compared to about 300,000 in the 1930s.[1] In 1995, their total population was estimated at 10,000.[2] Today, a significant number of Antiochian Greeks in Turkey live in Istanbul. They are concentrated in İskenderun, Samandağ, and Altınözü in Hatay. There is also a community in Mersin. A case of intercommunal violence with Muslims in Altınözü was reported in 2005.[3]
[edit] References
- ^ Peter Alford Andrews, Ethnic Groups in the Republic of Turkey, Dr. Ludwig Reichert Verlag, 1989, ISBN 3-89500-297-6
- ^ The Greeks of Turkey, 1992-1995 Fact-sheet by Marios D. Dikaiakos
- ^ (Turkish) Taciz yüzünden cemaatler dövüştü
