| Total population |
|---|
| 100,000 |
| Regions with significant populations |
| Aleppo, Al-Qamishli, Damascus Kesab and Yacoubiyah (two Armenian inhabited villages) |
| Languages |
| Religion |
| Related ethnic groups |
|
Armenian, Hamshenis, Cherkesogai groups |
The Armenians in Syria are Syrian citizens of either full or partial Armenian descent. Syria and the surrounding areas have often served as a refuge for Armenians who fled from wars and persecutions such as the Armenian Genocide. According to Armenian diaspora organizations estimated that there are 150,000 [1] Armenians in Syria, most of whom live in Aleppo. But in fact the number of the Armenian population in Syria has declined during the recent 20 years, and it roughly counts 100,000 nowadays. The town of Kesab has also a majority of Armenians within Syria.
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Armenia under Tigranes the Great subjugated Syria, and chose Antioch as one of the four capitals of the short lived Armenian Empire. During Antiquity, there was some Armenian presence in Northern Syria, however it wasn't a considerable one.
Christianity became the official religion of Armenia in 301 through the efforts of Saint Gregory the Illuminator. Armenian merchants and travelers often frequented Antioch, one of the earliest sites of Christian teaching and practice, and had relations with the even closer Christian centers of Edessa and Nisibis, all of which are located in Greater Syria, where Christianity flourished in apostolic times.
When the Seljuk Turks conquered Armenia from its previous Byzantine rulers, waves of Armenians left their homeland in order to find a more stable place to live. Most Armenians established themselves in Cilicia where an Armenian kingdom was founded, but some chose Northern Syria. Armenian quarters were formed during the 11th century in towns or cities such as Antioch, Aleppo, Aintab, etc.
During the Crusades, the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia chose to side with the European invaders rather than the mostly Turkish rulers of Syria. Prior to the Siege of Antioch, most Armenians were expelled from Antioch by Yaghi-Siyan, the Turkish governor of the city, a move that prompted the Armenians of Antioch to show further support to the Crusaders. Thus, the new rulers of Antioch became the Europeans. Armenian engineers also helped the Crusaders during the Siege of Tyre by manipulating siege engines.
The Armenian population of Syria and its surrounding areas greatly diminished after the region was taken by the Mongols under Hulagu.
At the beginning of the 14th century, a new wave of Armenian migrants from Cilicia arrived in Aleppo with the decline of the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia. They have gradually developed their own schools, churches and later on the prelacy, to become a well-organized community during in Aleppo by mid-14th century.
At the first years of the Ottoman rule, there was relatively smaller Armenian presence in Northern Syria due to the previous conflicts. A larger community existed in Urfa, a city often considered part of Greater Syria. The Ottoman Empire had a large indigenous Armenian population in its Eastern Anatolia region, from where some Armenians moved to Aleppo in search of economic opportunity. Later on, many Armenian families moved from Western Armenia to Aleppo escaping the Turkish oppression. Thus, large numbers of Armenians from Arapgir, Sasun, Hromgla, Zeitun, Marash and New Julfa arrived in Aleppo during the 17th century. Another wave of migrants from Karin arrived in Aleppo in 1737. There were also families from Yerevan.[2]
Although the Armenians have had a long history in Syria, most arrived there during the Armenian Genocide committed by the Ottoman Empire. The main killing fields of Armenians were located in the Syrian desert of Deir ez-Zor (Euprathes Valley). 1.5 million Armenians were killed and hundreds of thousands fled historic Armenia. The native Arabs didn't hesitate to shelter and support persecuted Armenians. Arabs and Armenians have traditionally had good relations after Arabs sheltered the Armenians during the Armenian Genocide.
Most Armenians of Syria live in Aleppo, while a smaller community exists in the capital city of Damascus. Armenians even have their own quarter "Hayy al Arman" (Quarter of the Armenians) in Damascus.
There are Armenians also in Lattakia, Kesab and Yacoubiyah in the northwest, and in Ar-Raqqah, Tal Abyad, Al-Hasakah, Al-Qamishli, Al-Malikiyah and Ra's al-'Ayn in the east.
Kesab (Arabic: كسب, Armenian: 'Քեսապ') is a Syrian border town located in Latakia Governorate northwest of Syria at a height of 800 meters above sea level just 3 kilometers away from the Turkish border, and 9 kilometers from the Mediterranean sea.
Kasab is an ancient Armenian town, over 1000 years old. Today, The population of the town and the surrounding villages is mainly Armenian[3] with a minority of Syrian Arab.
Kesab is a touristic summer resort and a very popular destination.
In 1915, the Syrian region of Deir ez-Zor, mainly a desert became a final destination of the Armenians during Armenian Genocide where they were killed. A memorial complex commemorating this tragedy was opened in the city.[4] It was designed by Sarkis Balmanoukian and was officially inaugurated in 1990 with the presence of the Armenian Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia. The complex contains bones and remnants recovered from the Deir ez-Zor desert of Armenian victims of the Genocide and has become a pilgrim destination for many Armenians in remembrance of their dead.
The majority of Armenian organizations are based in the city of Aleppo. Those organizations are acting in the form of cultural, sport, youth or charitable associations, that aim to gather the Armenian community members through their activities.
Cultural associations based in Aleppo:
Charitable associations based in Aleppo:
Sports associations based in Aleppo:
Student associations based in Aleppo:
Most of those associations have branches in other Syrian cities with organized Armenian communities such as Al-Qamishli, Damascus, Lattakia and Kesab.
The Armenians of Aleppo have also formed compatriotic unions based on their roots, named after towns and villages where their ancestors have migrated from, during the Armenian Genocide. Nowadays, there are 11 compatriotic organizations operating in Aleppo: Dikranagerd, Daron-Duruperan, Marash, Urfa women's, Urfa youth, Palu, Zeitun, Kilis, Berejik, Musa Ler and Garmouj compatriotic unions.
Other community structures in Aleppo:
Armenians in Syria are mainly followers of the Armenian Apostolic Church, with a minority of Armenian Catholics and Armenian Evangelicals. The Church plays a very important role in unifying Armenians in Syria.
After 301 AD, when Christianity became the official state religion of Armenia and its population, Aleppo became an important centre for the Armenian pilgrims on their way to Jerusalem. Yet, not considered an organized community in the city, Armenian presence was notably enlarged in Aleppo, during the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia (12th century), when a considerable number of Armenian families and merchants settled in the city creating their own businesses, residencies, and gradually schools, churches and prelacy. The Armenian church of the Forty Martyrs in Aleppo was mentioned for the first time in 1476. In 1624, as a result of the growing number of Armenian residents and pilgrims, the Armenian prelacy started to build a quarter near the church which kept its original name Hokedun (Spiritual House), up to now. It was designated to serve as a settlement for the Armenian pilgrims on their way to Jerusalem.
The majority of Armenians of the Armenian Apostolic (Orthodox) faith are under the jurisdiction of the Holy See of Cilicia (based in Antelias, Lebanon) of the Armenian Apostolic Church.
In difference, the Diocese of Damascus pledges allegiance to the Mother See of Holy Echmiadzin.
The Armenian Orthodox population in Syria belongs to one of three prelacies:
The churches include:
In Aleppo (Diocese of Aleppo):
in Latakia Governorate (under the jurisdiction of the diocese of Aleppo):
In the governorates of Ar-Raqqah and Deir ez-Zor (under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Aleppo):
in Al-Hasakah Governorate (Diocese of Al-Jazira):
In Damascus (Diocese of Damascus):
Armenian Catholics are members of the Armenian Catholic Church.
The first official Armenian Catholic Prelate of in Aleppo was the Bishop Abraham Ardzivian (1710–1740). In 1740, he became the first Armenian Catholic Catholicos-Patriarch of Cilicia, appointed by Benedict XV in 1742 in Lebanon. Nowadays, the number of the Catholic believers of the Eparchy of Aleppo is approximately 15,000.
The Armenian Catholic community in Damascus was established in 1763 in Damascus in the days of the Catholicos Michael Petros III Kasparian. In 1863, the ancient church was anointed. In 1959, the church and the archbishopric "Bab Touma" were bought. In 1969, the first bishop was nominated. Since 1984, the Armenian Catholic bishop carries the title of Patriarchal exarchate.
The Eparchy of Al-Qamishli (or the Eparchy of Al-Jazira) has under its jurisdiction, the eastern region of Syria (Al-Jazira, Mesopotamia) which includes the governorates of Al-Hasakah and Deir ez-Zor.
The Armenian Catholic churches include:
In Aleppo (Eparchy of Aleppo):
In Latakia Governorate (under the jurisdiction of the diocese of Aleppo):
in Al-Hasakah Governorate and Deir ez-Zor (Diocese of Al-Jazira):
In Ar-Raqqah (under the jurisdiction of the diocese of Aleppo):
In Damascus (Damascus Patriarchal exarchate):
Convents and Seminaries:
Armenian Evangelicals (also called Armenian Protestants), belong to Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East of the Armenian Evangelical Church. The Armenian Evangelical churches include:
Armenian education is very important in maintaining Armenian language and patriotism among the Armenian community in Syria. Aleppo as the main host of he community, is a center of Armenian long-running schools and cultural institutions. Armenian students who graduate from those community schools, can immediately enter the Syrian university system, after passing the official Thanawiya 'Amma (High School baccalaureate) exams.
A total of 9 schools operate in the northern city of Aleppo including four secondary schools:
Other Elementary schools in Aleppo under the administration of the prelacy:
Outside Aleppo:
Syria has a rich tradition of media and publications in Armenian language. Armenian dailies all defunct now had a great run. The daily Hay Tsayn (1918–1919), one-every-two-days Darakir (1918–1919) and Yeprad (1919) are among the first published newspapers.
A stream of publications followed in the twenties and the thirties: Suryagan Surhantag (1919–1922), Suryagan Mamul (1922–1927), the dailies Yeprad (1927–1947), Surya (1946–1960) and Arevelk (1946–1963). The latter had also its annual yearbook. Arevelk had also published 1956 its youth supplement Vahakn (1956-1963) and its sports supplement Arevelk Marzashkharh (1957-1963).
Monthly papers included Nayiri (1941–1949) published by Antranig Dzarugian, and Purasdan youth publication (1950–1958).
Yearbooks include Suryahay Daretsuyts (1924–1926), Datev (1925–1930), Suryagan Albom (1927–1929), Daron (1949), Hay Darekirk (1956) and Keghart (since 1975).
Currently, Kantsasar weekly is the official organ of the Armenian Prelacy of Aleppo. It was first published as Oshagan in 1978 and was renamed Kantsasar in 1991.
Syrian publishers have a great contribution in translating several Armenian literature and academic studies into Arabic. It is noteworthy that the first evere Arabic language newspaper was published by the Aleppine Armenian journalist Rizqallah Hassoun in 1855 in Constantinople.[6]
Armenians have had almost continuous representation in the Syrian Parliament from 1928 onwards. The Armenian-Syrian members of Parliament were (in chronological order) Mihran Puzantian, Fathalla Asioun, Nicolas Djandjigian, Movses Der Kalousdian (later on also MP in the Lebanese Parliament), Hratch Papazian, Henri Hendieh (Balabanian), Hrant Sulahian, Bedros Milletbashian, Ardashes Boghigian, Nazaret Yacoubian, Movses Salatian, Dikran Tcheradjian, Fred Arslanian, Abdallah Fattal, Louis Hendieh, Krikor Eblighatian, Aram Karamanougian, Roupen Dirarian, Levon Ghazal, Simon Libarian and Sunbul Sunbulian (incumbent as at 2011).
The Armenian embassy of Damascus (since 1992), was the first Armenian embassy opened abroad after the independence of Armenia. The official visit of the newly elected Armenian president Levon Ter-Petrossian to Syria in 1992, was the first international official visit of an Armenian president after the independence. Since then, the relations between the two countries are developing especially after the creation of a joint economical committee between the two governments and the establishment of co-operation between the commercial chmabers of Aleppo and Armenia since 2008. The recent visit of president Bashar al-Assad to Yerevan in June 2009, came to maintain the bilateral relations.
Armenia has also a consulate general in Aleppo since 28 May 1993. In 1997, the Syrians opened their embassy in Yerevan which is located on Baghramyan street, few meters away from the presidential palace.
The first president of the new Republic of Armenia Levon Ter-Petrossian was born in Aleppo.
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