Armenians in Russia

Armenians in Russia or Russian Armenians are ethnic Armenians who live in Russia. The 2002 Russian census recorded 1,130,491 Armenians in the country, but most probably did not take into account the Armenian guest workers, most of whom do not hold Russian citizenship. Various figures estimate that the Armenian population actually exceeds 2,000,000.

Regardless, Russia possesses the largest Armenian population outside of Armenia proper, making it home of the largest community in the Armenian diaspora.

Armenians populate various regions, including Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Krasnodar Krai in the North Caucasus and as far as Vladivostok in the East.

History

There has been an Armenian presence in Russia since the Late Middle Ages, when various artisans, merchants and traders ventured north to the Crimea and the northern Caucasus in order to set up trade ties and conduct commerce.

Religion

Most Armenians are of the Armenian Apostolic faith of the Armenian Apostolic Church and fall under the jursodiction of the see of Holy Echmiadzin.

The number of churches is growing as the Armenian Russian community expands. Here is a list of some of the churches in Russia:

*Sourp Haroutyoun (Resurrection) Armenian Apostolic Church (Moscow)
*St.Ekatherine Armenian Apostolic Church (St. Petersburg)
*St.Voskresenija (Resurrection) Armenian Apostolic Church (Vasil'evsky Island, St. Petersburg)
*Sourp Hovannes Avedaranich Armenian Apostolic Church (Krasnodar, South Russia)
*Sourp Krikor Lousavorich Armenian Apostolic Church (Vladikavkaz, South Russia)
*Sourp Vartan Armenian Apostolic Church (Kislovodsk, South Russia)
*Sourp Maryam Asdvadzadzin Armenian Apostolic Church (Armavir, South Russia)
*Sourp Garabet Armenian Apostolic Church (Rostov)
*Armenian Church of South Russia (Sochi)

There are much smaller Armenian Catholic and recently Armenian Evangelical communities.

Cherkesogai and Hamsheni Ethnic Armenians

Cherkesogai (Russian: Черкесогаи) are ethnic Armenians who inhabit Russia's Krasnodar Krai and Republic of Adyghea and speak the Adyghe language, apart from other Armenians living in the region. They reside mostly in the cities of Armavir and Maykop.

Armavir ( _ru. Армави́р) is a city in Krasnodar Krai, Russia, located on the left bank of the Kuban River. Population: 208,000 (Census 2002). Armavir used to be the second biggest industrial center of Krasnodar Krai after Krasnodar. The settlement of Armavir was founded in 1839 by Cherkesogai Armenians as Armyansky aul ( _ru. Армя́нский ау́л). It was renamed in 1848 in honour of the ancient capital of Armenia and was granted town status on January 18, 1914.

Armenians (mostly Christian Hamshenis) have also lived in the region since at least the 18th century.

The total number of ethnic Armenians (including the Cherkesogai and Hamsheni Armenians) is around 275,000 making them the biggest ethnic minority in Krasnodar Krai of total population of 5.125,000 (Census 2002)

ee also

*Cherkesogai
*Armenians in Ukraine
*List of Armenian-Russians

References

External Links

* [http://www.armenianembassy.ru/ Armenian Embassy in the Russian Federation]
* [http://www.armawir.ru/ Official site of Armavir, Russia]