Armenians in Syria

Armenians in Syria

The Armenians in Syria are Syrian citizens of 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. It is estimated that there are more than 200,000 Armenians in Syria, most of whom live in Aleppo. The village of Kasab is a majority Armenian village within Syria.

History

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 largely thanks to 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 to Cilicia where an Armenian kingdom was founded, but some chose Northern Syria. Armenian quarters were formed 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 with 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, thus the remaining Armenians of Antioch strengthened their support for 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 Mongols, Tatars, and Mamelukes took over the area by massacring the general population.

During Ottoman rule, there was a much smaller quantity of Armenians in Northern Syria because of previous conflicts. A larger community existed in Urfa, a city often considered part of Greater Syria.Although the Armenians have had a long history in Syria, most arrived there during the Armenian Genocide. The main killing fields of Armenians were located in the Syrian desert of Deir ez-Zor. 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.

During the rise of Arab nationalism, thousands of Armenians left the country.

Most Armenians of Syria live in Aleppo, while a smaller community exists in the capital city of Damascus.

Kasab (Arabic: كسب, Armenian: 'Քեսապ') is a Syrian border town located in Latakia Governorate north west of Syria at 800 meters above and 3 kilometers from the Turkish border, and 17 kilometers from the Mediterranean sea.

Kasab is an ancient Armenian town, over 1000 years old. The population today is mainly Armenian [cite book |last=Mannheim |first=Ivan |title=Syria and Lebanon Handbook: The Travel Guide |year=2001 |publisher=Footprint Travel Guides |isbn=1900949903 |pages=p. 299] and Alawite Arab.

Religion

The majority of Armenians of the Armenian Apostolic (Orthodox) faith and under the jursidiction of the Holy See of Cilicia of the Armenian Apostolic Church. The Armenian Orthodox population in Syria belongs to one of three prelacies:

*Diocese of Aleppo, also knows as "Peria Tem"
*Diocese of Jezireh (in Kamishli)
*Diocese of Damascus

The churches include:
*Sourp Karasnitz Mangants Mayr Yegeghetsi (Aleppo)
*Sourp Kevork Armenian Apostolic Church (Aleppo)
*Sourp Krikor Louisavorich Yegeghetsi (Meidan, Aleppo)
*Sourp Asdvatzatzna Yegeghetsi (Seiraphi, Aleppo)
*Sourp Asdvadzadzin Armenian Apostolic Church (Kessab)
*Sourp Asdvadzadzin Armenian Apostolic Church (Latakia)
*St. Hripsime (Yakubie)

There are also smaller number of Armenian Catholics and Armenian Evangelicals.

The Armenian Catholic Churches:
*Armenian Catholic Archbishopric and Notre-Dame des Dons Armenian Catholic Cathedral (Tilel, Aleppo)
*Armenian Catholic Patriarchal Exarchate and Notre-Dame Church of the Universe (Bab Touma, Damascus)
*St. Vartan Armenian Catholic Church of the Jesuit Order (Meydan, Aleppo)
*Ste. Barbe - St. Saviour Armenian Catholic Church (Suleymaniyye, Aleppo)
*Holy Trinity Armenian Catholic Church (Zvartnotz) (Meydan Square, Aleppo)
*St. Cross Armenian Catholic Church (Ourouba Square, Aleppo)
*St. Michel Armenian Catholic Church (Kessab)
*Armenian Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception (Djebel, Sayde)
*St. Martyrs Armenian Catholic Church (Rakka)
*St. Joseph Armenian Catholic Church (Kamichli)
*Ste. Famille Armenian Catholic Church (Hassake)
*St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Catholic Church (Deir Zor)

The Latin Armenians have their own church:
*Fransiscan Church of Latin Armenians (also convent) (Suleymaniyye, Aleppo)

The Armenian Evangelical churches include:
*Armenian Evangelical Emmanuel Church [3] (Aleppo)
*Armenian Evangelical Bethel Church (Aleppo)
*Armenian Evangelical Martyrs Church (Aleppo)
*Armenian Evangelical Churches (Kessab)

References

ee also

*List of Syrian Armenians

External links

* [http://www.periotem.com Armenian Prelacy of Peria (Aleppo, Syria)]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Syria — • A country in Western Asia, which in modern times comprises all that region bounded on the north by the highlands of the Taurus, on the south by Egypt, on the east by Mesopotamia and the Arabia Desert, and on the west by the Mediterranean… …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • Armenians in Egypt — are a community with a long history. They are a minority with their own language, schools, churches, and social institutions. The number of Armenians in Egypt is decreasing due to migrations to other countries and a return migration to Armenia.… …   Wikipedia

  • Armenians in Turkey — ( tr. Türkiye Ermenileri; hy. Թուրքահայեր, Պոլսահայեր, the latter meaning Istanbul Armenian) have an estimated population of 40,000 (1995) to 70,000. [cite web | last=Turay | first=Anna | title=Tarihte Ermeniler | publisher= [http://www.bolsohays …   Wikipedia

  • Armenians in the United Arab Emirates — Armenians in United Arab Emirates refers to ethnic Armenians living in the United Arab Emirates. They number around 3,000. [ [http://www.armeniadiaspora.com/followup/population.html ArmenianDiaspora website] ] The Armenians live mainly in Dubai… …   Wikipedia

  • Armenians in Qatar — refers to ethnic Armenians living in Qatar. They number between 400 and 500.The Armenians live mainly in the capital Doha.Many Armenians originating from Lebanon, Syria and other Arab countries were attracted by the economic opportunities… …   Wikipedia

  • SYRIA — SYRIA, state in southwest Asia. Although constantly subject to changes, the country s boundaries were primarily: Ereẓ Israel to the south, Asia Minor (Turkey) to the north, Mesopotamia to the east, and the Mediterranean to the west. Biblical and… …   Encyclopedia of Judaism

  • Armenians in Bahrain — refers to ethnic Armenians living in the Kingdom of Bahrain. They number around 50.The Armenians live mainly in the capital Manama.They are Armenians originating from Lebanon, Syria that were attracted by the economic opportunities provided by… …   Wikipedia

  • Armenians in France — are ethnic Armenians living within the modern republic of France. Like much of the Armenian Diaspora, most Armenians immigrated to France after the Armenian Genocide of 1915. Others came later, fleeing conflicts in places likeLebanon, Syria. More …   Wikipedia

  • Armenians in Kuwait — The Armenians in Kuwait are people of Armenian descent living in Kuwait. None of the Armenians in Kuwait can acquire the Kuwaiti citizenship. The Armenian population reached its peak of 12,000. But after the Iraqi invasions, the numbers of the… …   Wikipedia

  • Syria — This article is about the modern state of Syria. For other uses, see Syria (disambiguation). Syrian Arab Republic الجمهورية العربية السورية Al Jumhūriyyah al ʿArabiyyah as Sūriyyah …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”