Armenian in Iraq

Introduction / History

Throughout history, Armenia has been a battlefield for many invaders and contending empires, and a bridge for many cultures and civilizations. During the past 2,700 years, Armenia has been conquered by the Persian Empire, Alexander the Great, the Roman Empire, the Byzantines, Arabs, Mongols, Tatars, Ottomans, Persians, and Russians. Armenian kingdoms, principalities, and even a short-lived empire (95-55 B.C.) managed to survive and thrive for some 1,700 years. Under various kings and princes, the Armenians developed a sophisticated culture, an original architecture, and their own alphabet.

The 1905 Russian revolution and the 1908 Young Turk revolution raised the hopes of the Armenians for reform, and an opportunity to build a homeland in historical Armenia. These hopes were dashed as the Ottoman and the Russian Empires fought each other during World War I. A dark hour of Armenian history is the Armenian genocide, which started on April 24, 1915. Some 1,750,000 Armenians were deported into Syria and Mesopotamia by the Ottoman authorities. Subject to famine, disease, and systematic massacres, most of them perished. This "ethnic cleansing" of the Armenians from their historical homeland led Raphael Lemkin, the father of the Genocide Treaty, to coin the new term "genocide" in the 1930s to describe the historical plight of the Assyrians and the Armenians as subjects of the first genocide of the 20th century. Armenia gained independence on September 23, 1991.

Today, there are several million Armenians worldwide. Significant numbers are located in Armenia and the United States of America. Major diaspora centers of the Middle East are Iran, Syria and Lebanon. Some are in Iraq.

In the early 20th century the Armenian communities in the Arab world received a large percentage of the refugees and survivors of the massacres and genocide. They increased the numbers of Armenians in Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Sudan and Ethiopia. The European mandates at the beginning of the 20th century enabled the Armenians to make advances in the economic and administrative sectors and to establish cultural and political associations.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Today, Armenians in Iraq and elsewhere still suffer from the wounds of their great grandparents. They resent the fact that Turkey will not take responsibility for the genocide.

What Are Their Beliefs?

In 301 AD, during the rule of King Dirtad III, Armenia became the world's first Christian nation. A Christian monk, commonly known as Krikor Lusavorich or St. Gregory the Illuminator, cured the King of a disease. After this event, King Dirtad III was baptized and accepted Christianity as Armenia's official state religion. Before this, two disciples, St. Thaddeus and St. Bartholomew, had brought Christianity to Armenia.

Today, Armenia are still Christians in a sea of Islam, comprising Armenian Apostolic Orthodox (the overwhelming majority) and other Christian denominations. Through the centuries they stood by Christianity even when given much pressure to convert to Islam in the Arab World.

What Are Their Needs?

Armenian Christians need revival. They have faith in Jesus, but it is closely tied to their deep Christian history. God can raise up children from stones.

Prayer Points

Pray for the Armenians in the Middle East to hold on to faith in Christ and share it with Muslims.
Pray that God would bring revelation of Christianity as a spiritual relationship with the Living God, which is far greater than nationality or traditions.
Pray for Armenians in Iraq to let the Holy Spirit heal them of the resentment they feel for atrocities committed against them in the past. May they enjoy spiritual refreshment and God s blessings!

Text Source:   Joshua Project