Armenian in France

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 live in European countries like France where about half a million are located.

Following the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948 and the Arab-Israeli wars, many Armenians emigrated to Europe, the United States, and more peaceful centers in the Middle East. France hosts the largest Armenian population in Europe. Armenians have been in France since the 500s, but most came fleeing the Armenian Genocide in 1915.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Armenians have served France in politics, entertainment, music, literature, and theater. Many are small business owners.

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 from a disease. After this event, King Dirtad III was baptized and accepted Christianity as Armenia's official state religion. Before this, two disciples had brought Christianity to Armenia, St. Thaddeus and St. Bartholemew. Today, Armenia is still a Christian nation, comprising: Armenian Apostolic Orthodox (the overwhelming majority), other Christian (a small percentage) and Yezidi (Zoroastrian/animist, very small percentage) of the population.

What Are Their Needs?

Armenians in France need the spiritual hunger it takes to follow Christ rather than look to a “Christians” past.

Prayer Points

Pray for the Armenians France to hold on to faith in Christ and to allow the Holy Spirit to guide them.
Pray for a spiritual peace based on relationship with Jesus.
Pray that God would bring revelation of Christianity as a spiritual relationship, and that Armenians would realize their nationality doesn't make them a Christian.
Pray that soon Armenian Christians will disciple Muslims and secular French speakers.

Text Source:   Joshua Project