Armenians in Lebanon

Around 10 000 Lebanese-Armenians marching on April 24, 2006, on the 91st anniversary of the Armenian Genocide

The Armenians in Lebanon (Armenian: Լիբանանահայեր, Arabic: أرمن لبنان) are Lebanese citizens of Armenian descent. There has been an Armenian presence in Lebanon for centuries. While there has not been a census for a few decades, because the balance between Christians and Muslims is considered to be a volatile subject, it is estimated that there are approximately 150,000 Armenians in Lebanon, or around 4% of the population.* Prior to the Lebanese Civil War, the number was higher, but the community lost a portion of its population to immigration. Lebanese-Armenians are guaranteed 6 seats in the Lebanese parliament: 5 for Armenian Orthodox, and one for Armenian Catholics. Because many Protestants in Lebanon are ethnic Armenians, the sole parliamentary slot for Protestants has at times been filled by an Armenian, making for a total of 7 Armenians in the Lebanese parliament. Lebanese Armenian also have one and in larger governments two government ministers.

History

Armenians first established contact with Lebanon when Tigranes the Great conquered Phoenicia from the Seleucids and made it part of his short lived Armenian Empire. When the Roman Empire established its rule over both Armenia and ancient Lebanon, some Roman troops of Armenian origin went there in order to accomplish their duties as Romans. After Armenia converted to Christianity in 301, Armenian pilgrims established contact with Lebanon and its people on their way to Jerusalem; some of whom even settled there.

Camp of Armenian exiles in Beirut

The Armenian presence in Lebanon during the Ottoman period was minimal, however, there was a large influx of Armenians after the Armenian Genocide of 1915. The refugees endured many difficulties and had to adapt to the Arab lifestyle. When Armenians first came to Lebanon they inhabited the area of Karantina. Later on, in Bourj Hammoud, a thriving Armenian community was formed. In 1939, after the French ceded the Syrian territory of Alexandretta to Kemalist Turkey, Armenians, other Christians and Arabs from the area moved to the Bekaa Valley. The Armenians were grouped in Anjar, where a community exists to this day.

During the Lebanese Civil War, Armenians, grouped in Bourj Hammoud and Anjar, did their best to remain neutral. There are three prominent Armenian political parties in Lebanon: the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Tashnag), Social Democrat Hunchakian Party (Hunchag) and Armenian Liberal Democratic Party (Ramgavar Party). They play significant influence in all facets of Armenian life. Various Armenian guerilla organizations, such as ASALA became active in Lebanon, and used it as a launching pad for their operations.

Put forth by the Armenian bloc of the Lebanese Parliament, the legislature unanimously approved on April 4, 1997 a resolution, calling for the commemoration of the 82nd anniversary of the Armenian Genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman government.

After the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict, Turkey proposed to send some of its troops to Lebanon as a part of UNIFIL. Most Armenians strongly oppose Turkish involvement.

Education

Lebanon boasts having the only Armenian university in the Armenian Diaspora (outside the Republic of Armenia) called Haigazian University (HU) one of Beirut's most prestigious academic insititutions. It is a liberal arts Armenian institution of higher learning, which uses English as the language of instruction.

Most schools are run by church organizations of the three Armenian Christian denominations (Orthodox, Catholic and Evangelical). Others are run by cultural associations like Hamazkaine and Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU)

Some other secondary schools include:

• Levon & Sophia Hagopian Armenian College, est. 1963, Bourj Hamoud - Beirut Official Website
• Armenian Evangelical College one of Beirut's most prestigious secondary schools.
• Mesrobian Technical College Official Website

Media

Lebanese Armenians have developed an active interest in developing media outlets. Lebanese Armenians were keen in establishing dailies since the 1920s when they established in great numbers in Lebanon. "Pyunik" was the pioneer newspaper establishing (replaced by Aztag in 1927).

Press

There are three Armenian daily newspapers published in Beirut all mouthpieces of the traditional Armenian political parties (Tashnag, Hunchag and Ramgavar).

• Aztag Daily Newspaper speaks on behalf of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation - Tashnag and was established in 1927
• Ararad Daily Newspaper is published by the Social Democratic Hunchagian Party - Hunchag Party
• Zartonk Daily Newspaper is published by Armenian Liberal Democratic Party - Ramgavar and was established in 1937.

There are also many other publications including:

• Pakin (literary)
• Shirak (literary)
• Marzig (sports)
• Tidag (social / lifestyle)
• Gantch (Armenian communist)

Radio

The Lebanese state radio established very early on daily radio broadcasts in Armenian through its second channel consecrated to broadcasting in languages (mainly French and English). That programming goes on to date on Radio Liban.

During the civil war, the Lebanese Armenians established a great number of unlicenced radio stations (some non-stop for 24 hours a day). The pioneer was the popular radio station "Radio Paradise" and later on "Vana Tsayn" (Voice of Van). However with the Lebanese Parliament enacting laws organizing the airwaves, all the unlicenced stations (alongside the other Lebanese stations) had to close.

They were replaced by two operating and fully licenced radio stations operating in Armenian in Lebanon in accordance with the new broadcast laws - "Voice of Van" and "Radio Sevan".

Television

Lebanese private stations and state-owned Tele-Liban have consecrated occasionally television programming in Armenian on certain occasions.

During the Lebanese civil war, an Armenian television station "Paradise Television" co-operated with "Radio Paradise" was established through a broadcast tower in Bourj Hammoud. But "Paradise Television" Armenian television station had to close after it failed to get a broadcasting licence according to the new laws organizing the airwaves.

However very notably, Al Mustaqbal Television (also known as Future Television) broadcasts daily news and comments in Armenian in its regular programming.

Religion

• The Catholicossate of the Great House of Cilicia, has its catholicosate in Antelias, north of Beirut. The Catholicosate has its summer residence in Bikfaya in the Matn District also north of Beirut.

It represents the Armenian Orthodox worldwide alongside the Armenian Apostolic Church in Echmiadzin.

The affairs of the Lebanese Armenian Orthodox population however is run by an independent body, the Armenian Prelacy of Lebanon (Aratchnortaran Hayots Lipanani) with its own Armenian Primate of Lebanon Archbishop Kegham Khatcherian as head.

• Armenian Catholic Church, has its patriarchate in the Lebanese capital Beirut, and represents Armenian Catholics around the world. Armenian Catholic Church also has its summer residence and its convent in Bzoummar, Lebanon, north of Beirut.

• Armenian Evangelical Church, headquartered in Ashrafieh. The affairs of the Lebanese Evangelical community is run by the Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East.

Officially, there are 3 Armenian denominations recognized by the government. The Armenians have Armenian Orthodox, Armenian Catholic, or Armenian Evangelical mentioned in their identity cards, in the denomination field.

However sometimes there are variations particularly in case of the Armenian Evangelicals, sometimes registered as just Evangelicals or Protestants without mention of Armenian. There are also some Armenian Catholics who are registered under the denomination Latin, sometimes Armenian Latin.

Monuments

Armenian Genocide Monument

Bikfaya is home to a commemorative plaque and monumental sculpture, honoring the victims of the 1915 Armenian Genocide. Designed by Zaven Khedeshian and renovated by Hovsep Khacherian in 1993, the outdoor, freestanding sculpture rests on top of a hill that is located on the grounds of the summer retreat of the Catholicate of Cilicia.

The sculpture is a bronze abstract figure of a woman standing with hands open toward the sky. A plaque with Arabic and Armenian inscriptions reads:

This monument, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Armenian genocide, was erected with the cooperation of the whole Armenian Community in Lebanon, to celebrate the rebirth of the Armenian nation and to express gratitude to our country, Lebanon - April 24 1969.

The Armenian community of Lebanon visits the monument on April 24 every other year. The pilgrimages are alternated with the Catholicate of Cilicia in Antelias.

Sports and Scouts Movements

There are three predominantly Armenian sports clubs in Lebanon with a strong tradition in sports as well as scouting. They are

• Homenetmen Beirut full name "Armenian General Union of Body Culture"
• Homenmen Beirut full name "Armenian Sports Union"
• Antranik (of the Armenian Youth Association (AYA) of the Armenian General Benevolent Union AGBU)

All of them have various branches distributed in many Lebanese cities throughout the country where there are Lebanese Armenian communities.

There are also many other smaller local Armenian sports clubs as well in various sports.

Soccer and Basketball

Two of them (Homenetmen and Homenmen) have important football (soccer) teams in Lebanon and two (Antranik and Homenetmen) prominent basketball teams playing in the official first and second division soccer and basketball leagues in Lebanon, although the membership of the teams are not restricted to Armenians and will usually include other Lebanese non-Armenian players as well as contracted foreign players, including professional players from the Republic of Armenia.

Other Sports

The abovementioned Lebanese Armenian clubs also have huge influence on many other sports in Lebanon, but most notably in cycling, track and fields and table tennis.

Individual Armenians have also excelled, most notably in weightlifting, wrestling and martial arts competitions.

Women Sports

Lebanese Armenians also have great influence in women sports in Lebanon, most notably in basketball, cycling and table tennis. The Armenian basketball clubs of Homenetmen and Antranik have won the official Lebanese Basketball Championships on several occasions. The Armenian club Antranik's Women Basketball team went on to win the pan-Arab championship titles.

Scouting

The Lebanese Armenians also have a strong scouting tradition in Lebanon, and many of the Lebanese Armenian sports clubs (Homenetmen, Homenmen) also serve as scouting organizations as well.

Notable Lebanese Armenians

Lebanese have played a majour role in Lebanese politics. Lebanon even had its Armenian governors during the Ottoman rule of Lebanon, most notably Daoud Pasha, the Ottoman Armenian governor of Lebanon, as well as for a short period of time Ohannes Pasha Kouyoumdjian – Ottoman Armenian mutasarrif of Lebanon. of the deceased politicians, notable mentions would include Khatchig Babikian, deceased prominent Member of Lebanese Parliament and government Minister on several occasions.

Politics

• Émile Lahoud – Former President of Lebanon (Lebanese-Armenian mother)
• Renée Lahoud – Former First Lady, wife of President Emile Lahoud
• Karim Pakradouni – Politician, Ex-Minister, former President of Phalange (Kataeb) Party
• Hagop Pakradounian- Politician, Member of Parliament
• Jean Belian- Politician, General Inspector In The Prime Ministry of Lebanon

Arts

• Shaunt Basmajian - Poet
• Pierre Chammassian - Comedian
• Sylva Channessian - Miss Lebanon and Miss World Finalist 1973
• John Dolmayan – Drummer of the American band System of a Down
• Paul Guiragossian - Painter
• Adiss Harmandian – Singer
• Tulip Joshi - Actress and model (Indian father, Lebanese-Armenian mother)
• Arsinée Khanjian - actress
• Zaven Kouyoumdjian - Talk show host
• Guy Manoukian – Composer, pianist
• Tigran Mansurian - Composer, 2004 Grammy awards nominee
• Claudia Marchelian – Annahar journalist, critic, author, screenwriter
• Sir Vartan Melkonian - Conductor of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
• Vartan Meguerditchian - Actor-Director
• Maria Nalbandian - Singer
• Nourhanne - Singer
• Rayan - Singer
• Setrak Setrakian - Pianist
• Sako Shahinian - Illustrator
• Serj Tankian – Lead singer of the American band System of a Down

Other

• Hagob Donabedian - Footballer who plays for Nejmeh.
• Samuel Der-Yeghiayan - Judge (Lebanese-Syrian-American)
• Chris Karagulleyan - Professional Gambler
• Jirayr Sefilyan - Activist

References

• [CIA World Factbook, 2007: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/le.html]

External links

• Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia Official site
• Armenian Catholic Church Official site
• Armenian (Orthodox) Prelacy of Lebanon
• Ararad Armenian Daily
• Aztag Armenian Daily
• Zartonk Armenian Daily
• Radio Sevan Armenian Radio Station
• Voice of Van Armenian Radio Station
• Homenetmen Lebanon Official site
• Official site of Anjar, large Armenian town in Beka, Lebanon
• Official site of Bourj Hammoud, Lebanon's predominantly Armenian city and shopping district