Armenians in Georgia

Armenians in Georgia are ethnic Armenians living within the country of Georgia. Armenians are the largest ethnic minority in Georgia at about 6% of the population. The Armenian community is mostly concentrated in the capital Tbilisi and the Samtskhe-Javakheti region, which borders Armenia to the south. Armenians form the majority in this region, making up about 54% of the population.

History

House of Melik-Azaryants in Tbilisi

In the 18th and 19th centuries, rich Armenian merchants, including famous jewelers and oil industrialists invested heavily in business in Georgia and helped build cultural centers and schools. The number of Armenians increased progressively such that by the early 19th century, the Armenians far outnumbered Georgians in the capital. Tbilisi became a veritable cultural center for Eastern Armenians (so-called Russian-Armenians "rusahayer") just like Istanbul in Turkey became cultural center for the Western Armenians (called Turkish-Armenians "terkahayer").

Architecture

Armenians left rich architectural imprint in Georgia, and Tbilisi has many architectural pearls constructed by prominent Armenian architects of the last centuries. There are many mansions that were built by influential Armenians and comprise some of the most attractive historical buildings in Tbilisi.

A great example of the Armenian presence is the elegant house of Melik-Azaryants in Tbilisi on a principal avenue in Tbilisi called Rustaveli Avenue.

Domes of Armenian Churches are seen in all parts of the city; however their bells have been silent for many years. In the beginning of the 20th century there were 30 Armenian churches in Tbilisi.

Armenian Norashen Church, an architectural monument from 1701 is in ruins. The walls of Norashen, which means “new construction”, had been decorated by the frescoes of Hovnatan Hovnatanian, the court painter of Georgian King Iraklii II, but are now being lost to decay.

Georgian–Armenian War 1918

Main article: Georgian–Armenian War 1918

Georgian-Armenian War was a border war fought in December 1918 between the Democratic Republic of Georgia and the Democratic Republic of Armenia over parts of then disputed provinces of Lori, Javakheti, and Borchalo district, which had been historically bicultural Armenian-Georgian territories, but were largely populated by Armenians in the 19th century. By the end of World War I some of these territories were occupied by the Ottomans. When they abandoned the region, both Georgians and Armenians claimed control. The hostilities continued until the British brokered ceasefire was signed, leaving the disputed part of Borchalo district under the joint Georgian-Armenian administration which lasted until the establishment of the Soviet rule in Armenia in 1920.

Armenians in the Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic

After the establishment of the Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic, and despite the establishment of the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic, most Armenians decided to stay and enjoyed reasonably prosperous life, except for their religious freedoms, as the Communist government actually nationalized most of the Armenian churches and cultural monuments and suppressed the religious freedoms of the general population including the Armenians.

This resulted in tens of churches closing. By the end of the Soviet era, only two Armenian churches had remained operational.

Armenians in the Republic of Georgia

Armenians welcomed the establishment of the Republic of Georgia hoping for better living conditions after the collapse of the Soviet era. However economic as well as social conditions have not been favorable particularly for the Armenian Georgian community.

One of the biggest problems is the inability of the Armenians in Georgia to use their language in public life. The government’s new language policies are a source of strong resentment and it is accused of abolishing minorities’ former rights to use Armenian or Russian and thus limiting access to jobs and education. President of Armenia, Robert Kocharyan has urged ethnic Armenians to learn the Georgian language, which he said is essential for their integration into the Georgian society.

Armenians in this region of Georgia should think about learning Georgian instead of how they could replace it with Armenian. Without the knowledge of Georgian Armenians in Georgia will not be able to seek senior and high government position and can not run successful businesses.

Capital Tbilisi has only three strictly Armenian schools and two operating churches.

The biggest concern Armenians have in Georgia is assimilation. They say the best chance to have success in Georgia is to change the Armenian surname suffix "ian" or "yan" to "shvili" or "dze".

Armenians in Tbilisi

The Armenian history and contribution to the capital city of Tbilisi is very significant. Until recently the neighborhoods of Havlabar and the area across the river were very heavily Armenian. The older Armenian neighborhood of Tbilisi, on both sides of the river between Freedom Square and Havlabar carry Armenian names, including Tumanian, Abovian, Akopian, Alikhanian, Sundukian, Yerevan, Ararat and Sevan.

The Diocese Church in Tbilisi where the Armenian primate of Tbilisi sits is very close to the city fortress. In front of the church is the tomb of the famous Armenian Georgian bard, Sayat-Nova. In Havlabar, the other Armenian Church of Echmiadzin is undergoing renovation and reconstruction. The "Armenian Pantheon of Tbilisi" has the tombs of many famous Armenians including writers Hovhannes Tumanyan and Raffi.

Freedom Square was once officially Paskevich Yerevanski Square, or commonly Yerevan Square, then Lenin Square. Paskevich Erevanski was a Russian general and was called Paskevich of Yerevan in honor of his taking of Yerevan for the Russian Empire.

Armenian theatre was established as early as 1858 by the great Armenian theatre figure Gevork Chmshkian. The first staging was "Adji Souleyman" performance. In 1936 it was rebuilt and the new theatre was renamed Stepan Shahumian Armenian Theatre. A number of generations of great Armenian actors have performed on its stage. Music for theatre pieces were often written by Aram Khachaturian, Armen Tigranian, Alexander Spendiarian, Gourgen Shakhbazian and others. Nowadays Petros Adamian Tbilisi State Armenian Drama Theatre is the main cultural center of Georgian-Armenian community of Tbilisi and it continues the work of the great predecessors.

In 2005 the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church in Georgia initialized erecting a khachkar (cross-stone memorial) in Tbilisi in memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide.

Armenians in Samtskhe-Javakheti

Main article: Armenians in Samtskhe-Javakheti

The ethnic Armenians form the majority of the population in the region of Samtskhe-Javakheti (Javakhk in Armenian).

The local Armenian United Javakhk Democratic Alliance has proposed a local autonomy for Javakheti within Georgia. This has resulted in an increase in anti-Armenian feelings in Georgia as they associate demands of autonomy by the Armenians in Javakheti as reminiscent of the demands of independency in Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Adjara, which Georgians consider as dessimation of their historical borders, although it must be said Armenians' demands in Javakheti go far less than the demands of the other cessationist regions in the republic.

The Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline and South Caucasus natural gas pipeline which passed through the region, has met opposition from local Armenians, as well as the planned Kars-Akhalkalaki-Baku railway as it isolates Armenia.

Armenians in Abkhazia

Main article: Armenians in Abkhazia

The Armenians in Abkhazia form the second largest ethnic group in the region of Abkhazia after the Abkhaz.. Armenians settled in Abkhazia in late 19th and the early 20th centuries and are now the largest ethnic group in Gagra, Sukhumi and Gulripsh districts forming 20% of the Abkhazian population with 45,000 out of a total of 215,000.

During recent conflict, they have generally supported the Abkhazian quest for independence from Geargia, which resulted in increase of anti-Armenian sentiments within the Georgian society.

Religion

Early History

Front view of St. Gevork Armenian Apostolic Church in Tbilisi

The Armenian church in Georgia has 15 centuries of ecclesiastical presence as it had existed as early as the 5th century AD. Medieval Armenian historian Oukhtannes reported that in the Georgian town of Tsurtavi, there was an Armenian prelacy under the jurisdiction of the Armenian Patriarch, led by a bishop called Movses.

Another historian, Matheos of Urkha, reports that during the reign of Georgia’s king David IV the Armenian church was granted status of a recognized diocese. Surb Gevork Armenian Cathedral of Tbilisi was then its administrative centre. Over 600 religious and cultural sites, like churches, seminaries, monasteries are documented, although a large portion of these sites is extinct due to natural disasters, vandalism, and other factors.

Present situation

The Armenians in Georgia belong mainly to the Armenian Apostolic faith, with important numbers of Armenian Catholics as well concentrated in Samtskhe-Javakheti

Armenian Apostolic Georgians

A big majority of the Armenians living in Georgia are Apostolical (Orthodox) Armenians belonging to the Armenian Apostolic Church and are under the jurisdiction of the Mother See of Holy Echmiadzin.

Local matters of the Armenian Georgians are run by the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church in Georgia. The head of the diocese is Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan.

Just two Armenian churches are operational in Tbilisi. However there are other Armenian churches that are disputed about or in the wake of being "Georgianized". The Armenian Church in Georgia has requested the repossession and the ownership rights over six Armenian churches, five of which are in Tbilisi:

• Norashen
• Surb Nshan
• Shamkhoretsots Surb Asdvadzatsin
• Mughno Surb Gevorg
• Surb Minas

and one, namely Surb Nshan in the town of Akhaltsikhe of Samtskhe-Javakheti, a region with a majority Armenian population. All these churches, that served the Armenian community for centuries, are today shut and made no use of whatsoever by any denomination. During the Soviet era, the Communist government nationalized most Christian temples, but after restoration of Georgian sovereignty, these Armenian temples were not returned to the Armenian Church.

The reconstruction of churches requires huge investments and so far neither the Armenian Government, nor the Holy See Etchmiadzin or the Armenian Community of Tbilisi can afford it.

Several Armenian churches in Georgia were redecorated to remove any characteristically Armenian architectural features and belong now to Georgian Orthodox or other faiths.

Armenian Catholic Georgians

In Georgia, there are also an important segment of Armenians Catholics belonging to the Armenian Catholic Church notably in Samtskhe-Javakheti with fewer Armenian Catholics in the rest of the country including Tbilisi.

The Armenian Catholics are ruled by the "Catholic Diocese of Armenia, Georgia and Eastern Europe" that was reopened in 1991 after a long break during the Soviet era. Archbishop Nerses Ter-Nersesian, member of Mechitarists Congregation of Venice ran the diocese for many years and was later on replaced, because of age, by Archbishop Nshan Garakeheyan.

Education

Capital Tbilisi has three strictly Armenian schools. There are also five Armenian-Russian and Armenian-Georgian schools. All of them teach Armenian language and literature in addition to the official curriculum. But a common complaint is that Armenian History hours are not included. The Armenian Government sends thousands of textbooks in Armenian to the schools. But still, the schools have a deficit of books, furniture, and all need urgent renovation. Annually around 50 Armenian students of Georgian nationality enter Armenian universities

Media

An Armenian newspaper "Vrastan" is published in Tbilisi in Armenian.

Organizations

There are a number of Armenian organizations and associations in Georgia. Amongst them:

• United Javakhk Democratic Alliance
• Armenian Community of Tbilisi
• Armenian Center of Cooperation of Georgia (ACCG)

Famous Armenians in Georgia

Tombstone of Hovhannes Tumanyan in Tbilisi, Georgia

Political and social personalities

Khojaminasishvili (Georgian: ხოჯამინასიშვილი) was a wealthy Armenian mercantile family in Georgia which was ennobled, with the dignity of Pirnce (tavadi), by the Georgian king Erekle II in 1775, and confirmed in their title by the Imperial Russian government in 1857.

Bebutov (Georgian: ბებუთოვი, Russian: Бебутовы) or Bebutashvili (Georgian: ბებუთაშვილი) was a Georgian noble family of Armenian ethnicity which played an important role in the economical and social life of the city of Tbilisi throughout the 17th and 18th century, and later served in the military of the Russian Empire in the 19th century.

Alexander Khatisyan (Armenian: Ալեքսանդր Խատիսյան) was an Armenian politician and a journalist. He served as the mayor of Tiflis (Tbilisi) from 1910 to 1917. During the establishment of Democratic Republic of Armenia, he served as a member from the Armenian National Council of Tiflis to the Armenian National Council and later to the permanent executive committee selected by Armenian Congress of Eastern Armenians. After declaration of Democratic Republic of Armenia, he served as Foreign Minister and signed the Treaty of Batum with the Ottoman Empire. He was elected as the prime minister from 1919 to 1920.

Arts

Sayat-Nova (Armenian: Սայաթ-Նովա; Persian/Azeri: سایات‌نووا; Georgian: საიათ-ნოვა) was born in Tbilisi (Tiflis in Armenian) on June 14, 1712 and died in Haghpat on September 22, 1795]] and is known as "King of Songs" for Armenians. Real name is Harutyun Sayatyan and his mother Sara was a Georgian Armenian although father was Karapet from Aleppo or Adana. Sayat-Nova was skilled in writing poetry, singing and playing the kamancheh. He performed in the court of Heraclius II of Georgia, where he also worked as a diplomat. He lost his political clout at court when he fell in love with the Georgian king's daughter, and spent the rest of his life as an itinerant bard. In 1795 he was killed in Haghpat Monastery by the army of Agha Mohammed Khan. About 220 songs can be attributed to Sayat-Nova, although he may have written thousands altogether. Most of his extant songs are in Armenian, Georgian, Azerbaijani Turkish and Persian. A number of them are sung to this day. He was also fluent in Arabic. Sayat-Nova is considered by many the greatest ashough (folk singer-songwriter) that ever lived in the Caucasus (the area between the Black and the Caspian sea). In Armenia Sayat Nova is also considered a poet with a considerable contribution to the Armenian poetry of his century. His tomb is found on the main Armenian cathedral Surb Gevork premises in Tbilisi.

Raffi (Armenian: Րաֆֆի) the pen name of Hakob Melik Hakobian (Armenian: Յակոբ Մելիք-Յակոբեան) is a renowned Armenian author born in 1835 in Payajouk, an Armenian village situated in north of Iran, but led all his productive literary life in Tbilisi (Tiflis in Armenian) where he died in 1888. Raffi is a prominent figure of Armenian literature.

Hovhannes Tumanyan (Armenian: Հովհաննես Թումանյան) (1869 -1923) is considered one of the greatest Armenian poets and writers. He was born in village of Dsegh in the Province of Lori, Armenia, but lived and wrote in Tbilisi. He is usually regarded in Armenian circles as "All-Armenian poet". He created lyrics, fables, epic poems and translations into Armenian of Byron, Goethe and Pushkin.

Aram Khachaturian ([Արամ Խաչատրյան, Aram Xačatryan] Error: {{Lang-xx}}: text has italic markup (help); Russian: Аpaм Ильич Xaчaтypян) (1903–1978) was a Soviet-Armenian composer whose works were often influenced by Armenian folk music. He was born in Tbilisi, Georgia, to a poor Armenian family and immigrated to Moscow.

Sergei Parajanov (Armenian: Սարգիս Հովսեփի Փարաջանյան, Sargis Hovsepi Parajanyan; Georgian: სერგეი (სერგო) ფარაჯანოვი; Russian: Сергей Иосифович Параджанов, was born in Tbilisi in 1924 and was a Soviet Armenian film director and artist, widely regarded as one of the 20th century's greatest masters of cinema. He was arrested several times because of his work. It was not until mid-80's, when political climate started to change, that he could resume directing. Still, it required help of influential Georgian actor David (Dodo) Abashidze and other friends to have his last feature films green-lighted. His health seriously weakened by 4 years in labor camps and 9 months in Tbilisi prison, Parajanov died of lung cancer in 1990, at the time when, after almost 20 years of suppression, his films were finally again allowed to be featured in foreign film festivals.

Sports

Tigran Petrosian (Armenian: Տիգրան Պետրոսյան) was born in Tbilisi in 1929 and died in 1984). He spent most of his childhood in Georgia. He learned the game of chess at the age of eight, after entering a local chess school at the Tbilisi Pioneer's Palace (currently known as Tbilisi Children's Palace). Petrosian's first coach was Archil Ebralidze. He became World Chess Champion from 1963 to 1969. He was nicknamed "Iron Tigran" due to his playing style because of his almost impenetrable defence, which emphasised safety above all else. He was a Candidate for the World Championship on eight occasions (1953, 1956, 1959, 1962, 1971, 1974, 1977 and 1980), won the world championship in 1963 (against Botvinnik) and 1966 (against Spassky), thus he was the defending World Champion or a World Champion candidate in ten consecutive three-year cycles. He won the Soviet Championship four times (1959, 1961, 1969, and 1975). He was arguably the hardest player to beat in the history of chess.

Armenian-Georgian Relations

Main article: Armenia–Georgia relations

Armenia and Georgia have a long history of cultural and political relations. The interaction peaked in the Middle Ages when both nations engaged in prolific cultural dialogue and allied themselves against the neighboring Muslim empires. There were frequent intermarriages between Armenian and Georgian royal and noble families and both ethnicities intermingled in several border areas.

Armenian-Georgian relations have always been substantive, but they have become even more pronounced in the post-Soviet independence years. Armenia and Georgia governments have had generally positive relations, but there have also been some problems in the past. There are many Armenians living in Georgia in great numbers though no substantive number of Georgians live in Armenia.

Despite the great number of Armenians in Georgia, and having 5 Armenian members, the Georgian Parliament has not passed a law for Recognition of the Armenian Genocide as yet.

Anti-Armenian sentiments

See also: Anti-Armenianism § Anti-Armenianism_in_Georgia

Some Armenians believe they are victims of a policy to shift the Samtskhe-Javakheti region’s demographic balance as a number of Georgian families were settled there.. Armenians are also underrepresented in the government (holding 5 seats in the 235-member Parliament, for example), leading to the perception of discrimination and mutual distrust . There were several protests, some of which turned violent after clashes with law enforcement agents..

The Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia also has a significant population of Armenians, where they make up roughly 20% of the population. However, the de facto Abkhaz authorities have been accused by local Armenian NGOs of intentionally decreasing the number of Abkhazian-Armenians.

See also

• Armenians in Abkhazia
• Armenians in Samtskhe-Javakheti
• Samtskhe-Javakheti
• St. George's Armenian Apostolic Church, Tbilisi

Ecternal links

• Armenian Georgian web portal