HAYASTAN Christianity brings civilization to Armenia In 303 A.D., the Armenian King "Terdat III" proclaimed Christianity as the only official religion of Armenia with the help of "Saint Gregory the Illuminator". Hence, Hayastan "Armenia" becomes the first nation to proclaim Christianity as an official religion. Later in 323CE, "Constantine I", Emperor of the Roman empire, proclaimed Christianity in his Edict of Milan, as one of the accepted religions of his empire, which made it as one of the official religions along with paganism. Paganism, on the other hand, was maintained for only another 100 years. In 405 A.D., "Saint Mesrob Mashtots" invents the Armenian alphabet and grammar. Thus, launching the Golden Age of Armenian history. The Holy Bible was translated from Greek and Aramiac into Armenian. In 425 A.D., the great monastic era began, and continued to the end of the eighth century. Armenian pilgrimages also began in force to the holy sites in Armenia and Palestine. Armenian mosaics attest to the existence of many churches and monasteries in the region. Later in 451 A.D., a great splinter takes place in the Christian church. The notion of Jesus Christ, his divinity, and his humanity, becomes an issue among Christians all over the Roman Empire, Greece, Egypt, Jerusalem, and Armenia. At that time, 1/3 of Hayastan was under the Byzantines' rule, while the other 2/3 of Hayastan was under the Persian rule. Many Armenian monasteries and bishops were declared as heretics by the Christian churches of Rome and Greece. This has to do with the despute over the notion of Jesus Christ, and also because most of Armenia is under the Persian "non-Christian" rule. With the decisions of the Council of Calcedon Christian unity began to come apart. Within this period, the Persians decided to assimilate all of the non-Persians within their borders, e.g. Armenians, which started the battle of Avarayr in Armenia. The battle lasted till 484 A.D., and the Persians were defeated. A.D.550 Emperor Justinian persecutes monophysites "i.e. those who claim that the divine and humane entities of Christ are inseparable". The Armenian Church makes a clean break from the Greek Orthodox hierarchy and establishes its own independent bishopric under the authority of the Catholicoas of Etchmiadzin in Hayastan "aka Armenia".
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ARMENIA and PALESTINE
The historic connection between the Armenian people and Palestine goes back to the days of Assyria and Babylon; before the advent of Jesus Christ. At one time, Armenia and Palestine were part of the same empire. According to recorded history, the Armenian King Tigran II (95 to 55 B.C.), The Great "King of Kings," conquered most of the northern part of the fertile crescent including Syria, and for a short time, extended his political influence over Palestine which at the time was ruled by the Jewish Hasmonean kings. This; however, did not last long. In A.D.70, Jerusalem was completely destroyed by the Romans. General Titus was the leader of that attack. A small number of Armenians, who were part of a non-Jewish population, remained outside the city of Jerusalem. Then in A.D.135, the Roman Emperor Herodius, once again destroyed Jerusalem and renamed the city from Jerusalem to "Aelia Capitolina", a name officially used by the Romans until A.D.326. It is said that by the latter date no one remembered the prior name of the city. According to the chronicles of the Armenian historian "Bishop Eusebius", a small Armenian religious community of monks and a bishopric existed in Jerusalem during this period. In A.D.614, the Persian king "Khosrov II" captures Ailea Capitolina. The Persians permitted the Jews to enter Palestine after they have been bannished by the Romans. Armenians actively, along with other ethnic groups, reconstruct the Christian Holy Sites. The Persian rule over Jerusalem barely lasts 10 years. After several confrontations between the Muslim Arabs and the Byzantines, the Arabs triumph. And the Byzantine/Roman Era collapses in A.D.634. The Muslim Caliph (Amir Al-Mo'mineen) "Omar Ibn Al-Khattab (634-644 A.D.)" enters Ailea Capitolina in February 638 and conquers Palestine. In A.D.640, by an edict of Caliph Omar, the first time in Armenian history, "Abraham I" is installed as the first Armenian Patriarch. The Armenian Patriarch (Abraham I) constructed the mosque of Omar (aka The Golden Dome of the Rock)in Al-Quds. Caliph Omar in his charter also enumerated the rights and privileges of the Armenian Patriarchate over certain Holy Places, thus guaranteeing the integrity and safety of the properties and lives of the Armenians in Al-Quds. Consequently, each successive Muslim Arab dynasty recognized and reaffirmed these rights. One significant aspect of the Arab conquest of Palestine is that for the first time in the history of Palestine, an invading army entered Jerusalem peacefully. Not a single life was lost or any property forcibly taken by the Islamic soldiers. Caliph Omar, one of the most austere and passionate Companions of the Prophet Muhammad, continued to live as simply as Muhammad had done. In spite of the riches conquered by his armies, he lived a Spartan life and insisted that his officers and family members did the same. He had more compassion than any previous conqueror and true to the Prophet's belief. He considered Jerusalem a revered and holy city. The Arabs continued to call the city Ilya (Aelia) or Bayt al-Maqdes (house of the holy) and in later years as Al-Quds (The holy place). In A.D.1099, the Crusaders stormed the walls of Jerusalem and massacre its entire Muslim population. Armenians were spared because of connections in Cilicia with the Crusaders; Armenians thrived in this period because of close connections with the royal family. Crusaders did not only attack Muslims, but also Jews and Arab Christians as well. Almost a century later, the Muslim Caliph "Salah-Ed-Din Al-Ayyubi" enters Jerusalem on October 2, 1187, and drives the Crusaders out of Palestine. Salah-ed-deen was a great warrior, poet, philosopher, and was a true Muslim. He brought peace back to Palestine, and reaffirmed the charter of Omar Ibn Al-Khattab, giving the Armenians and Christians their rights and freedom. The successors of Salah-ed-deen did the same. The Tartars from the far East almost wiped out the entire Muslim civlization. After destorying and burning the Muslims' greatest cities; Khurasan, Baghdad, Damascus, they were finally stopped by the Muslim Memluks from Egypt. The Memluk Sultan "Al-Zahir Baybars" occupied Jerusalem under the Muslim rule once again (1251-1276). Because of large Armenian presence in Egypt, Armenians were well treated by the Memluks in Jerusalem and everywhere else in the Fertile Crescent. In A.D.1438 the Armenians received favored consideration and a written edict from Sultan "Al-Zahir Chaqmaq (1438-1453)". An inscription carved on a marble plaque in Arabic, set in the wall facing the entrance of "St. James" Convent. It can be seen till this day. The Memluks era (centered in Egypt) ended in A.D.1516. The Ottoman rule began. "Sultan Selim I (1512-1520)" entered Jerusalem in December 1416, who was said to have fallen on his knees and weaped at the site of the Golden Dome of the Rock. The Ottomans also reaffirmed the charter of Omar Ibn Al-Khattab to protect the Christian Holy sites, and protect the Armenians in Palestine. During this era, the Armenian contribution to Jerusalem, Palestine, and Christianity in whole was astounding. In A.D.1643, Patriarch Krikor V, Markarian, Kantsagetsi, also known as "Baronder (1613-1645), great builder and fundraiser", purchases extensive properties and renovates Holy sites. In A.D. 1728, Patriarch Krikor VI, Shirvantsi, (1715-1749) also known as SHUGHTAYAGIR, meaning, Chainbearer. Wore a heavy chain around his neck until 1728 when he managed to payoff the large indebtedness of the Patriarchate (accrued by incompetent predecessors). In A.D.1833, during the tenure of Patriarch Boghos Krikorian (1824-1840), the first modern printing press was installed in a building inside the St. James Convent, initiated by his successor, Zakaria Gopetsi. In that year, Patriarch Boghos also payed off a debt of 800,000 Piasters owed by the Patriarchate. In A.D.1843, Patriarch Zakaria Gopetsi (1841-1846) establishes first Armenian theological seminary in the city of "Ramleh," north of Jerusalem. In 1845, seminary is moved into a new complex inside the St. James Convent. In 1862, during the tenure of Vertanes Vartabed Vartanian, Locum Tenens (1860-1864), the first law school was established in Jerusalem, named Gayane Girl’s School. In 1866, during the tenure of Patriarch Yesayee Garabedian (1864-1885) the first Church periodical, "SION", was published by the St James printing press. In addition, an avid photographer, "Yesayee," opened the first phographic studio in Jerusalem. In the final decades of the Ottoman Empire "The Sick Man", atrocities began to take place in the Middle East, and Armenia, as well as other parts of the Turkish Empire. The Turks became corrupt, and clashes took place between the Turks and the Arabs and Armenians. Until the situation became fatal. The Ottomans began to persecute the educated among the Arabs (Doctors, scientists, philosophers, writers, engineers, thinkers) and executed them. The greater atrocity; however, took place in Hayastan. The Ottoman Empire came to end in September, 1917 (exactly 401 years of Ottoman rule). In Palestine, the British took over, and the Armenians in Palestine continued to protect the Holy Sites and live in peace. But the genocide was taking a few kilometers North... Hayastan. |
ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
The photograph on the right was taken an hour before these Armenian prisoners were all killed. In the last days of the Ottoman empire, the Turks wanted to expand their base land, before they have lost their domination over most of the Third World. Hayastan was one of their victims. The Turkish generals desired to conquer Armenia and convert Armenians to Islam over their will, hence wiping out Hayastan from the face of the world. In other words, The Turks wished to transform Armenians into Turks... forever. The genocide began, and over 1.5 million Armenian men, women, and children were killed in cold blood, or left to starve to death in prisons and in their own homes. They were taken as prisoners, and executed in masses by burning, shooting, and asphyxiation. It was a true genocide, and one of the world's greatest catastrophes. Armenians fled their homeland, millions of them, heading South. Today, the Armenian community can be found all over Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Palestine, and Egypt, where they found shelter and protection from the Armenians who resided in these lands prior to the genocide. They were welcomed among the Arabs of the Fertile Crescent. Hayastan gained partial independence. Many Armenians are still living in diaspora all over the world. For more detailed information and pictures on the Armenian genocide, please visit Armenia: History and Culture  |
The online book about Armenians The Republic of Armenia is locally known as "Hayastani Hanrapetut'yun". It is currently a UN country located in Europe. It's Capital City is "Yerevan". Major Cities are "Kumayri and Karaklis". Its population is approximately 3,647,000. Its officially independent area is 30,000 km(sq). The currency is "Dram", and the main languages are Armenian, Azerbaijani, and Russian. Its official religion is the Armenian Orthodox.  |
in Jerusalem