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29.03.2011

ARMENIAN PROTESTANT COMMUNITY IN GEORGIA

   

Tigran Ghanalanyan

T.Ghanalanyan - Expert at “Noravank” Foundation

The study of the Armenian Protestant community is distinguished in the context of study of both the issues of the Armenians in Georgia and Protestant (Evangelical) Armenians in general.

Besides Apostolic and Catholic Armenians there are also Protestant Armenians in the Republic of Georgia (including Samtskhe-Javakhq inhabited by the Armenians). Arising of the Armenian Protestantism in Georgia is conditioned by spreading of the Protestantism and, particularly Evangelism, among the Eastern Armenians.

In Eastern Armenia, with the exception of Karabakh, unlike Western Armenia, Tiflis and other places in the Caucasus, Evangelism has been established without mediation of foreign missionaries1. The activity of the foreign missionaries was mostly spread over the settlements which were situated out of the borders of Eastern Armenia, in particular, over the centers of Transcaucasia populated by the Armenians. The centers of the Armenian Protestants had become Artsakh, Yerevan and some settlements on the territory of the present-day Georgia.

The Protestant Armenian community in Georgia is one of the first ones formed. This is conditioned by the activity of the Armenians spread over the territory of today’s Georgia, which has a century’s long history. In Georgia and particularly in Tiflis one can observe an eager activity of the Evangelicals since the middle of the 19th century.

If among the western Armenians the Protestantism was spread by the missionaries representing American missionary organizations, in the Caucasus European missionaries (in particular, Germans, Swedes and Swiss) were active. Among of the first preachers of Protestantism in the Caucasus were the Swede Protestants who settled down in Pyatigorsk and German Lutherans who undertook a considerable job in spreading Protestantism in the Caucasus. A great part in spreading of the Protestantism among the Armenians in Tiflis took German Lutheran immigrants.

It is remarkable that the German Lutherans who settled in Tiflis and other centers in the Caucasus carried out a great job for spreading Protestantism in different regions populated by the Armenians.

In Tiflis, as well as in Shushi, Baku, Shamakhi, Yerevan, Aleksandrapol, Kars and other places, there were Evangelical groups, which did not belong to the Lutheran church; they were not officially recognized as independent Evangelical communities and were considered free Evangelicals. Armenian Evangelicals in the Caucasus were not unified and had no organized Evangelical church. In 1870s a movement, which aimed to unite different groups of eastern Armenian Evangelicals, had been initiated. This was promoted by the Armenian figures of the American and British Biblical associations (they made the round of all the Evangelical groups in Baku, Shushi, Tiflis, Eastern Armenia trying to unite them). In 1870 American “Board” missionary organization began assisting Armenian Evangelical communities in Transcaucasia. Besides, the stance of the Lutheran church was also important: it obliged Armenian Evangelicals to have separate administrative organization. In the mid 1880s the German Lutherans, under whose administration were the Armenian Lutherans in Shamakhi and Baku, did everything to unite all the Armenian Evangelicals in the Caucasus under the Lutheran Church.

Armenians in Tiflis, which was the center of the Transcaucasia, associated with foreign Protestant preachers. The German Protestants who lived in Georgia also influenced local Armenians.

Abraham Amirkhanyan made a great contribution to the consolidation of the Armenian Protestants and establishment of the organizational structures. On his initiative the Armenian Evangelical church in Tiflis was formed. Amirkhanyan set relations with the prominent Armenian figures of that time. Besides him Rev, Margar Ter-Asaturyan had headed that community for many years, till 1920. Amirkhanyan is considered to be one of the most prominent figures not only among the Armenians but also among the all the Protestant in the Caucasus. In the second half of the 1880s the repressions against the Protestants in Transcaucasia and, particularly, in Georgia has been initiated. In particular, such eminent Protestant figures were arrested as Vasili Pavlov, Nikita Voronin and Abraham Amirkhanyan2.

It is also remarkable that there were Armenians in the Russian Evangelical church in Tiflis too. The forum of the Armenian Evangelicals in the Caucasus, which was held in 1909 in Tiflis, was an important event in the life of not only the Armenian Protestants in Georgia but also in the entire Caucasus. The Armenian Evangelical communities from Tiflis (M. Ter-Asaturyan, L.E. Larso), Yerevan (Vahan Mikaelyan), Baku (Aleksandr Taryan, Abraham Melik-Jhanyan), Kars (Sargis Levonyan), Shamakhi (Samvel Ivanov) and representatives from Iran, as well as the secretary of Swedish Missionary Association Wilhelm Sioholm, Swedish missionary Wilhelm Sarven and others participated in that forum. But this forum could not unite all the Armenian Evangelical churches in the Caucasus in one association3.

In 1914-1918 the Armenian Lutherans and Baptists (Lutherans from Shushi, Shamakhi, Tiflis and Baptists from Baku) were officially recognized by the Russian government. Relocation of the Armenian Evangelical Baptists of Baku to Tiflis was a crucial event in the life of the Armenian Protestants in Tiflis.

Their relocation was conditioned by the massacre of the Armenians in Baku.

The role of the Armenian Protestant of Tiflis among the Armenian Protestants in the Caucasus had considerably increased. This was conditioned by the weakening and annihilation of the Armenian Protestant communities on the territory of the Azerbaijani state. Thus, after the liquidation of the Armenian Lutheran community in Shamakhi and Armenia Baptist church in Baku, Armenia (Yerevan and Aleksandrapol) and Tiflis had become the centers of the Armenian Evangelicals in the Caucasus.

Besides Tiflis, in that period, there were Armenian Evangelical Baptist communities in other regions of Georgia too: Akhaltsikha, Batumi, and Sukhumi4. But here the condition of the Armenian Protestants was much harder. For example in Akhaltsikha the Armenian Protestants, which numbered several dozen people, had neither church nor pastor. A small group of the Armenian Evangelicals in Batumi also had no church.

Armenian Protestants in Georgia eagerly rendered assistance to the Armenian Protestants in Eastern Armenia. The remarkable example is the assistance of the Armenian Evangelical community in Tiflis to the Armenian Evangelical orphanage in Yerevan in the beginning of the 20th century. The Armenian Evangelicals from Tiflis, Batumi and other places visited Armenia to get acquainted with the activity and problems of their local co-religionists. The establishment of the Armenian Baptist church in Gyumri, where an eager activity among the Armenian Baptists was spread by M. Kotikyan, is the result of the joint efforts of the Armenian Evangelicals from Armenia and Georgia. Due to his and Armenia Baptist missionaries’ efforts some time later a Baptist church was established in Leninakan.

The cooperation between the adherents of the Armenian Apostolic church and Armenian Evangelicals should also be mentioned. E.g. in Batumi, on the decision of the Armenian community, the schools of those two confessional groups were united and, as a result, the Armenian community in Batumi had had an educational facility of much higher quality.

The Armenian Evangelicals also eagerly participated in the activity of the American “Amercom” which rendered assistance to the Near East. In particular, Armenian Protestants in Georgia took part in the works of the orphanage opened in Akhaltshikhe. On September 17, 1919 “Amercom” concluded agreement with the National Council of Armenia, within the scope of which the orphanage for 500 children had to be opened in Akhaltsikhe. At first there were 285 orphans. Before that, in April 1919, in accordance with the agreement signed between the government of the RA and “Amercom”, since May all the orphanages and hospitals in Armenia and Georgia were passed under the auspices of “Amercom” 5. This was conditioned by very difficult social and economic situation in Armenia.

In 1920 in Tiflis, besides the Armenian Evangelicals, eager activity was expanded by the Baptists. Beginning their activity in 1923, they soon arranged large community and opened chapel in Havlabar. Setting in Tiflis, the Armenian Baptists shifted their activity to Armenia and established Baptist church in Aleksandrapol. Martiros Ter-Sahakyan was the pastor in Tiflis in 1920-1928; he managed to establish good relations with the Apostolic Armenians, German Lutherans, Russian Baptists and other.

In 1925 the Armenian Evangelical church in Tiflis has more than 60 church members and more than 200 adherents. The church also had a chorus, which numbered 20 people. In 1926 the government of the Soviet Georgia officially recognized the Armenian Evangelical Church in Tiflis. The church also included the Armenian Baptists in Tiflis (later on it was renamed into the Church of the Evangelical Christian Baptists). At that time church had about 80 members. Rev. Hovsep Khanoyan became one of the first pastors of the Armenian Evangelical church in Tiflis ordained for ministry, and the first priest of a newly formed church was Hovsep Zakharyan who served there till 1930 when under the Stalin’s repressions its activity was stopped. The Armenian Evangelicals in Tiflis had close connections with the Evangelicals in Armenia, united in the Araratian union; Armenian Evangelical church in Tiflis was one of the biggest and most influential churches in the Caucasus.

Even under severe persecutions and during World War II Armenian Evangelicals in Tiflis secretly continued their activity.

In 1944 the church has reclaimed its title to the activity. The church of Christian Evangelicals and Baptist church were united in one Evangelical Christian-Baptist church (this title has been preserved till our days) and were included into the all-USSR Evangelical union of the Christian Baptists. Till 1952 the post of the priest was occupied by Asir Asiryan, and in 1952-1980 by Asatur Harutyunyan. In 1980-1994 Suren Harutyunyan was the pastor and in 1991 the second pastor was elected – Mkrtich Khachatryan who had occupied that position till 1994. In 1994 Rev. Aleksandr Minasyan was elected as a pastor of the church in Tbilisi.

In the second half of the 1990s the Tbilisi church had about 300 members. During the activity of the Armenian Evangelical Christian-Baptist church in Tbilisi new Armenian Evangelical churches were opened and new Evangelical groups were formed in 1990s in various regions of Georgia – Akhalkalaki, Akhaltsikhe, Bolnis, Lilo, Isain and etc. The Armenian Evangelicals work independently but they are included in the Evangelical union of Christian Baptists of Georgia, which has more than 5000 members. This union is included in the European Baptist Federation. Besides, Armenian Evangelical churches established union, which is included in the Armenian Evangelical union of Armenia, Georgia, Eastern Europe and Central Asia. The Armenian Evangelical Church in Georgia issues “Բարի լուր” (“Annunciation”) monthly6.

Today on the territory of Georgia there are six Armenian Evangelical organizations – five Armenian Evangelical churches and one Armenian Evangelical brotherhood. Three organizations work in Akhalkalaki, and by one in Akhaltsikhe, Tbilisi and Sukhumi (the capital of semi-recognized Republic of Abkhazia). In Tbilisi Armenian Evangelical church established back in 1880s works; the pastor is Rev. Karen Khachatryan. The pastor of the Armenian Evangelical church established in 1994 in the village of Kumurdo (Gyumbarda) of the Akhalkalaki province is Rev. Valeriy Zakharyan. The preacher of the Armenian Evangelical church in Sulda village (Akhalkalaki) opened in 1999 is Gamo Mgdesya. The office of the Armenian Evangelical Association of America is also situated in the Armenian Evangelical church in Akhalkalaki (established in 2004). The pastor of this church is also Rev. Valeriy Zakharyan. Besides, he is the representative of the Armenian Evangelical Association of America. In 1993 in Akhaltsikhe Armenian Evangelical brotherhood was established. Its chairman is Valeriy Zakharyan. The pastor of the Armenian Evangelical church in Sukhumi (est. in 1960) is Mihran Torosyan7. There are about 60 Armenian Evangelicals living in Abkhazia.

Thus, while studying the organizational structures of the Armenian Evangelical community in Georgia we can see that an important role is taken by Valeriy Zakharyan who heads the Armenian Evangelical church in Akhalkalaki, Armenian Evangelical church in the village of Kumurdo and Armenian Evangelical brotherhood in Akhaltsikhe, as well as he is the representative of the office of the Armenian Evangelical Association of America, i.e. he directs three of six main Armenian Evangelical structures in Georgia.

Since opening its office in Armenia in 1991, the Armenian Evangelical Association of America (AEAA) has been rendering assistance to the Armenian Evangelicals in Tbilisi and Sukhumi, particularly in the educational, cultural, social and organizational spheres.

On August 31, 1995 on the decision of the central body of the Union of the Armenian Evangelical churches of Armenia, representatives of the Armenian Evangelical churches of Georgia and Armenian office of AEAA the Armenian Evangelical Union of Armenia, Georgia, Eastern Europe and Central Asia was established. The center is in Yerevan.

The main purpose of the union is the study of the general situation, number of the adherents of the Armenian Evangelical church in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, participation in arranging of the spiritual life of those communities and rendering assistance to them. An importance is attached to the collaboration with all the Armenian Evangelicals, as well as to the cooperation of the local Armenian Evangelical organizations with the Armenia Apostolic church, strengthening ties with the Armenian Evangelical communities, preparation of the competent priests,

There are two representatives of the Armenian Evangelicals of Georgia in the central body of the union, and one of them is the deputy chairman of the union. Those representatives are chosen by the Armenian Evangelical churches in Georgia. The role of the Armenian Evangelicals of Georgia in the management of the union is the evidence of the significance of the Armenian Protestants from Georgia in the life of the Armenian Protestants in general.

The Armenian Evangelical Union of Armenia, Georgia, Eastern Europe and Central Asia, which had been established not long ago and which has to support the Armenian Evangelical churches working outside Armenia, on the territory of the former USSR, and particularly in Georgia, today is in the spotlight of the common Armenian Evangelical family. The touching words of Rev. Movses P. Tchanpazian, the head of the All-Armenian Evangelical Council, addressed to the pastors, preachers and members of the Armenian Evangelical churches in Georgia on Holy Easter (March 30, 1997) are remarkable: “On the occasion of the Holy Easter we write this words on behalf of the entire All-Armenian Evangelical Council, thus assuring you, that you are in our hearts; and let us pray for the God to keep blessing you”8.

The Armenian Evangelicals in Georgia are united in the council of the Armenian Evangelical churches in Georgia, which is a part of the Armenian Evangelical Union of Armenia, Georgia, Eastern Europe and Central Asia, which, in its turn, is a member of the World Council of the Armenian Evangelical churches.

So, the Armenian Protestants in Georgia, with all their peculiarities, are an integral part of the Armenian community of that state. Unlike many other countries, the activity of the Armenian Protestants in Georgia has rather rich and long history, which counts one and a half century. The Armenian Protestants in Georgia are one of the oldest Protestant communities in Georgia. They performed rather eager activities back in the times of the Russian Empire, then over the Soviet period and today they continue to work in the independent Republic of Georgia,

The problems of the Armenian Protestants in Georgia are, of course, a part of the problems of the Armenians in Georgia in general. The Armenian Protestants in Georgia actively cooperated with the adherents of the Armenian Apostolic Church and participated in the resolution of the problems of the Armenians in Georgia. Undoubtedly, those ties have a great potential for strengthening and further development.

1Ղազարյան Ա., Հայ ավետարանական համայնքներն Արևելյան Հայաստանում մինչև խորհրդային կարգերի հաստատումը (համառոտ ակնարկ), Հայաստանյայց Ավետարանական եկեղեցի, 1 (53), 2010, էջ 6։

2Раули Лехтонен, Евангельское пробуждение на Кавказе, Свет для народов, 1, 2009, с. 12, http://lioold.unity.se/download.do?ug=Administrator&f=1_2009_rys.pdf

3Ղազարյան Ա., Լևոնյան Ռ.Ն., Հայաստանյայց Ավետարանական Եկեղեցի (Հայաստան-Կովկաս), Երևան, 1999, էջ 139։

4Հայ սփյուռք հանրագիտարան, Երևան, 2003, p 563։

5Ղազարյան Ա., Լևոնյան Ռ.Ն., ibid, p 175-176։

6Ibid, p. 148։

7AMAA Directory 2010: Armenian Evangelical Churches, Institutions, Organizations, Pastors and Christian Workers Worldwide, p. 11, http://www.amaa.org/Directory%20for%20website.pdf

8Ղազարյան Ա., Լևոնյան Ռ.Ն., նույն տեղում, էջ 152-153։

“Globus National Security”, issue 1, 2011

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