Armenians in Ethiopia
Total population | |
---|---|
700[1] | |
Regions with significant populations | |
Addis Ababa | |
Languages | |
Armenian | |
Religion | |
Armenian Apostolic Church |
There is a very small community of Armenians in Ethiopia, primarily in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa. Armenians had traded with Ethiopia as far back as the first century AD.
Religion
The Armenian presence in Ethiopia is historic. On a religious basis, the Ethiopian Church and the
The Armenian inhabitants in Ethiopia are Armenian Apostolics (Orthodox Armenians) belonging to the Armenian Apostolic Church. The Armenian Apostolic (Orthodox) have their own church, Sourp Kevork (St. George) Armenian Apostolic Church in Addis Ababa. The first-ever pastor of the Armenian community was Rev. Hovhannes Guevherian.
History
Armenians had traded with Ethiopia from as early as the first century AD.[2]
Armenians have a very old presence in Ethiopia. One of the first recorded diplomatic missions to Europe from Ethiopia was led by
Besides the obvious religious affiliation, there is also the story of the "Arba Lijoch" children coming to Ethiopia after the
The Arba Lijoch arrived in
The population peaked in shortly before the Italian invasion in 1935 at around 2,800. By the fall of the Ethiopian monarchy in 1974, it was around 2,000, after which the numbers fell precipitously.[5][6]
Further reading
- [1], Richard Pankhurst, Armenian Involvement in Ethiopian-Asian Trade 16th to 18th Centuries
References
- ^ "Armenian in Ethiopia".
- ^ A. Bournoutian, George. A concise history of the Armenian people: (from ancient times to the present). p. 228.
- ^ "See How Armenian Genocide Orphans Sparked A Revolution In Ethiopian Music | How Africa News". howafrica.com. 15 April 2016. Retrieved 2018-04-10.
- ^ "See How Armenian Genocide Orphans Sparked A Revolution In Ethiopian Music | How Africa News". howafrica.com. 15 April 2016. Retrieved 2018-04-10.
- ^ Aslanian, Ani (6 October 2014). "In The Company of Emperors: The Story of Ethiopian Armenians". The Armenite. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
- ^ "Letter from Africa: Ethiopia's lost Armenian community". BBC News. 2020-03-02. Retrieved 2021-11-04.
External links
- Armenians in Ethiopia - A Vanishing Community
- A Journey Back in Time: History of Armenians in Ethiopia, David Zenian, Armenian General Benevolent Union magazine, 1994
- Ethiopia´s Armenians – a lost Diaspora?, Markus Haile, University of Stockholm: Bachelor thesis