Armenians in Jordan
Encyclopedia
Armenians in Jordan are ethnic Armenians
living within the current Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. There are an estimated 3,000 Armenians living within the country today. An estimated 2,500 of these are members of the Armenian Apostolic Church
, and predominantly speak the Western dialect of the Armenian language
. They make up the majority of non-Arab
Christians in the country.
There were about 6000 Armenians in Jordan during the period 1930-1946. After the war of 1948 a new wave of immigrants coming from Palestine brought the number of to about 10,000. Jordan witnessed the emigration of a large number of Armenians to Australia, Canada, and the United States during the 1960's and 1970's reducing the numbers of Armenians to about 3,000.
The majority of these Armenians are the ancestors of survivors from the Armenian Genocide
during World War I
who fled to Jordan on foot from Ottoman
Anatolia
to the north. The early Armenian refugees in Jordan mainly resided in places like Ma'an, Shobak, Karak and Madaba and Ruseifah. Nowadays, the majority of the Armenians lives in the capital Amman, with a few families in Irbid, Aqaba, Madaba and Zarqa.
Armenians worked since they came to Jordan in various jobs, as some of them worked in agriculture, and excelled in professions such as photography, sewing, mechanics, drafting and business.
All Armenian organizations and schools and the church are located in Amman Jabal Al-Ashrafieh at a Neighborhood called (Armenian Neighborhood - حي الأرمن).
Armenians in Jordan are mainly followers of the Armenian Apostolic church, with a minority of Armenian Catholics.
The churches:
St. Thaddeus Armenian Apostolic Church in Amman serves the Armenian Apostolic community, whereas the Armenian Catholics have their own parish in the Armenian quarter in Jabal Al-Ashrafieh in Eastern Amman.
The majority of Armenians of the Armenian Apostolic (Orthodox) faith are under the jurisdiction of the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem
(based in Jerusalem) of the Armenian Apostolic Church
.
First school was founded for the Armenians in Jabal Al-Natheef in Amman (Hetoumyan Azdakayeen Varjaran) in 1930's, and there was another small school at Rusifeah and it was founded By Samuel Agha Serpekian.
Current 2 elementary schools operate in Amman:
The AGBU school teach Armenian literature, Armenian History and Christianity in Armenian in to addition to the school curriculum set by the Ministry of Education.
Armenian Homenetmen Club was founded in 1945, according to the records of the Higher Council Of Youths. club's current headquarters is located in Al-Ashrafieh which it was built back in 1967.
Jordan ARS Established in 1965, according to the General Federation of Charities in Jordan, but the actual upbringing of the Association is back to 1947. The headquarters of ARS is in Al-Ashrafieh.
WSC was founded in 1955, club's current headquarter is located in Al-Ashrafieh the building was built in 1974, Club's Summer Resort was built in 1994 at Airport Street.
WSC currently have a Chess Team and active in Jordan League tournaments, and hosted many tournaments on the occasion of King Abdullah's Birthday and Jordan Independence Day for the last decade.
Armenian clubs Watany Sporting Club and Homenetmen had prominent basketball teams and played in the official first and second division basketball leagues in Jordan between year 1950s and 1990s.
Some Jordanian Armenians have represented Jordan in the Basketball national team.
Watany sporting Club won Jordan's Basketball league tournament in 1963.
Armenians
Armenian people or Armenians are a nation and ethnic group native to the Armenian Highland.The largest concentration is in Armenia having a nearly-homogeneous population with 97.9% or 3,145,354 being ethnic Armenian....
living within the current Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. There are an estimated 3,000 Armenians living within the country today. An estimated 2,500 of these are members of the Armenian Apostolic Church
Armenian Apostolic Church
The Armenian Apostolic Church is the world's oldest National Church, is part of Oriental Orthodoxy, and is one of the most ancient Christian communities. Armenia was the first country to adopt Christianity as its official religion in 301 AD, in establishing this church...
, and predominantly speak the Western dialect of the Armenian language
Armenian language
The Armenian language is an Indo-European language spoken by the Armenian people. It is the official language of the Republic of Armenia as well as in the region of Nagorno-Karabakh. The language is also widely spoken by Armenian communities in the Armenian diaspora...
. They make up the majority of non-Arab
Arab
Arab people, also known as Arabs , are a panethnicity primarily living in the Arab world, which is located in Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more of genealogical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing...
Christians in the country.
There were about 6000 Armenians in Jordan during the period 1930-1946. After the war of 1948 a new wave of immigrants coming from Palestine brought the number of to about 10,000. Jordan witnessed the emigration of a large number of Armenians to Australia, Canada, and the United States during the 1960's and 1970's reducing the numbers of Armenians to about 3,000.
The majority of these Armenians are the ancestors of survivors from the Armenian Genocide
Armenian Genocide
The Armenian Genocide—also known as the Armenian Holocaust, the Armenian Massacres and, by Armenians, as the Great Crime—refers to the deliberate and systematic destruction of the Armenian population of the Ottoman Empire during and just after World War I...
during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
who fled to Jordan on foot from Ottoman
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
Anatolia
Anatolia
Anatolia is a geographic and historical term denoting the westernmost protrusion of Asia, comprising the majority of the Republic of Turkey...
to the north. The early Armenian refugees in Jordan mainly resided in places like Ma'an, Shobak, Karak and Madaba and Ruseifah. Nowadays, the majority of the Armenians lives in the capital Amman, with a few families in Irbid, Aqaba, Madaba and Zarqa.
Armenians worked since they came to Jordan in various jobs, as some of them worked in agriculture, and excelled in professions such as photography, sewing, mechanics, drafting and business.
All Armenian organizations and schools and the church are located in Amman Jabal Al-Ashrafieh at a Neighborhood called (Armenian Neighborhood - حي الأرمن).
Religion
While most Armenians have now moved out of the Armenian quarter in Amman, the Armenian quarter currently comprises two Armenian ChurchesArmenians in Jordan are mainly followers of the Armenian Apostolic church, with a minority of Armenian Catholics.
The churches:
- Armenian Apostolic ChurchArmenian Apostolic ChurchThe Armenian Apostolic Church is the world's oldest National Church, is part of Oriental Orthodoxy, and is one of the most ancient Christian communities. Armenia was the first country to adopt Christianity as its official religion in 301 AD, in establishing this church...
(Hay Arakelagan Lousavorchagan {St. Thaddeus} (based in AmmanAmmanAmman is the capital of Jordan. It is the country's political, cultural and commercial centre and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. The Greater Amman area has a population of 2,842,629 as of 2010. The population of Amman is expected to jump from 2.8 million to almost...
).
St. Thaddeus Armenian Apostolic Church in Amman serves the Armenian Apostolic community, whereas the Armenian Catholics have their own parish in the Armenian quarter in Jabal Al-Ashrafieh in Eastern Amman.
- Armenian Apostolic Church (Hay Arakelagan Lousavorchagan {St. Garebed} (based in Baptism Site Jordan River).
- Hay Gatogheege Armenian Catholic ChurchArmenian Catholic Church|- |The Armenian Catholic Church is an Eastern Catholic Church sui juris in union with the other Eastern Rite, Oriental Rite and Latin Rite Catholics who accept the Bishop of Rome as spiritual leader of the Church. It is regulated by Eastern canon law...
{St. Sahag Mesrob}) (based in AmmanAmmanAmman is the capital of Jordan. It is the country's political, cultural and commercial centre and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. The Greater Amman area has a population of 2,842,629 as of 2010. The population of Amman is expected to jump from 2.8 million to almost...
).
Apostolic Armenians
The majority of Armenians of the Armenian Apostolic (Orthodox) faith are under the jurisdiction of the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem
Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem
The Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem also known as the Armenian Patriarchate of St. James is located in the Armenian Quarter of Jerusalem. The Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem remains under the authority of the Catholicos of Armenia and of all Armenians of the Armenian Apostolic Church...
(based in Jerusalem) of the Armenian Apostolic Church
Armenian Apostolic Church
The Armenian Apostolic Church is the world's oldest National Church, is part of Oriental Orthodoxy, and is one of the most ancient Christian communities. Armenia was the first country to adopt Christianity as its official religion in 301 AD, in establishing this church...
.
Education
Armenian education is very important in maintaining Armenian language and patriotism among the Armenian community in Jordan. Amman as the main host of the community is a center of Armenian long-running schools and cultural institutions. Armenian students, who graduate from those community schools, can immediately enter the Jordanian High school system, after passing the elementary school classes.First school was founded for the Armenians in Jabal Al-Natheef in Amman (Hetoumyan Azdakayeen Varjaran) in 1930's, and there was another small school at Rusifeah and it was founded By Samuel Agha Serpekian.
Current 2 elementary schools operate in Amman:
- AGBU School {Gulbenkian Youzbeshian Varjaran} founded 1962 - based in Asharfieh Amman
The AGBU school teach Armenian literature, Armenian History and Christianity in Armenian in to addition to the school curriculum set by the Ministry of Education.
- Sahak Mesrob (Catholic School) - based in Asharfieh Amman
Organizations
The majority of Armenian organizations are based in Amman. Those organizations are acting in the form of cultural, sport, dance, scout, women activities, national activities, youth and charitable associations, which aim to gather the Armenian community members through their activities.Associations based in Amman:
- HomenetmenHomenetmenHomenetmen is a pan-Armenian diaspora organization devoted to sport and Scouting. The motto of Homenetmen is "Elevate Yourself and Elevate Others with You" .-Foundation:...
Armenian Homenetmen Club was founded in 1945, according to the records of the Higher Council Of Youths. club's current headquarters is located in Al-Ashrafieh which it was built back in 1967.
- Armenian Relief SocietyArmenian Relief SocietyThe Armenian Relief Society, A.R.S or H.O.M , is an independent, non-governmental and non-sectarian organization and NGO, serving the social and educational needs of Armenian communities everywhere, seeking to preserve the cultural identity of the Armenian nation, and, whenever and wherever the...
.
Jordan ARS Established in 1965, according to the General Federation of Charities in Jordan, but the actual upbringing of the Association is back to 1947. The headquarters of ARS is in Al-Ashrafieh.
- Watany Sporting Club {Ազգային Մարզական Միութիւն}
WSC was founded in 1955, club's current headquarter is located in Al-Ashrafieh the building was built in 1974, Club's Summer Resort was built in 1994 at Airport Street.
Armenian Dance Groups in Amman:
- ARAZ Dance Group, Armenian Relief Society
- SPITAK Armenian folklore Dance Group Սպիտակ Պարախումբ, by Watany Sporting Club WSC -Ազգային Մարզական Միութիւն ԱՄՄ
Sports
Armenians in Jordan participated in many of Jordan national leagues and Sport tournaments presented by the 2 clubs in Jordan Homenetmen and Watany Sporting Club.WSC currently have a Chess Team and active in Jordan League tournaments, and hosted many tournaments on the occasion of King Abdullah's Birthday and Jordan Independence Day for the last decade.
Basketball
Armenian clubs Watany Sporting Club and Homenetmen had prominent basketball teams and played in the official first and second division basketball leagues in Jordan between year 1950s and 1990s.
Some Jordanian Armenians have represented Jordan in the Basketball national team.
Watany sporting Club won Jordan's Basketball league tournament in 1963.