Armenians in Serbia
Encyclopedia
Armenians are Armenians
living in Serbia. They number about 1,500 people (with estimates up to 10,000) and live mainly in the capital Belgrade
.
invited constructors to build a Serbian Orthodox monastery after he had been to Armenia
and seen the beautiful Armenian architecture there. The Armenians were to build Vitovnica Monastery, which has preserved a bilingual sacral text in Serbian and Armenian dating to the building.
Armenians were a small part of the Ottoman Turkish army when they invaded Serbia prior to the Battle of Kosovo 1389
. However upon hearing that they would attack a Christian people, they fled the Ottomans to the other side to fight alongside the Serbs. After the battle, the surviving Armenians settled in the hills of Sokobanja
where they built Jermenčić Monastery.
Evliya Celebi registers an Armenian "district" of Užice
in the 17th century.
Remains of an Armenian graveyard lie in Kalemegdan fortress
, which was last used in the 17th century after the Ottomans destroyed it. Only a few tombs are left in good condition. In 1810 the Turks destroyed the Celije Monastery
, and the Serbs rebuilt it in 1811 with the help of wealthy Armenians. One of the benefactors had his idea of an Armenian style dome included in the work, so the monastery today can be considered an outcome of Byzantine/Serbian-Armenian architecture.
In 1880s, merchants from the Gamakh
region in Armenia settled in Valjevo
(Tehlirians). During the Second World War, many Armenians moved to North America
and France
.
In the past, there used to be an Armenian Catholic church in Novi Sad
(built in 1746, razed in 1963).
Some 500 female Serbian descendants of Armenians married Serbs in the 1990s.
Armenia and Serbia established diplomatic relations in 1992. Armenia is represented in Serbia through its embassy in Athens
, Greece
. Serbia is also represented in Armenia through its embassy in Athens. The "Armenka" association of ethnic Armenians in Serbia which holds community affairs is led by Gohar Harutyunyan-Sekulic.
Boris Tadic
arrived in Armenia
in 28.07.2009, it was the first Serbian Head of State visit to Armenia. The presidents wished to improve the spiritual,cultural and economic relations of the two countries stressing that the centuries long friendship between the peoples are good basis on boosting the bilateral relations. Armenia has not recognized the unilateral declaration of independence of Kosovo
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 in Serbia. They number about 1,500 people (with estimates up to 10,000) and live mainly in the capital Belgrade
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
.
History
Armenians were recorded in Serbia in 1218 when Saint SavaSaint Sava
Saint Sava was a Serbian Prince and Orthodox monk, the first Archbishop of the autocephalous Serbian Church, the founder of Serbian law and literature, and a diplomat. Sava was born Rastko Nemanjić , the youngest son of Serbian Grand Župan Stefan Nemanja , and ruled the appanage of Hum briefly in...
invited constructors to build a Serbian Orthodox monastery after he had been to Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
and seen the beautiful Armenian architecture there. The Armenians were to build Vitovnica Monastery, which has preserved a bilingual sacral text in Serbian and Armenian dating to the building.
Armenians were a small part of the Ottoman Turkish army when they invaded Serbia prior to the Battle of Kosovo 1389
Battle of Kosovo
The Battle of Kosovo took place on St. Vitus' Day, June 15, 1389, between the army led by Serbian Prince Lazar Hrebeljanović, and the invading army of the Ottoman Empire under the leadership of Sultan Murad I...
. However upon hearing that they would attack a Christian people, they fled the Ottomans to the other side to fight alongside the Serbs. After the battle, the surviving Armenians settled in the hills of Sokobanja
Sokobanja
Sokobanja is a well-known spa town and municipality situated in eastern Serbia.-Population:In 2011 the population of the Sokobanja town is 7,972, while population of the whole municipality is 15,981...
where they built Jermenčić Monastery.
Evliya Celebi registers an Armenian "district" of Užice
Užice
Užice is a city and municipality in western Serbia, located at the banks of the Đetinja river. It is the administrative center of the Zlatibor District...
in the 17th century.
Remains of an Armenian graveyard lie in Kalemegdan fortress
Kalemegdan
Belgrade Fortress , represent old citadel and Kalemegdan Park on the confluence of the River Sava and Danube, in an urban area of modern Belgrade, the capital of Serbia. It is located in Belgrade's municipality of Stari Grad...
, which was last used in the 17th century after the Ottomans destroyed it. Only a few tombs are left in good condition. In 1810 the Turks destroyed the Celije Monastery
Ćelije Monastery
The Ćelije Monastery is a Serbian Orthodox monastery. It is located by the Gradac river, on the 6th km from the town of Valjevo, Serbia. It was founded in the late 13th century...
, and the Serbs rebuilt it in 1811 with the help of wealthy Armenians. One of the benefactors had his idea of an Armenian style dome included in the work, so the monastery today can be considered an outcome of Byzantine/Serbian-Armenian architecture.
In 1880s, merchants from the Gamakh
Kemah, Turkey
Kemah is a town and district of Erzincan Province in the Eastern Anatolia region of Turkey.Kemah is a town with a present population of 2141...
region in Armenia settled in Valjevo
Valjevo
Valjevo is a city and municipality located in western Serbia. It is the center of the Kolubara District, which includes five other smaller municipalities with a total population of almost 180,000 people...
(Tehlirians). During the Second World War, many Armenians moved to North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
and France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
In the past, there used to be an Armenian Catholic church in Novi Sad
Novi Sad
Novi Sad is the capital of the northern Serbian province of Vojvodina, and the administrative centre of the South Bačka District. The city is located in the southern part of Pannonian Plain on the Danube river....
(built in 1746, razed in 1963).
Some 500 female Serbian descendants of Armenians married Serbs in the 1990s.
Armenia and Serbia established diplomatic relations in 1992. Armenia is represented in Serbia through its embassy in Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
. Serbia is also represented in Armenia through its embassy in Athens. The "Armenka" association of ethnic Armenians in Serbia which holds community affairs is led by Gohar Harutyunyan-Sekulic.
Boris Tadic
Boris Tadic
Boris Tadić is the President of Serbia and leader of the Democratic Party. He was elected to a five-year term on 27 June 2004, and was sworn into office on 11 July. He was re-elected for a de facto second five-year term on 3 February 2008 and was sworn in on 15 February...
arrived in Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
in 28.07.2009, it was the first Serbian Head of State visit to Armenia. The presidents wished to improve the spiritual,cultural and economic relations of the two countries stressing that the centuries long friendship between the peoples are good basis on boosting the bilateral relations. Armenia has not recognized the unilateral declaration of independence of Kosovo
Kosovo
Kosovo is a region in southeastern Europe. Part of the Ottoman Empire for more than five centuries, later the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia...
Sources
- Pecat.co.rs, BABKEN SIMONJAN Jermeni i Srbi su braća po stradanju, avgust 26, 2010 (Serbian)