Hayhurum
Encyclopedia
Hayhurum is the name given to Armenian
-speaking Christians who are members of the Greek Orthodox Church
. Their exact ethnicity was a source of debate. Some (not all) of these Armenian speakers, purportedly living in the vicinity of the town of Eğin
till the 16th century, were of Orthodox faith (instead of Gregorian
as is the case for most Armenians). There were also a number of people of Greek Orthodox profession among Hamshenis
who are considered to be converted to Greek Orthodoxy during the days of Empire of Trebizond
.
Greek Orthodox
in faith and Armenian
in language, they were called Hayhurums (Hay
meaning Armenian, hu meaning and in Armenian and Rûm
meaning Greek in the Mardin
Armenian dialect). Greek sources claimed that they were former Greek colonists who had settled in Eğin, adopting the Armenian culture and heritage which dominated the region, while Armenian sources objected this claim. The latter is considered apt by most western scholars who have studies the group.
It is believed that the vast majority of Hayhurum peoples were Armenians by ethnicity and had converted to Greek Orthodoxy during the Byzantine era. Hellenization was not an uncommon practice among Cappadocian and Anatolian Armenian populations who vied for favorable treatment during the 12th century when ethnically Greek royal families consolidated the throne of Byzantium, after centuries of Hellenized-Armenian rule. Many of the greatest Byzantine scholars, generals, clerics and emperors were in fact of Armenian heritage, and had adopted the Greek Orthodox faith out of necessity, (as in the case of emperors who had to be of the Greek Orthodox Faith) or out of cosmopolitanism.
Hayhurum had a significant presence in Adapazarı
where there had been an Armenian community since 1608. They have been included in the 1923 agreement for Exchange of Greek and Turkish Populations between Turkey
and Greece
, and settled in various parts of Greece. Precious objects of culture and else belonging to this small community is being displayed today in Athens
Benaki Museum
.
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...
-speaking Christians who are members of the Greek Orthodox Church
Greek Orthodox Church
The Greek Orthodox Church is the body of several churches within the larger communion of Eastern Orthodox Christianity sharing a common cultural tradition whose liturgy is also traditionally conducted in Koine Greek, the original language of the New Testament...
. Their exact ethnicity was a source of debate. Some (not all) of these Armenian speakers, purportedly living in the vicinity of the town of Eğin
Kemaliye
Kemaliye is a both a town in and one of the nine districts of Erzincan Province in the Eastern Anatolia region of Turkey.The town is known for its historic architecture, including many Ottoman-era houses...
till the 16th century, were of Orthodox faith (instead of Gregorian
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...
as is the case for most Armenians). There were also a number of people of Greek Orthodox profession among Hamshenis
Hamshenis
The Hemshin Peoples or Hemshinli are a diverse group of people who in the past history or present have been affiliated with the Hemşin district in the province of Rize, Turkey. They are called as Hemshinli , Hamshenis, Homshentsi meaning resident of Hemshin in the relevant language...
who are considered to be converted to Greek Orthodoxy during the days of Empire of Trebizond
Empire of Trebizond
The Empire of Trebizond, founded in April 1204, was one of three Byzantine successor states of the Byzantine Empire. However, the creation of the Empire of Trebizond was not directly related to the capture of Constantinople by the Fourth Crusade, rather it had broken away from the Byzantine Empire...
.
Greek Orthodox
Eastern Orthodox Church
The Orthodox Church, officially called the Orthodox Catholic Church and commonly referred to as the Eastern Orthodox Church, is the second largest Christian denomination in the world, with an estimated 300 million adherents mainly in the countries of Belarus, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Georgia, Greece,...
in faith and Armenian
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...
in language, they were called Hayhurums (Hay
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....
meaning Armenian, hu meaning and in Armenian and Rûm
Rûm
Rûm, also Roum or Rhum , an indefinite term used at different times in the Muslim world to refer to the Balkans and Anatolia generally, and for the Byzantine Empire in particular, for the Seljuk Sultanate of Rûm in Asia Minor, and referring to Greeks living outside of Greece or non-muslims...
meaning Greek in the Mardin
Mardin
Mardin is a city in southeastern Turkey. The capital of Mardin Province, it is known for its Arabic-like architecture, and for its strategic location on a rocky mountain overlooking the plains of northern Syria.-History:...
Armenian dialect). Greek sources claimed that they were former Greek colonists who had settled in Eğin, adopting the Armenian culture and heritage which dominated the region, while Armenian sources objected this claim. The latter is considered apt by most western scholars who have studies the group.
It is believed that the vast majority of Hayhurum peoples were Armenians by ethnicity and had converted to Greek Orthodoxy during the Byzantine era. Hellenization was not an uncommon practice among Cappadocian and Anatolian Armenian populations who vied for favorable treatment during the 12th century when ethnically Greek royal families consolidated the throne of Byzantium, after centuries of Hellenized-Armenian rule. Many of the greatest Byzantine scholars, generals, clerics and emperors were in fact of Armenian heritage, and had adopted the Greek Orthodox faith out of necessity, (as in the case of emperors who had to be of the Greek Orthodox Faith) or out of cosmopolitanism.
Hayhurum had a significant presence in Adapazarı
Adapazari
Adapazarı is a city in northwestern Turkey and the capital of Sakarya Province. The province itself was originally named Adapazarı as well. Adapazarı is a part of the densely populated region of the country, known as the Marmara Region. As of 2010, the city has a population of 560,876 ...
where there had been an Armenian community since 1608. They have been included in the 1923 agreement for Exchange of Greek and Turkish Populations between Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
and Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, and settled in various parts of Greece. Precious objects of culture and else belonging to this small community is being displayed today 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...
Benaki Museum
Benaki Museum
The Benaki Museum, established and endowed in 1930 by Antonis Benakis in memory of his father Emmanuel Benakis, is housed in the Benakis family mansion in downtown Athens, Greece...
.