Armenian in Georgia

Introduction / History

Throughout history, Armenia has been a battlefield for many invaders and contending empires and a bridge for many cultures and civilizations. During the past 2,700 years, Armenia has been conquered by the Persian Empire, Alexander the Great, the Roman Empire, the Byzantines, Arabs, Mongols, Tatars, Ottomans, Persians and Russians. Armenian kingdoms, principalities, and even a short-lived empire (95-55 B.C.) survived and thrived for some 1,700 years. Under various kings and princes, the Armenians developed a sophisticated culture, original architecture, and their own alphabet.

Armenian merchants have a long history in Tbilisi, the Georgian capital, that dates back to the 1100s. Starting in the 1700s, Armenian merchants and jewelers helped build trading houses, cultural centers, churches and schools in Georgia. Armenians left their mark in architecture, especially for mansions and churches.

The 1905 Russian Revolution and the 1908 Young Turk Revolution raised the hopes of the Armenians for reform and an opportunity to build a homeland in historical Armenia. These hopes were dashed as the Ottoman and the Russian Empires fought each other during World War I. A dark hour of Armenian history is the Armenian genocide, which started on April 24, 1915. Some 1,750,000 Armenians were deported into Syria and Mesopotamia by the Ottoman authorities. Subject to famine, disease, and systematic massacres, most of them perished.

Soon after, there was the 1917 Russian Revolution, which eventually engulfed Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. There was a border dispute between Armenia and Georgia in 1918. In the summer of 1920, Russia s Red Army took control of the region. In Soviet Georgia, Armenians were relatively prosperous, though their churches and cultural centers were taken by the Russian communists.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Despite having a common border for 1700s years, Armenians and Georgians have had good relations, especially after the demise of the USSR in 1991.

What Are Their Beliefs?

In 301 AD, during the rule of King Dirtad III, Armenia became the world's first Christian nation. A Christian monk, commonly known as Krikor Lusavorich or St. Gregory the Illuminator, cured the king of a disease. After this event, King Dirtad III was baptized and accepted Christianity as Armenia's official state religion. Before this, two disciples had brought Christianity to Armenia, St. Thaddeus and St. Bartholomew.

What Are Their Needs?

The traumatizing experience of being expelled from their homeland and the historic genocide made a deep impression on Armenians. Many have trouble forgiving the Turks after over 100 years. This impedes their spiritual lives. Those in Lebanon also have to deal with the trauma of sporadic wars in the region that affects their lives and their businesses.

Prayer Points

Pray for healing for Armenians and for the ability to integrate into their respective diaspora communities.
Pray for the Armenians in the diaspora to hold on to their Christian faith and to have a personal experience with Jesus Christ.
Pray for peace; this is what Armenia needs most of all.
Pray that God would bring revelation of Christianity as a spiritual relationship rather than a call to nationalism.

Text Source:   Joshua Project