Greek in Armenia
Photo Source:
Anonymous
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Map Source:
Temo Blumgardt - Wikimedia
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| People Name: | Greek |
| Country: | Armenia |
| 10/40 Window: | No |
| Population: | 800 |
| World Population: | 10,378,900 |
| Primary Language: | Greek |
| Primary Religion: | Christianity |
| Christian Adherents: | 90.00 % |
| Evangelicals: | 0.50 % |
| Scripture: | Complete Bible |
| Ministry Resources: | Yes |
| Jesus Film: | Yes |
| Audio Recordings: | Yes |
| People Cluster: | Greek |
| Affinity Bloc: | Eurasian Peoples |
| Progress Level: |
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Introduction / History
Greeks are the descendants of the migrants from the Balkan Peninsula who came to Russia partly in the eighteenth century but mostly in the nineteenth century. This migration was the result of the political situation in the Balkans and the Russian-Turkish wars, leading to considerable movement of the population. The Christian population, oppressed and mercilessly robbed by the government of the Ottoman empire, saw in Russia their liberator from the centuries-old Turkish oppression. They left their homes and followed the Russian army in masses.
In the Russian-Turkish War of 1768-1774, the Greek rebels from Greece fought on the Russian side, and after the war, a considerable part of them settled in the Crimea. By the beginning of the nineteenth century, the Greek settlements had lost their military importance. The Greeks who lived in the steppe districts in the Crimea and on the coast used the Tatar language (they were called Greeks-Tatars). The other part, which lived in the mountain regions, preserved their own language, which was a dialect of the modern Greek language. This group was called "Greeks-Hellens."
There is a Greek diaspora in many countries, including Armenia. That diaspora has grown smaller after the demise of the USSR in 1991. Some went to other former Soviet nations while others migrated to Greece, the land of their ancestors. Those who remain are likely to live along Armenia s northern border with Georgia. Greeks in Armenia speak the Pontic dialect of Greek along with Russian and Armenian.
What Are Their Lives Like?
Ethnic Greeks in Armenia typically live in the same locations as the Armenian majority. Both ethnic groups share hostility towards the Turks, which began during the Ottoman Empire.
What Are Their Beliefs?
Their religion is Christian Orthodoxy. They are religious but lack understanding of the gospel and why they need a close relationship with the living God.
What Are Their Needs?
Greeks in Albania need to want Christ so much they will put him first in their lives no matter what the cost.
Prayer Points
Pray for the Lord to raise up and thrust out Greek disciples who will make more disciples in Armenia.
Pray for Armenia s Greek community to hunger for spiritual meat and find that in Jesus Christ.