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ARMENIAN EVANGELICAL COMMUNITY IN URUGUAY
Vahram Hovyan
http://noravank.am/eng/articles/detail.php?ELEMENT_ID=6286
06.02.2012
Expert, "Noravank" Foundation, Center for Armenian Studies
The Evangelical Armenians take special place in the Armenian community
of 15 thousand1 in Uruguay.
Though the Armenian Evangelical community in Uruguay is smaller than
the Armenian Apostolic and Catholic communities, but it is rather
well organized and due to this it constitutes an integral part of the
Armenian community in Uruguay. One of the indicators of a high level
of organization of the community is the opening of the first Armenian
Evangelical church in Montevideo immediately after the establishment
of the community in the 1920s.
In general, the study of the Armenian Evangelical community in Uruguay
is of both academic and practical significance. From the academic point
of view the value of the study of the community is in generalization
of the Armenological and, in particular, Diasporal researches. From
the practical point of view it is important to assume and use the
resources and possibilities of the Armenian community in Uruguay for
the best of the entire Armeniancy.
The current condition of the Armenian Evangelical community in Uruguay
can be described by means of the following factors:
â~@¢the community is restricted in terms of numbers and is centralized
in the capital Montevideo; â~@¢Despite the scantiness in terms
of numbers it demonstrates tendency for growth; â~@¢It is rather
well organized which is proved by strong system of the community
organizations; â~@¢the community does not live isolated but it is
integrated with both local Armeniancy and Protestants.
Size of the Community The Armenian Evangelical community was formed
in the consequence of migration of a considerable number of the
Armenians, among which there were Evangelicals either, caused by the
Armenian Genocide. There were two waves of the Armenian immigration
to Uruguay. The first wave includes those who migrated immediately
after the Genocide, and the second wave includes those who migrated
later from the Middle East (to America and Europe). The second wave of
migration resulted in the growth of the Armenian community in Uruguay,
which in its turn caused the growth of the local Armenian Evangelical
community. This is the reason why the tendency of growth of the number
of the Armenian Evangelical community could be observed in Uruguay.
Thus, according to K. Atanalian, at the time of the establishment
of the community in 1926 (the year of establishment of the first
Armenian Evangelical church) it numbered about 6-8 families. In 1938
the community numbered 60 families. At that time the number of the
pupils at Sunday school reached 30 children2.
There is no exact statistics on the number of the Armenian Evangelical
community in Uruguay. But it is known that over the recent period the
number of the Evangelical Armenians has grown sharply3 which, however,
is conditioned by the growth of the Armenian community in general.
Nevertheless, it is a fact that Evangelical Armenians are the third
after the Apostolic and Catholic Armenians in Uruguay in terms
of number4.
Organizations The consolidated system of the organizations of the
Armenian Evangelical community in Uruguay is the proof of its being
well-organized. Today there are three organizations in the community.
They fall into three groups - clerical, social and educational.
1. The only clerical organization is the First Armenian Evangelical
Church in Uruguay which was founded in 1926 when the Armenian
Evangelical community was newly formed. In fact the church is the
first Armenian Evangelical organization in Uruguay. At first it was
functioning in the building of the local Methodist church5.
The First Armenian Evangelical church has a board of trustees. Today
the church is headed by Rev. Obed Boyadjian6.
This church has also undertaken community's organizational and
governing functions. Correspondingly, it can be mentioned that besides
being a clerical organization, it is at the same time a governing
body of the Armenian Evangelical community in Uruguay. And its head
Obed Boyadjian can be considered a head of the community in general.
2. The only social organization is Uruguay branch of the Armenian
Missionary Association of America - its District Committee. It was
founded in 1954 and it mainly deals with beneficial (humanitarian)
issues. Today the Armenian Missionary Association District Committee
is headed by Jeremias Elmasian. The branch is situated in the building
of the First Armenian Evangelical Church in Uruguay7.
3. The only educational organization is the Sunday school of the
First Armenian Evangelical Church.
Taking into consideration scantiness of the community it can be stated
that the availability of three organizational structures is rather
considerable fact. And if it is added by an obvious diversity of the
organizations in terms of types, a high organizational level of the
Armenian Evangelical community in Uruguay becomes even more prominent.
Inter-Confessional and Inter-Community Relations The Armenian
Evangelical community is not isolated. It has active relations with
both Armenian and non-Armenian communities. The Evangelical Armenians
in Uruguay has dual community belonging - national and confessional.
1. In the aspect of national belonging they are a part of the
Armeniancy of Uruguay. Friendship and not adversity or intolerance
prevails in the inter-confessional relations with the Armenian Catholic
and Apostolic communities. Anyway there is no evidence of encounters
on confessional ground. A high level of national self-consciousness,
common Christian religion, as well as common problems (mixed
marriages8, preserving of the Armenian traditions and culture,
nationwide issues9) provide serious ground for inter-confessional
friendship and cooperation. Inter-confessional friendship between
three Armenian confessional communities is based on the common goals
and directions of their activity, as "the Apostolic Armenians as well
as Evangelical and Catholic churches have not restricted themselves
to mainly clerical activity. They promote national education in all
the communities by means of their schools, press and other cultural
and educational organizations"10.
There are following indicators of integration of the Armenian
Evangelical community with the Armenian Apostolic and Catholic
communities:
â~@¢Living together - The Armenian Evangelical community is centralized
in Montevideo where many Armenians live and this means that the
Evangelical Armenians live and act side by side with the Apostolic
and Catholic Armenians.
â~@¢Activity of the organizations - The activity of the Armenian
Evangelical organizations are not restricted only to the Armenian
Evangelical community. It covers the whole Armenian community, thus
including Apostolic and Catholic Armenians either.
2. As for the confessional belonging the Armenian Evangelical
community in Uruguay constitutes a part of the Evangelical community
of that country. The later is the biggest confessional minority in
Uruguay. According to different estimations 7-10% of population is
Protestants11. They have many various organizations. So the cooperation
of the Armenian Evangelical community of Uruguay with other Protestant
churches in the country is important for both strengthening of the
Armenian Evangelical community and increasing of the role of the
Armeniancy in Uruguay in general12.
Being a part of the Protestant community of Uruguay, the Armenian
Evangelicals are closely integrated with other protestant communities,
and it is proved by the fact that the Armenian Evangelical community
has become a member of the Federation of Evangelical Churches of
Uruguay, established in 195613.
The Armenian Evangelical community is also a member of the Council
of Christian Churches14 established in 1998 and this proves that
the Armenian Evangelical community is integrated not only into the
Protestant community of Uruguay but also into the Christian community
in general.
Thus, despite its scantiness, the Armenian Evangelical community of
Uruguay stands out for the high level of organization and viability due
to the activity of its organizations, integration with the Apostolic
Armenian, Catholic Armenian as well as other Protestant and Christian
communities in general.
1 Õ~@Õ¡Õµ Õ½O~CÕµÕ¸O~BÕ¼O~D Õ°Õ¡Õ¶O~@Õ¡Õ£Õ"Õ¿Õ¡O~@Õ¡Õ¶, ÔµO~@O~GÕ¡Õ¶,
2003, p. 613O~I
2 Ô¿.Õ~J. Ô±Õ¿Õ¡Õ¶Õ¡Õ¬Õ¥Õ¡Õ¶, Õ...Õ¸O~BÕ·Õ¡O~@Õ±Õ¡Õ¶ Õ°Õ¡Õµ
Õ¡O~BÕ¥Õ¿Õ¡O~@Õ¡Õ¶Õ¡Õ¯Õ¡Õ¶Õ¡O~A Õ¥O~B Õ¡O~BÕ¥Õ¿Õ¡O~@Õ¡Õ¶Õ¡Õ¯Õ¡Õ¶
Õ¥Õ¯Õ¥Õ²Õ¥O~AO~BÕ¸Õµ, Õ-O~@Õ¥Õ¦Õ¶Õ¸, 1952, p. 463-465O~I
3 Ð~PÑ~@ман Ð~PкопÑ~Oн, Ð~PÑ~@мÑ~Oне в УÑ~@Ñ~Cгвае,
"Ð~]оев ковÑ~Gег", 2010, маÑ~@Ñ~B, â~D- 3.
4 Ibid.
5 Ô¿.Õ~J. Ô±Õ¿Õ¡Õ¶Õ¡Õ¬Õ¥Õ¡Õ¶, Õ¶Õ·Õ¾. Õ¡Õ·Õ., p. 463O~I
6 AMAA Directory 2011: Armenian Evangelical Churches, Institutions,
Organizations, Pastors and Christian Workers Worldwide, p. 18
http://www.amaa.org/Directory%20for%20website.pdf
7 Ibid.
8 In the Armenian community of Uruguay, as well as in other Armenian
communities in South America, mixed marriages are widespread.
According to different estimations 60% of marriages in the Armenian
community in Uruguay are mixed,
9 Uruguay was the first country to recognize the Armenian Genocide.
The Armenian community in Uruguay greatly contributed to that.
10 http://www.lib.mindiaspora.am/2460.html
11 See: Protestantism by country
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protestantism_by_country;
Ð~UкаÑ~BеÑ~@ина ТеÑ~Aемникова,
Ð~\Ñ~K идем по УÑ~@Ñ~CгваÑ~N
http://www.vestikavkaza.ru/analytics/politika/42791.html
12 Õ~O.Õ~BÕ¡Õ¶Õ¡Õ¬Õ¡Õ¶ÕµÕ¡Õ¶, Õ~@Õ¡O~@Õ¡Õ¾Õ¡ÕµÕ"Õ¶ Ô±Õ´Õ¥O~@Õ"Õ¯Õ¡ÕµÕ"
Õ°Õ¡Õµ Õ¢Õ¸Õ²Õ¸O~DÕ¡Õ¯Õ¡Õ¶ Õ°Õ¡Õ´Õ¡ÕµÕ¶O~DÕ¶Õ¥O~@Õ¨, Ô³Õ¬Õ¸Õ¢Õ¸O~BÕ½
Ô±Õ¦Õ£Õ¡ÕµÕ"Õ¶ Õ¡Õ¶Õ¾Õ¿Õ¡Õ¶Õ£Õ¸O~BÕ©ÕµÕ¸O~BÕ¶, Õ©Õ"Õ¾ 2, 2011Õ©.,
p. 45:
13 See: Federation of Evangelical Churches of Uruguay
http://www.oikoumene.org/en/member-churches/regions/latin-america/uruguay/fieu.html?print=1%22%20onfocus%3D%22blurLink%28thi s%29%3B%22%20onfocus%3D%22blurLink%28this%29%3Bpri nt%3D1%22%20onfocus%3D%22blurLink%28this%29%3B%22% 20onfocus%3D%22blurLink%28this%29%3B
14 See: Council of Christian Churches of Uruguay
http://www.oikoumene.org/en/member-churches/regions/latin-america/uruguay/cicu.html?print=1%22%20onfocus%3D%22blurLink%28thi s%29%3B%22%20onfocus%3D%22blurLink%28this%29%3Bpri nt%3D1%22%20onfocus%3D%22blurLink%28this%29%3B%22% 20onfocus%3D%22blurLink%28this%29%3B
"Globus National Security", #1, 2012
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Vahram Hovyan
http://noravank.am/eng/articles/detail.php?ELEMENT_ID=6286
06.02.2012
Expert, "Noravank" Foundation, Center for Armenian Studies
The Evangelical Armenians take special place in the Armenian community
of 15 thousand1 in Uruguay.
Though the Armenian Evangelical community in Uruguay is smaller than
the Armenian Apostolic and Catholic communities, but it is rather
well organized and due to this it constitutes an integral part of the
Armenian community in Uruguay. One of the indicators of a high level
of organization of the community is the opening of the first Armenian
Evangelical church in Montevideo immediately after the establishment
of the community in the 1920s.
In general, the study of the Armenian Evangelical community in Uruguay
is of both academic and practical significance. From the academic point
of view the value of the study of the community is in generalization
of the Armenological and, in particular, Diasporal researches. From
the practical point of view it is important to assume and use the
resources and possibilities of the Armenian community in Uruguay for
the best of the entire Armeniancy.
The current condition of the Armenian Evangelical community in Uruguay
can be described by means of the following factors:
â~@¢the community is restricted in terms of numbers and is centralized
in the capital Montevideo; â~@¢Despite the scantiness in terms
of numbers it demonstrates tendency for growth; â~@¢It is rather
well organized which is proved by strong system of the community
organizations; â~@¢the community does not live isolated but it is
integrated with both local Armeniancy and Protestants.
Size of the Community The Armenian Evangelical community was formed
in the consequence of migration of a considerable number of the
Armenians, among which there were Evangelicals either, caused by the
Armenian Genocide. There were two waves of the Armenian immigration
to Uruguay. The first wave includes those who migrated immediately
after the Genocide, and the second wave includes those who migrated
later from the Middle East (to America and Europe). The second wave of
migration resulted in the growth of the Armenian community in Uruguay,
which in its turn caused the growth of the local Armenian Evangelical
community. This is the reason why the tendency of growth of the number
of the Armenian Evangelical community could be observed in Uruguay.
Thus, according to K. Atanalian, at the time of the establishment
of the community in 1926 (the year of establishment of the first
Armenian Evangelical church) it numbered about 6-8 families. In 1938
the community numbered 60 families. At that time the number of the
pupils at Sunday school reached 30 children2.
There is no exact statistics on the number of the Armenian Evangelical
community in Uruguay. But it is known that over the recent period the
number of the Evangelical Armenians has grown sharply3 which, however,
is conditioned by the growth of the Armenian community in general.
Nevertheless, it is a fact that Evangelical Armenians are the third
after the Apostolic and Catholic Armenians in Uruguay in terms
of number4.
Organizations The consolidated system of the organizations of the
Armenian Evangelical community in Uruguay is the proof of its being
well-organized. Today there are three organizations in the community.
They fall into three groups - clerical, social and educational.
1. The only clerical organization is the First Armenian Evangelical
Church in Uruguay which was founded in 1926 when the Armenian
Evangelical community was newly formed. In fact the church is the
first Armenian Evangelical organization in Uruguay. At first it was
functioning in the building of the local Methodist church5.
The First Armenian Evangelical church has a board of trustees. Today
the church is headed by Rev. Obed Boyadjian6.
This church has also undertaken community's organizational and
governing functions. Correspondingly, it can be mentioned that besides
being a clerical organization, it is at the same time a governing
body of the Armenian Evangelical community in Uruguay. And its head
Obed Boyadjian can be considered a head of the community in general.
2. The only social organization is Uruguay branch of the Armenian
Missionary Association of America - its District Committee. It was
founded in 1954 and it mainly deals with beneficial (humanitarian)
issues. Today the Armenian Missionary Association District Committee
is headed by Jeremias Elmasian. The branch is situated in the building
of the First Armenian Evangelical Church in Uruguay7.
3. The only educational organization is the Sunday school of the
First Armenian Evangelical Church.
Taking into consideration scantiness of the community it can be stated
that the availability of three organizational structures is rather
considerable fact. And if it is added by an obvious diversity of the
organizations in terms of types, a high organizational level of the
Armenian Evangelical community in Uruguay becomes even more prominent.
Inter-Confessional and Inter-Community Relations The Armenian
Evangelical community is not isolated. It has active relations with
both Armenian and non-Armenian communities. The Evangelical Armenians
in Uruguay has dual community belonging - national and confessional.
1. In the aspect of national belonging they are a part of the
Armeniancy of Uruguay. Friendship and not adversity or intolerance
prevails in the inter-confessional relations with the Armenian Catholic
and Apostolic communities. Anyway there is no evidence of encounters
on confessional ground. A high level of national self-consciousness,
common Christian religion, as well as common problems (mixed
marriages8, preserving of the Armenian traditions and culture,
nationwide issues9) provide serious ground for inter-confessional
friendship and cooperation. Inter-confessional friendship between
three Armenian confessional communities is based on the common goals
and directions of their activity, as "the Apostolic Armenians as well
as Evangelical and Catholic churches have not restricted themselves
to mainly clerical activity. They promote national education in all
the communities by means of their schools, press and other cultural
and educational organizations"10.
There are following indicators of integration of the Armenian
Evangelical community with the Armenian Apostolic and Catholic
communities:
â~@¢Living together - The Armenian Evangelical community is centralized
in Montevideo where many Armenians live and this means that the
Evangelical Armenians live and act side by side with the Apostolic
and Catholic Armenians.
â~@¢Activity of the organizations - The activity of the Armenian
Evangelical organizations are not restricted only to the Armenian
Evangelical community. It covers the whole Armenian community, thus
including Apostolic and Catholic Armenians either.
2. As for the confessional belonging the Armenian Evangelical
community in Uruguay constitutes a part of the Evangelical community
of that country. The later is the biggest confessional minority in
Uruguay. According to different estimations 7-10% of population is
Protestants11. They have many various organizations. So the cooperation
of the Armenian Evangelical community of Uruguay with other Protestant
churches in the country is important for both strengthening of the
Armenian Evangelical community and increasing of the role of the
Armeniancy in Uruguay in general12.
Being a part of the Protestant community of Uruguay, the Armenian
Evangelicals are closely integrated with other protestant communities,
and it is proved by the fact that the Armenian Evangelical community
has become a member of the Federation of Evangelical Churches of
Uruguay, established in 195613.
The Armenian Evangelical community is also a member of the Council
of Christian Churches14 established in 1998 and this proves that
the Armenian Evangelical community is integrated not only into the
Protestant community of Uruguay but also into the Christian community
in general.
Thus, despite its scantiness, the Armenian Evangelical community of
Uruguay stands out for the high level of organization and viability due
to the activity of its organizations, integration with the Apostolic
Armenian, Catholic Armenian as well as other Protestant and Christian
communities in general.
1 Õ~@Õ¡Õµ Õ½O~CÕµÕ¸O~BÕ¼O~D Õ°Õ¡Õ¶O~@Õ¡Õ£Õ"Õ¿Õ¡O~@Õ¡Õ¶, ÔµO~@O~GÕ¡Õ¶,
2003, p. 613O~I
2 Ô¿.Õ~J. Ô±Õ¿Õ¡Õ¶Õ¡Õ¬Õ¥Õ¡Õ¶, Õ...Õ¸O~BÕ·Õ¡O~@Õ±Õ¡Õ¶ Õ°Õ¡Õµ
Õ¡O~BÕ¥Õ¿Õ¡O~@Õ¡Õ¶Õ¡Õ¯Õ¡Õ¶Õ¡O~A Õ¥O~B Õ¡O~BÕ¥Õ¿Õ¡O~@Õ¡Õ¶Õ¡Õ¯Õ¡Õ¶
Õ¥Õ¯Õ¥Õ²Õ¥O~AO~BÕ¸Õµ, Õ-O~@Õ¥Õ¦Õ¶Õ¸, 1952, p. 463-465O~I
3 Ð~PÑ~@ман Ð~PкопÑ~Oн, Ð~PÑ~@мÑ~Oне в УÑ~@Ñ~Cгвае,
"Ð~]оев ковÑ~Gег", 2010, маÑ~@Ñ~B, â~D- 3.
4 Ibid.
5 Ô¿.Õ~J. Ô±Õ¿Õ¡Õ¶Õ¡Õ¬Õ¥Õ¡Õ¶, Õ¶Õ·Õ¾. Õ¡Õ·Õ., p. 463O~I
6 AMAA Directory 2011: Armenian Evangelical Churches, Institutions,
Organizations, Pastors and Christian Workers Worldwide, p. 18
http://www.amaa.org/Directory%20for%20website.pdf
7 Ibid.
8 In the Armenian community of Uruguay, as well as in other Armenian
communities in South America, mixed marriages are widespread.
According to different estimations 60% of marriages in the Armenian
community in Uruguay are mixed,
9 Uruguay was the first country to recognize the Armenian Genocide.
The Armenian community in Uruguay greatly contributed to that.
10 http://www.lib.mindiaspora.am/2460.html
11 See: Protestantism by country
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protestantism_by_country;
Ð~UкаÑ~BеÑ~@ина ТеÑ~Aемникова,
Ð~\Ñ~K идем по УÑ~@Ñ~CгваÑ~N
http://www.vestikavkaza.ru/analytics/politika/42791.html
12 Õ~O.Õ~BÕ¡Õ¶Õ¡Õ¬Õ¡Õ¶ÕµÕ¡Õ¶, Õ~@Õ¡O~@Õ¡Õ¾Õ¡ÕµÕ"Õ¶ Ô±Õ´Õ¥O~@Õ"Õ¯Õ¡ÕµÕ"
Õ°Õ¡Õµ Õ¢Õ¸Õ²Õ¸O~DÕ¡Õ¯Õ¡Õ¶ Õ°Õ¡Õ´Õ¡ÕµÕ¶O~DÕ¶Õ¥O~@Õ¨, Ô³Õ¬Õ¸Õ¢Õ¸O~BÕ½
Ô±Õ¦Õ£Õ¡ÕµÕ"Õ¶ Õ¡Õ¶Õ¾Õ¿Õ¡Õ¶Õ£Õ¸O~BÕ©ÕµÕ¸O~BÕ¶, Õ©Õ"Õ¾ 2, 2011Õ©.,
p. 45:
13 See: Federation of Evangelical Churches of Uruguay
http://www.oikoumene.org/en/member-churches/regions/latin-america/uruguay/fieu.html?print=1%22%20onfocus%3D%22blurLink%28thi s%29%3B%22%20onfocus%3D%22blurLink%28this%29%3Bpri nt%3D1%22%20onfocus%3D%22blurLink%28this%29%3B%22% 20onfocus%3D%22blurLink%28this%29%3B
14 See: Council of Christian Churches of Uruguay
http://www.oikoumene.org/en/member-churches/regions/latin-america/uruguay/cicu.html?print=1%22%20onfocus%3D%22blurLink%28thi s%29%3B%22%20onfocus%3D%22blurLink%28this%29%3Bpri nt%3D1%22%20onfocus%3D%22blurLink%28this%29%3B%22% 20onfocus%3D%22blurLink%28this%29%3B
"Globus National Security", #1, 2012
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress