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THE ARMENIANS: UNSUNG SUPPORTER OF HELLENISM
Hellenic News of America Feb 12 2013
Written by aphrodite Tuesday, 12 February 2013 15:09
By Catherine Tsounis
"The Armenians are our brothers," said Mr. Constantine Parthenis my
Modern Greek instructor at St. Demetrios Greek American School in
1950's Astoria, New York. Dr. Emory, a medieval historian at Queens
College, explained in a 1969 undergraduate class that "the Armenians
are not recognized significantly in the Byzantine Empire."
Throughout the years of research and readings of the former Greek
Orthodox Archdiocese of North and South America and current Greek
Orthodox Archdiocese of America, the Armenian contribution to Hellenism
is not explored.
The late Very Rev. Demetrios Frangos, an immigrant from Imvros
(Gokceada), said to my parents, his parishioners from St.
Demetrios Church of Astoria, that the Byzantine Empire was
multi-cultural. "The United States encompasses persons of many
nationalities and races. All are united under the constitution of
America and the universal English language," he explained. "It's
forerunner was the Byzantine Empire," he said. "Persons of many
nationalities and races were united under the Greek language,
civilization and Orthodox faith."
The Oath of Alexander the Great od Macedon states ..." THE BEST WILL
GOVERN REGARDLESS OF THEIR RACE. UNLIKE THE NARROWMINDED, I MAKE NO
DISTINCTION BETWEEN GREEKS AND BARBARIANS. THE ORIGIN OF CITIZENS,
OR THE RACE INTO WHICH THEY WERE BORN, IS OF NO CONCERN TO ME. I HAVE
ONLY ONE CRITERION BY WHICH TO DISTINGUISH THEM VIRTUE....
THE ORIGIN OF CITIZENS, OR THE RACE INTO WHICH THEY WERE BORN, IS OF
NO CONCERN TO ME. I HAVE ONLY ONE CRITERION BY WHICH TO DISTINGUISH
THEM VIRTUE...WHETHER YOU ARE WHITE OR DARK-SKINNED. AND I SHOULD
LIKE YOU NOT SIMPLY TO BE SUBJECTS OF MY COMMONWEALTH." The Armenians
played a major role in the perpetuation of an empire that lasted over
one thousand years.
"Research and wrote about the Armenians," said Tony Barsamian. His
inspiration triggered this article. I am dedicating it to my friends:
Takoumie Pidedjian, a health care professional whose brother-in-law
received the highest honor from the Armenian government; Catherine
Harper, educator; Madeline Najjarian, Lemon Tree beautician in Bayside
and Mark.
Dr. Peter Charanis of Rudgers University said "the important
role played in the history of Byzantium by that talented
minority, the Armenians, has been generally unrecognized,"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Byzantine_Armenia. "The People of Ar"
website (states that "due to centuries of foreign domination, much
of Armenian history has been neglected...the influence Armenians had
on the Byzantine Empire has been swept under the rug by the Ottomans
and later the Soviets. Armenia was only in part a vessel of Byzantium.
Many Armenians became successful in the Byzantine Empire. From
bishops, architects, important military figures and even Emperors,
Armenians were represented in all walks of Byzantine life. In fact,
one out of five byzantine emperors and empresses were ethnically full
or in part Armenian."
http://peopleofar.wordpress.com/2011/10/24/armenians-of-byzantium-part-1/
Byzantine Armenia in
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Byzantine_Armeniadescribes the Armenian
part of the Empire, depending on the degree of control the Byzantines
had over Armenia. "Armenians became successful in the Byzantine
Empire. About ten Byzantine emperors were either ethnically Armenian,
half Armenian of possibly Armenians, although culturally Greek. The
best example of this is Emperor Heraclius, whose father was Armenian
and mother Cappadocian. Emperor Heraclius began the Heraclean
dynasty (610-717 A.D.). The Akathistos Hymn sung during Orthodox Lent
commemorates his victory and saving of Constantinople with the help
of Our Lady, Virgin Mary.
"Basil 1 is another example of an Armenian beginning a dynasty,"
according http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macedonian_dynasty.
The greatness of his descendant, Basil II, the Bulgar Slayer, has
been immortalized in every generation that learns Modern Greek history.
"Basil became one of the strongest Byzantine
emperors, winning territory in the Balkans,
Mesopotamia, Armenia, and Georgia," according to
http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Basil+II+The+Bulgar-Slayer.
"He was noted for his victory (1014) in the war with Bulgaria, which
ended with his blinding all the soldiers in the defeated Bulgarian
army. He increased his domestic authority by attacking the landed
interests of the military aristocracy and of the church."
The Armenian military power, to some scholars, was the basis of the
stability and longevity of Byzantium. A strong army was needed. Armenia
was the source. "From the 5th century forwards, the Armenians were
regarded as the main constituent of the Byzantine army," states
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Byzantine_Armenia.
"Procopius recounts the 'Scholari', palace guards of the Emperor, were
selected from among the bravest...During the 9th and 10th centuries,
which might have been the greatest participation of the Armenians
in the Byzantine army...Another Byzantine historian praises the
decisive role which the Armenian infantry played in the victories of
the Byzantine emperors Nicephorus Phocas and John Tsimisches....There
was a strong absence and ignorance of government and public interest
and at the same time an equally large interest in achieving personal
distinction and a loyalty towards their masters and leaders."
In the article, "Armenia, Byzantium, and the Byzantine Armenians"
(http://www.looys.net/byz_arm.html), "another example of the impact
of Armenians within the Byzantine Empire is the Great Church known
as Hagia Sophia. As Rummel explains, 'After the great earthquake of
October 25, A.D. 989, which ruined the great dome of Hagia Sophia,
the Byzantine emperor Basil II asked for the Armenian architect Trdat
(or Tiridates), creator of the great churches of Ani and Agine,
to repair the dome. The magnitude of the destruction in the church
caused reconstruction to last six years. The church was re-opened on
May 13, 994.' The magnificent reconstructed dome designed by Trdat
in the tenth century remains aloft the "Great Church" to this day."
Dr. Peter Charanis scholarship is used as the basis of this
article. He was a Greek-American Byzantine scholar, an immigrant from
Lemnos, Greece. He was the Voorhees Professor of History at Rutgers
University. Dr. Charanis was long associated with the Dumbarton Oaks
research library. He believes "these people (Armenians) appear,
of course, thoroughly Hellenized. Indeed it would be preposterous
to call Photios (a patriarch) anything but a Greek. Yet it may be
asked whether their Hellenization was not unaffected by their original
background, whether in being absorbed they did not modify the culture
which absorbed them."
Dr. Charanis quotes "a later oriental source in describing the spread
of the Armenians into the Byzantine empire in the tenth century adds
that in all the wars waged by the Romans "the foot soldiers of the
Armenians marched and they aided them greatly" (98).
There is nothing in this statement indicating the relative numerical
strength of the Armenian element in the Byzantine army, but the
statement does attribute to this element a role of major importance.
The Byzantine army in the tenth century as in all other centuries
to the [33] very end of the empire was composed of different
peoples....Nevertheless, as one examines the various campaigns of
the Byzantine forces in the tenth century, one is struck by the ever
presence of the Armenian element. Armenians participated in every
major campaign. ...It was in the campaigns against the Arabs along
the eastern frontiers, however, that the Armenian contingents in the
Byzantine forces stand out most prominently. ...This prominence of the
Armenian element in the forces of Byzantium along the eastern frontiers
was no doubt the basis of the observation of the modern scholar which
we have tried to analyze above that the Armenian (i.e., of Armenian
origin) and the Armenian-speaking element must have been predominant
in the Byzantine army from the ninth century to the Crusades. ...~E
The role of the Armenians in the political and military life of the
Byzantine Empire, in the late ninth, tenth, and eleventh centuries
appears still more impressive when one examines the leadership which
guided the empire during this period. For virtually every major figure
in that leadership was of Armenian origin.
First of all, there is the dynasty, the most brilliant in the history
of the empire. The imperial house which ruled the state throughout this
period is known as the Macedonian dynasty, but the term Macedonian
as used here has no ethnic connotations. It refers rather to the
place of the birth of Basil I, the founder of the dynasty. Basil
was an Armenian, born in Macedonia where numerous Armenians had been
settled..... That Basil I, the founder of the most brilliant dynasty of
the Byzantine Empire, was indeed Armenian and Armenian on both sides,
can be regarded as an established fact (112).
... Thus, every emperor who sat on the Byzantine throne from the
accession of Basil I to the death of Basil II (867--1025) was of
Armenian or partially Armenian origin. But besides the emperors
there were many [40] others among the military and political
leaders of Byzantium during this period who were Armenians or of
Armenian descent. Included among these were some of the ablest
military commanders and administrative functionaries in the history
of Byzantium. Some of these commanders and officials belonged to
families of Armenian origin long established in the empire; others
were new arrivals.
Dr. Charanis concludes "the defeat of the Byzantine army by the Seljuks
at the battle of Mentzikert in 1071 coupled with the civil wars which
followed in Byzantium resulted in the definite loss by the empire of
eastern and central Asia Minor. This loss included, of course, the
regions inhabited by the Armenians..... It may be said, therefore,
that the battle of Mentzikert and the subsequent loss by the empire
of eastern and central Asia Minor brought to an end the great role
which, beginning with the end of the sixth century, the Armenians
had played in the political and military life of the empire.
But Armenians continued to live in the empire down to its very end
(209).
For something like five hundred years, Armenians played an
important role in the political, military and administrative life
of the Byzantine Empire. They served as soldiers and officers, as
administrators and emperors. In the early part of this period during
the seventh and eighth centuries, when the empire was fighting for its
very existence, they contributed greatly in turning back its enemies.
But particularly great was their role in the ninth and tenth centuries
when as soldiers and officers, administrators and emperors they
dominated the social, military and political life of the empire and
were largely responsible for its greatness. So dominant indeed was
their role during this period that one may refer to the Byzantine
empire of these two centuries as Graeco-Armenian; 'Graeco', because as
always, its civilization was Greek, 'Armenian', because the element
which directed its destinies and provided the greater part of the
forces for its defense was largely Armenian or of Armenian origin. It
was a role, moreover, of world-wide historical significance for it
was during this period that the empire achieved its greatest success,
when its armies triumphed everywhere, its missionaries spread the
gospel and with it civilization among the southeastern Slavs, and
its scholars resurrected Greek antiquity, thus making possible the
preservation of its literature. Herein lies perhaps the most important
part of the legacy of the Armenians to civilization. But while all
this may be true, the point should be made and made with emphasis that
the Armenians in Byzantium who furnished it with its leadership were
thoroughly integrated into its political and military life, identified
themselves with its interest and adopted the principal features of
its culture. In brief, like many other elements of different racial
origins, as, for instance, Saracens, Slavs and Turks, who had a similar
experience, they became Byzantines." The meaning of the phrase "the
Armenians are our brothers," is more alive today through sources on
the internet.
Photo 1 - Basil II, The Bulgar Slayer.
Photo 2- Map of Byzantine Armenia.
http://www.hellenicnews.com/index.php/culture/item/478-the-armenians-unsung-supporter-of-hellenism
Hellenic News of America Feb 12 2013
Written by aphrodite Tuesday, 12 February 2013 15:09
By Catherine Tsounis
"The Armenians are our brothers," said Mr. Constantine Parthenis my
Modern Greek instructor at St. Demetrios Greek American School in
1950's Astoria, New York. Dr. Emory, a medieval historian at Queens
College, explained in a 1969 undergraduate class that "the Armenians
are not recognized significantly in the Byzantine Empire."
Throughout the years of research and readings of the former Greek
Orthodox Archdiocese of North and South America and current Greek
Orthodox Archdiocese of America, the Armenian contribution to Hellenism
is not explored.
The late Very Rev. Demetrios Frangos, an immigrant from Imvros
(Gokceada), said to my parents, his parishioners from St.
Demetrios Church of Astoria, that the Byzantine Empire was
multi-cultural. "The United States encompasses persons of many
nationalities and races. All are united under the constitution of
America and the universal English language," he explained. "It's
forerunner was the Byzantine Empire," he said. "Persons of many
nationalities and races were united under the Greek language,
civilization and Orthodox faith."
The Oath of Alexander the Great od Macedon states ..." THE BEST WILL
GOVERN REGARDLESS OF THEIR RACE. UNLIKE THE NARROWMINDED, I MAKE NO
DISTINCTION BETWEEN GREEKS AND BARBARIANS. THE ORIGIN OF CITIZENS,
OR THE RACE INTO WHICH THEY WERE BORN, IS OF NO CONCERN TO ME. I HAVE
ONLY ONE CRITERION BY WHICH TO DISTINGUISH THEM VIRTUE....
THE ORIGIN OF CITIZENS, OR THE RACE INTO WHICH THEY WERE BORN, IS OF
NO CONCERN TO ME. I HAVE ONLY ONE CRITERION BY WHICH TO DISTINGUISH
THEM VIRTUE...WHETHER YOU ARE WHITE OR DARK-SKINNED. AND I SHOULD
LIKE YOU NOT SIMPLY TO BE SUBJECTS OF MY COMMONWEALTH." The Armenians
played a major role in the perpetuation of an empire that lasted over
one thousand years.
"Research and wrote about the Armenians," said Tony Barsamian. His
inspiration triggered this article. I am dedicating it to my friends:
Takoumie Pidedjian, a health care professional whose brother-in-law
received the highest honor from the Armenian government; Catherine
Harper, educator; Madeline Najjarian, Lemon Tree beautician in Bayside
and Mark.
Dr. Peter Charanis of Rudgers University said "the important
role played in the history of Byzantium by that talented
minority, the Armenians, has been generally unrecognized,"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Byzantine_Armenia. "The People of Ar"
website (states that "due to centuries of foreign domination, much
of Armenian history has been neglected...the influence Armenians had
on the Byzantine Empire has been swept under the rug by the Ottomans
and later the Soviets. Armenia was only in part a vessel of Byzantium.
Many Armenians became successful in the Byzantine Empire. From
bishops, architects, important military figures and even Emperors,
Armenians were represented in all walks of Byzantine life. In fact,
one out of five byzantine emperors and empresses were ethnically full
or in part Armenian."
http://peopleofar.wordpress.com/2011/10/24/armenians-of-byzantium-part-1/
Byzantine Armenia in
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Byzantine_Armeniadescribes the Armenian
part of the Empire, depending on the degree of control the Byzantines
had over Armenia. "Armenians became successful in the Byzantine
Empire. About ten Byzantine emperors were either ethnically Armenian,
half Armenian of possibly Armenians, although culturally Greek. The
best example of this is Emperor Heraclius, whose father was Armenian
and mother Cappadocian. Emperor Heraclius began the Heraclean
dynasty (610-717 A.D.). The Akathistos Hymn sung during Orthodox Lent
commemorates his victory and saving of Constantinople with the help
of Our Lady, Virgin Mary.
"Basil 1 is another example of an Armenian beginning a dynasty,"
according http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macedonian_dynasty.
The greatness of his descendant, Basil II, the Bulgar Slayer, has
been immortalized in every generation that learns Modern Greek history.
"Basil became one of the strongest Byzantine
emperors, winning territory in the Balkans,
Mesopotamia, Armenia, and Georgia," according to
http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Basil+II+The+Bulgar-Slayer.
"He was noted for his victory (1014) in the war with Bulgaria, which
ended with his blinding all the soldiers in the defeated Bulgarian
army. He increased his domestic authority by attacking the landed
interests of the military aristocracy and of the church."
The Armenian military power, to some scholars, was the basis of the
stability and longevity of Byzantium. A strong army was needed. Armenia
was the source. "From the 5th century forwards, the Armenians were
regarded as the main constituent of the Byzantine army," states
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Byzantine_Armenia.
"Procopius recounts the 'Scholari', palace guards of the Emperor, were
selected from among the bravest...During the 9th and 10th centuries,
which might have been the greatest participation of the Armenians
in the Byzantine army...Another Byzantine historian praises the
decisive role which the Armenian infantry played in the victories of
the Byzantine emperors Nicephorus Phocas and John Tsimisches....There
was a strong absence and ignorance of government and public interest
and at the same time an equally large interest in achieving personal
distinction and a loyalty towards their masters and leaders."
In the article, "Armenia, Byzantium, and the Byzantine Armenians"
(http://www.looys.net/byz_arm.html), "another example of the impact
of Armenians within the Byzantine Empire is the Great Church known
as Hagia Sophia. As Rummel explains, 'After the great earthquake of
October 25, A.D. 989, which ruined the great dome of Hagia Sophia,
the Byzantine emperor Basil II asked for the Armenian architect Trdat
(or Tiridates), creator of the great churches of Ani and Agine,
to repair the dome. The magnitude of the destruction in the church
caused reconstruction to last six years. The church was re-opened on
May 13, 994.' The magnificent reconstructed dome designed by Trdat
in the tenth century remains aloft the "Great Church" to this day."
Dr. Peter Charanis scholarship is used as the basis of this
article. He was a Greek-American Byzantine scholar, an immigrant from
Lemnos, Greece. He was the Voorhees Professor of History at Rutgers
University. Dr. Charanis was long associated with the Dumbarton Oaks
research library. He believes "these people (Armenians) appear,
of course, thoroughly Hellenized. Indeed it would be preposterous
to call Photios (a patriarch) anything but a Greek. Yet it may be
asked whether their Hellenization was not unaffected by their original
background, whether in being absorbed they did not modify the culture
which absorbed them."
Dr. Charanis quotes "a later oriental source in describing the spread
of the Armenians into the Byzantine empire in the tenth century adds
that in all the wars waged by the Romans "the foot soldiers of the
Armenians marched and they aided them greatly" (98).
There is nothing in this statement indicating the relative numerical
strength of the Armenian element in the Byzantine army, but the
statement does attribute to this element a role of major importance.
The Byzantine army in the tenth century as in all other centuries
to the [33] very end of the empire was composed of different
peoples....Nevertheless, as one examines the various campaigns of
the Byzantine forces in the tenth century, one is struck by the ever
presence of the Armenian element. Armenians participated in every
major campaign. ...It was in the campaigns against the Arabs along
the eastern frontiers, however, that the Armenian contingents in the
Byzantine forces stand out most prominently. ...This prominence of the
Armenian element in the forces of Byzantium along the eastern frontiers
was no doubt the basis of the observation of the modern scholar which
we have tried to analyze above that the Armenian (i.e., of Armenian
origin) and the Armenian-speaking element must have been predominant
in the Byzantine army from the ninth century to the Crusades. ...~E
The role of the Armenians in the political and military life of the
Byzantine Empire, in the late ninth, tenth, and eleventh centuries
appears still more impressive when one examines the leadership which
guided the empire during this period. For virtually every major figure
in that leadership was of Armenian origin.
First of all, there is the dynasty, the most brilliant in the history
of the empire. The imperial house which ruled the state throughout this
period is known as the Macedonian dynasty, but the term Macedonian
as used here has no ethnic connotations. It refers rather to the
place of the birth of Basil I, the founder of the dynasty. Basil
was an Armenian, born in Macedonia where numerous Armenians had been
settled..... That Basil I, the founder of the most brilliant dynasty of
the Byzantine Empire, was indeed Armenian and Armenian on both sides,
can be regarded as an established fact (112).
... Thus, every emperor who sat on the Byzantine throne from the
accession of Basil I to the death of Basil II (867--1025) was of
Armenian or partially Armenian origin. But besides the emperors
there were many [40] others among the military and political
leaders of Byzantium during this period who were Armenians or of
Armenian descent. Included among these were some of the ablest
military commanders and administrative functionaries in the history
of Byzantium. Some of these commanders and officials belonged to
families of Armenian origin long established in the empire; others
were new arrivals.
Dr. Charanis concludes "the defeat of the Byzantine army by the Seljuks
at the battle of Mentzikert in 1071 coupled with the civil wars which
followed in Byzantium resulted in the definite loss by the empire of
eastern and central Asia Minor. This loss included, of course, the
regions inhabited by the Armenians..... It may be said, therefore,
that the battle of Mentzikert and the subsequent loss by the empire
of eastern and central Asia Minor brought to an end the great role
which, beginning with the end of the sixth century, the Armenians
had played in the political and military life of the empire.
But Armenians continued to live in the empire down to its very end
(209).
For something like five hundred years, Armenians played an
important role in the political, military and administrative life
of the Byzantine Empire. They served as soldiers and officers, as
administrators and emperors. In the early part of this period during
the seventh and eighth centuries, when the empire was fighting for its
very existence, they contributed greatly in turning back its enemies.
But particularly great was their role in the ninth and tenth centuries
when as soldiers and officers, administrators and emperors they
dominated the social, military and political life of the empire and
were largely responsible for its greatness. So dominant indeed was
their role during this period that one may refer to the Byzantine
empire of these two centuries as Graeco-Armenian; 'Graeco', because as
always, its civilization was Greek, 'Armenian', because the element
which directed its destinies and provided the greater part of the
forces for its defense was largely Armenian or of Armenian origin. It
was a role, moreover, of world-wide historical significance for it
was during this period that the empire achieved its greatest success,
when its armies triumphed everywhere, its missionaries spread the
gospel and with it civilization among the southeastern Slavs, and
its scholars resurrected Greek antiquity, thus making possible the
preservation of its literature. Herein lies perhaps the most important
part of the legacy of the Armenians to civilization. But while all
this may be true, the point should be made and made with emphasis that
the Armenians in Byzantium who furnished it with its leadership were
thoroughly integrated into its political and military life, identified
themselves with its interest and adopted the principal features of
its culture. In brief, like many other elements of different racial
origins, as, for instance, Saracens, Slavs and Turks, who had a similar
experience, they became Byzantines." The meaning of the phrase "the
Armenians are our brothers," is more alive today through sources on
the internet.
Photo 1 - Basil II, The Bulgar Slayer.
Photo 2- Map of Byzantine Armenia.
http://www.hellenicnews.com/index.php/culture/item/478-the-armenians-unsung-supporter-of-hellenism