Iranian-Armenians ( hy, իրանահայեր ''iranahayer''), also known as Persian-Armenians ( hy, պարսկահայեր ''parskahayer''), are
Iran
Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also called Persia, is a country located in Western Asia. It is bordered by Iraq and Turkey to the west, by Azerbaijan and Armenia to the northwest, by the Caspian Sea and Turkmeni ...
ians of
Armenian
Armenian may refer to:
* Something of, from, or related to Armenia, a country in the South Caucasus region of Eurasia
* Armenians, the national people of Armenia, or people of Armenian descent
** Armenian Diaspora, Armenian communities across the ...
ethnicity who may speak
Armenian
Armenian may refer to:
* Something of, from, or related to Armenia, a country in the South Caucasus region of Eurasia
* Armenians, the national people of Armenia, or people of Armenian descent
** Armenian Diaspora, Armenian communities across the ...
as their first language. Estimates of their number in Iran range from 70,000 to 200,000. Areas with a high concentration of them include
Tabriz
Tabriz ( fa, تبریز ; ) is a city in northwestern Iran, serving as the capital of East Azerbaijan Province. It is the List of largest cities of Iran, sixth-most-populous city in Iran. In the Quri Chay, Quru River valley in Iran's historic Aze ...
,
Tehran
Tehran (; fa, تهران ) is the largest city in Tehran Province and the capital of Iran. With a population of around 9 million in the city and around 16 million in the larger metropolitan area of Greater Tehran, Tehran is the most popul ...
,
Salmas
Salmas ( fa, سلماس; ; ; ; syr, ܣܵܠܵܡܵܣ, Salamas) is the capital of Salmas County, West Azerbaijan Province in Iran. It is located northwest of Lake Urmia, near Turkey. According to the 2019 census, the city's population is 127,864. ...
and
Isfahan
Isfahan ( fa, اصفهان, Esfahân ), from its Achaemenid empire, ancient designation ''Aspadana'' and, later, ''Spahan'' in Sassanian Empire, middle Persian, rendered in English as ''Ispahan'', is a major city in the Greater Isfahan Regio ...
's
Jolfa (Nor Jugha) quarter.
Armenians have lived for millennia in the territory that forms modern-day Iran. Many of the oldest Armenian churches, monasteries, and chapels are located within
modern-day Iran.
Iranian Armenia, which includes modern-day
Armenian Republic
Armenia (), , group=pron officially the Republic of Armenia,, is a landlocked country in the Armenian Highlands of Western Asia.The UNbr>classification of world regions places Armenia in Western Asia; the CIA World Factbook , , and ' ...
was part of
Qajar Iran
Qajar Iran (), also referred to as Qajar Persia, the Qajar Empire, '. Sublime State of Persia, officially the Sublime State of Iran ( fa, دولت علیّه ایران ') and also known then as the Guarded Domains of Iran ( fa, ممالک م ...
up to 1828. Iran had one of the largest populations of Armenians in the world alongside neighboring Ottoman Empire until the beginning of the 20th century.
Armenians were influential and active in the modernization of Iran during the 19th and 20th centuries. After the
Iranian Revolution
The Iranian Revolution ( fa, انقلاب ایران, Enqelâb-e Irân, ), also known as the Islamic Revolution ( fa, انقلاب اسلامی, Enqelâb-e Eslâmī), was a series of events that culminated in the overthrow of the Pahlavi dynas ...
, many Armenians emigrated to
Armenian diasporic communities in
North America
North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere and almost entirely within the Western Hemisphere. It is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South America and the Car ...
and
Western Europe
Western Europe is the western region of Europe. The region's countries and territories vary depending on context.
The concept of "the West" appeared in Europe in juxtaposition to "the East" and originally applied to the ancient Mediterranean ...
. Today the Armenians are Iran's largest
Christian
Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρι ...
religious minority.
History
Since Antiquity there has always been much interaction between ancient
Armenia
Armenia (), , group=pron officially the Republic of Armenia,, is a landlocked country in the Armenian Highlands of Western Asia.The UNbr>classification of world regions places Armenia in Western Asia; the CIA World Factbook , , and ''Ox ...
and
Persia
Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also called Persia, is a country located in Western Asia. It is bordered by Iraq and Turkey to the west, by Azerbaijan and Armenia to the northwest, by the Caspian Sea and Turkmeni ...
(
Iran
Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also called Persia, is a country located in Western Asia. It is bordered by Iraq and Turkey to the west, by Azerbaijan and Armenia to the northwest, by the Caspian Sea and Turkmeni ...
). The Armenian people are amongst the native ethnic groups of northwestern Iran (known as
Iranian Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan or Azarbaijan ( fa, آذربایجان, ''Āzarbāijān'' ; az-Arab, آذربایجان, ''Āzerbāyjān'' ), also known as Iranian Azerbaijan, is a historical region in northwestern Iran that borders Iraq, Turkey, the Nakhchivan ...
), having millennia-long recorded history there while the region (or parts of it) have had made up part of
historical Armenia numerous times in history. These historical Armenian regions that nowadays include Iranian Azerbaijan are
Nor Shirakan
Nor Shirakan ( hy, Նոր Շիրական), Parskahayk ( hy, Պարսկահայք) or Persarmenia, was the seventh province of the ancient kingdom of Armenia, situated on the western shore of Lake Urmia, bordered on Adiabene and Atropatene, now i ...
,
Vaspurakan
Vaspurakan (, Western Armenian pronunciation: ''Vasbouragan'') was the eighth province of the ancient kingdom of Armenia, which later became an independent kingdom during the Middle Ages, centered on Lake Van. Located in what is now southeaster ...
, and
Paytakaran
Paytakaran ( hy, Փայտակարան, translit=Pʻaytakaran) was the easternmost province ( or ) of the Kingdom of Armenia. The province was located in the area of the lower courses of the Kura and Arax rivers, adjacent to the Caspian Sea. It ...
. Many of the oldest
Armenian chapels, monasteries and churches in the world are located within this region of Iran.
On the
Behistun Inscription of 515 BC,
Darius the Great
Darius I ( peo, 𐎭𐎠𐎼𐎹𐎺𐎢𐏁 ; grc-gre, Δαρεῖος ; – 486 BCE), commonly known as Darius the Great, was a Persian ruler who served as the third King of Kings of the Achaemenid Empire, reigning from 522 BCE until his d ...
indirectly confirmed that
Urartu
Urartu (; Assyrian: ',Eberhard Schrader, ''The Cuneiform inscriptions and the Old Testament'' (1885), p. 65. Babylonian: ''Urashtu'', he, אֲרָרָט ''Ararat'') is a geographical region and Iron Age kingdom also known as the Kingdom of Va ...
and Armenia are synonymous when describing his conquests. Armenia became a
satrap
A satrap () was a governor of the provinces of the ancient Median and Achaemenid Empires and in several of their successors, such as in the Sasanian Empire and the Hellenistic empires.
The satrap served as viceroy to the king, though with consid ...
y of the Persian Empire for a long period of time. Regardless, relations between
Armenians
Armenians ( hy, հայեր, ''hayer'' ) are an ethnic group native to the Armenian highlands of Western Asia. Armenians constitute the main population of Armenia and the ''de facto'' independent Artsakh. There is a wide-ranging diaspora ...
and
Persians
The Persians are an Iranian ethnic group who comprise over half of the population of Iran. They share a common cultural system and are native speakers of the Persian language as well as of the languages that are closely related to Persian.
...
were cordial.
The cultural links between the Armenians and the Persians can be traced back to Zoroastrian times. Prior to the 3rd century AD, no other neighbor had as much influence on Armenian life and culture as
Parthia
Parthia ( peo, 𐎱𐎼𐎰𐎺 ''Parθava''; xpr, 𐭐𐭓𐭕𐭅 ''Parθaw''; pal, 𐭯𐭫𐭮𐭥𐭡𐭥 ''Pahlaw'') is a historical region located in northeastern Greater Iran. It was conquered and subjugated by the empire of the Med ...
. They shared many religious and cultural characteristics, and intermarriage among Parthian and Armenian nobility was common. For twelve more centuries, Armenia was under the direct or indirect rule of the Persians. While much influenced
by Persian culture and religion, Armenia also retained its unique characteristics as a nation. Later, Armenian Christianity retained some
Zoroastrian vocabulary and ritual.
In the 11th century, the Seljuk Turks drove thousands of Armenians into Iranian Azerbaijan, where some were sold as slaves and others worked as artisans and merchants. After the Mongol conquest of Iran in the 13th century, many Armenian merchants and artists settled in Iran, in cities that were once part of historic Armenia such as
Khoy
Khoy (Persian and az, خوی; ; ; also Romanized as Khoi), is a city and capital of Khoy County, West Azerbaijan Province, Iran. At the 2012 census, its population was 200,985.
Khoy is located north of the province's capital and largest city ...
,
Salmas
Salmas ( fa, سلماس; ; ; ; syr, ܣܵܠܵܡܵܣ, Salamas) is the capital of Salmas County, West Azerbaijan Province in Iran. It is located northwest of Lake Urmia, near Turkey. According to the 2019 census, the city's population is 127,864. ...
,
Maku,
Maragheh
Maragheh ( fa, مراغه, Marāgheh or ''Marāgha''; az, ماراغا ) is a city and capital of Maragheh County, East Azerbaijan Province, Iran. Maragheh is on the bank of the river Sufi Chay. The population consists mostly of Iranian Azerb ...
,
Urmia
Urmia or Orumiyeh ( fa, ارومیه, Variously transliterated as ''Oroumieh'', ''Oroumiyeh'', ''Orūmīyeh'' and ''Urūmiyeh''.) is the largest city in West Azerbaijan Province of Iran and the capital of Urmia County. It is situated at an alt ...
, and especially
Tabriz
Tabriz ( fa, تبریز ; ) is a city in northwestern Iran, serving as the capital of East Azerbaijan Province. It is the List of largest cities of Iran, sixth-most-populous city in Iran. In the Quri Chay, Quru River valley in Iran's historic Aze ...
.
Early modern to late modern era
Although Armenians have a long history of interaction and settlement with Persia/Iran and within the modern-day borders of the nation, Iran's Armenian community emerged under the
Safavids
Safavid Iran or Safavid Persia (), also referred to as the Safavid Empire, '. was one of the greatest Iranian empires after the 7th-century Muslim conquest of Persia, which was ruled from 1501 to 1736 by the Safavid dynasty. It is often conside ...
. In the 16th century, the
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman Empire, * ; is an archaic version. The definite article forms and were synonymous * and el, Оθωμανική Αυτοκρατορία, Othōmanikē Avtokratoria, label=none * info page on book at Martin Luther University) ...
and Safavid Iran divided Armenia. From the early 16th century, both
Western Armenia
Western Armenia (Western Armenian: Արեւմտեան Հայաստան, ''Arevmdian Hayasdan'') is a term to refer to the eastern parts of Turkey (formerly the Ottoman Empire) that are part of the historical homeland of the Armenians. Weste ...
and
Eastern Armenia
Eastern Armenia ( hy, Արևելյան Հայաստան ''Arevelyan Hayastan'') comprises the eastern part of the Armenian Highlands, the traditional homeland of the Armenian people. Between the 4th and the 20th centuries, Armenia was partitioned ...
fell under Iranian
Safavid rule. Owing to the century-long Turco-Iranian geo-political rivalry that would last in
Western Asia
Western Asia, West Asia, or Southwest Asia, is the westernmost subregion of the larger geographical region of Asia, as defined by some academics, UN bodies and other institutions. It is almost entirely a part of the Middle East, and includes Ana ...
, significant parts of the region were frequently fought over between the two rival empires. From the mid-16th century with the
Peace of Amasya
The Peace of Amasya ( fa, پیمان آماسیه ("Peymān-e Amasiyeh"); tr, Amasya Antlaşması) was a treaty agreed to on May 29, 1555, between Shah Tahmasp of Safavid Iran and Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent of the Ottoman Empire at the cit ...
, and decisively from the first half of the 17th century with the
Treaty of Zuhab
The Treaty of Zuhab ( fa, عهدنامه زهاب, ''Ahadnāmah Zuhab''), also called Treaty of Qasr-e Shirin ( tr, Kasr-ı Şirin Antlaşması), was an accord signed between the Safavid Empire and the Ottoman Empire on May 17, 1639. The accord en ...
until the
first half of the 19th century, Eastern Armenia was ruled by the successive
Iran
Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also called Persia, is a country located in Western Asia. It is bordered by Iraq and Turkey to the west, by Azerbaijan and Armenia to the northwest, by the Caspian Sea and Turkmeni ...
ian Safavid,
Afsharid
Afsharid Iran ( fa, ایران افشاری), also referred as the Afsharid Empire was an Iranian empire established by the Turkoman Afshar tribe in Iran's north-eastern province of Khorasan, ruling Iran (Persia). The state was ruled by the ...
and
Qajar
Qajar Iran (), also referred to as Qajar Persia, the Qajar Empire, '. Sublime State of Persia, officially the Sublime State of Iran ( fa, دولت علیّه ایران ') and also known then as the Guarded Domains of Iran ( fa, ممالک م ...
empires, while Western Armenia remained under
Ottoman rule. From 1604
Abbas I of Iran implemented a
scorched earth
A scorched-earth policy is a military strategy that aims to destroy anything that might be useful to the enemy. Any assets that could be used by the enemy may be targeted, which usually includes obvious weapons, transport vehicles, communi ...
policy in the region to protect his north-western frontier against any invading Ottoman forces, a policy which involved a
forced resettlement
Population transfer or resettlement is a type of mass migration, often imposed by state policy or international authority and most frequently on the basis of ethnicity or religion but also due to economic development. Banishment or exile is a ...
of masses of Armenians outside of their homelands.
[H. Nahavandi, Y. Bomati, ''Shah Abbas, empereur de Perse (1587–1629)'' (Perrin, Paris, 1998)]
Shah Abbas relocated an estimated 500,000 Armenians from
his Armenian lands during the
Ottoman–Safavid War of 1603–1618 to an area of
Isfahan
Isfahan ( fa, اصفهان, Esfahân ), from its Achaemenid empire, ancient designation ''Aspadana'' and, later, ''Spahan'' in Sassanian Empire, middle Persian, rendered in English as ''Ispahan'', is a major city in the Greater Isfahan Regio ...
called
New Julfa
New Julfa ( fa, نو جلفا – ''Now Jolfā'', – ''Jolfâ-ye Now''; hy, Նոր Ջուղա – ''Nor Jugha'') is the Armenian quarter of Isfahan, Iran, located along the south bank of the Zayande River.
Established and named after the old ...
, which was created to become an Armenian quarter, and to the villages surrounding Isfahan. Iran quickly recognized the Armenians' dexterity in commerce. The community became active in the cultural and economic development of Iran.
Bourvari ( hy, Բուրւարի) is a collection of villages in Iran between the city of
Khomeyn
Khomein ( fa, خمين, also Romanized as Khowmeyn) is a city and capital of Khomeyn County, Markazi Province, Iran. At the 2015 census, its population was 76,706 in 17,399 families.
Khomein is located to the south of the province, in a fertil ...
(
Markazi province) and
Aligudarz
Aligudarz ( fa, اليگودرز), also known as ‘Ali Gudār, is a city and capital of Aligudarz County, Lorestan Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 78,690, in 18,115 families.
Aligudarz is located 420 km from Tehran and ...
(
Lorestan province). It was mainly populated by Armenians who were forcibly deported to the region by Shah Abbas of the Safavid Persian Empire during the same as part of Abbas's massive scorched earth resettlement policies within the empire. The villages populated by the Armenians in Bourvari were Dehno, Khorzend, Farajabad, Bahmanabad and Sangesfid.
Loss of Eastern Armenia
From the late 18th century,
Imperial Russia
The Russian Empire was an empire and the final period of the List of Russian monarchs, Russian monarchy from 1721 to 1917, ruling across large parts of Eurasia. It succeeded the Tsardom of Russia following the Treaty of Nystad, which ended th ...
switched to a more aggressive geo-political stance towards its two neighbors and rivals to the south, namely Iran and the Ottoman Empire. As a result of the
Treaty of Gulistan
The Treaty of Gulistan (russian: Гюлистанский договор; fa, عهدنامه گلستان) was a peace treaty concluded between the Russian Empire and Iran on 24 October 1813 in the village of Gulistan (now in the Goranboy Distri ...
(1813), Qajar Iran was forced to irrevocably cede swaths of its territories in the Caucasus, comprising modern-day Eastern
Georgia
Georgia most commonly refers to:
* Georgia (country), a country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia
* Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the Southeast United States
Georgia may also refer to:
Places
Historical states and entities
* Related to the ...
,
Dagestan
Dagestan ( ; rus, Дагеста́н, , dəɡʲɪˈstan, links=yes), officially the Republic of Dagestan (russian: Респу́блика Дагеста́н, Respúblika Dagestán, links=no), is a republic of Russia situated in the North C ...
, and most of the
Republic of Azerbaijan
A republic () is a "state in which power rests with the people or their representatives; specifically a state without a monarchy" and also a "government, or system of government, of such a state." Previously, especially in the 17th and 18th ...
. By the
Treaty of Turkmenchay
The Treaty of Turkmenchay ( fa, عهدنامه ترکمنچای; russian: Туркманчайский договор) was an agreement between Qajar Iran and the Russian Empire, which concluded the Russo-Persian War (1826–28). It was second o ...
(1828), Qajar Iran had to cede the remainder of its Caucasian territories, comprising modern-day Armenia and the remaining part of the contemporary Azerbaijan Republic.
[Timothy C. Dowlin]
''Russia at War: From the Mongol Conquest to Afghanistan, Chechnya, and Beyond''
pp 729 ABC-CLIO, 2 dec. 2014 The ceding of what is modern-day Armenia (Eastern Armenia in general) in 1828 resulted in a large number of Armenians falling now under the rule of the Russians.
Iranian Armenia was thus supplanted by
Russian Armenia
Russian Armenia is the period of Armenian history under Russian rule from 1828, when Eastern Armenia became part of the Russian Empire following Qajar Iran's loss in the Russo-Persian War (1826–1828) and the subsequent ceding of its territorie ...
.
The Treaty of Turkmenchay further stipulated that the
Tsar
Tsar ( or ), also spelled ''czar'', ''tzar'', or ''csar'', is a title used by East Slavs, East and South Slavs, South Slavic monarchs. The term is derived from the Latin word ''Caesar (title), caesar'', which was intended to mean "emperor" i ...
had the right to encourage the resettling of Armenians from Iran into the newly established Russian Armenia. This resulted in a large demographic shift; many of Iran's Armenians followed the call, while many Caucasian Muslims migrated to Iran proper.
Until the mid-fourteenth century, Armenians had constituted a majority in
Eastern Armenia
Eastern Armenia ( hy, Արևելյան Հայաստան ''Arevelyan Hayastan'') comprises the eastern part of the Armenian Highlands, the traditional homeland of the Armenian people. Between the 4th and the 20th centuries, Armenia was partitioned ...
.
At the close of the fourteenth century, after
Timur
Timur ; chg, ''Aqsaq Temür'', 'Timur the Lame') or as ''Sahib-i-Qiran'' ( 'Lord of the Auspicious Conjunction'), his epithet. ( chg, ''Temür'', 'Iron'; 9 April 133617–19 February 1405), later Timūr Gurkānī ( chg, ''Temür Kür ...
's campaigns, Islam had become the dominant faith, and Armenians became a minority in Eastern Armenia. In the wake of the Russian invasion of Iran and the subsequent loss of territories, Muslims (
Persians
The Persians are an Iranian ethnic group who comprise over half of the population of Iran. They share a common cultural system and are native speakers of the Persian language as well as of the languages that are closely related to Persian.
...
,
Turkic speakers, and
Kurds ug:كۇردلار
Kurds ( ku, کورد ,Kurd, italic=yes, rtl=yes) or Kurdish people are an Iranian ethnic group native to the mountainous region of Kurdistan in Western Asia, which spans southeastern Turkey, northwestern Iran, northern Ir ...
) constituted some 80% of the population of
Iranian Armenia, whereas Christian
Armenians
Armenians ( hy, հայեր, ''hayer'' ) are an ethnic group native to the Armenian highlands of Western Asia. Armenians constitute the main population of Armenia and the ''de facto'' independent Artsakh. There is a wide-ranging diaspora ...
constituted a minority of about 20%.
After the Russian administration took hold of Iranian Armenia, the ethnic make-up shifted, and thus for the first time in more than four centuries, ethnic Armenians started to form a majority once again in one part of historic Armenia. The new Russian administration encouraged the settling of ethnic Armenians from Iran proper and
Ottoman Turkey
The Ottoman Empire, * ; is an archaic version. The definite article forms and were synonymous * and el, Оθωμανική Αυτοκρατορία, Othōmanikē Avtokratoria, label=none * info page on book at Martin Luther University) ...
. Some 35,000 Muslims out of more than 100,000 emigrated from the region, while some 57,000 Armenians from Iran proper and Turkey arrived after 1828 (see also
Russo-Turkish War of 1828–1829). As a result, by 1832, the number of ethnic Armenians had matched that of the Muslims. Not until after the
Crimean War
The Crimean War, , was fought from October 1853 to February 1856 between Russia and an ultimately victorious alliance of the Ottoman Empire, France, the United Kingdom and Piedmont-Sardinia.
Geopolitical causes of the war included the de ...
and the
Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878, which brought another influx of Turkish Armenians, would ethnic Armenians once again establish a solid majority in
Eastern Armenia
Eastern Armenia ( hy, Արևելյան Հայաստան ''Arevelyan Hayastan'') comprises the eastern part of the Armenian Highlands, the traditional homeland of the Armenian people. Between the 4th and the 20th centuries, Armenia was partitioned ...
. Nevertheless, Erivan remained a Muslim-majority city up to the twentieth century. According to the traveller
H. F. B. Lynch, the city of Erivan was about 50% Armenian and 50% Muslim (Tatars i.e. Azeris and Persians) in the early 1890s.
With these events of the first half of the 19th century, and the end of centuries of Iranian rule over
Eastern Armenia
Eastern Armenia ( hy, Արևելյան Հայաստան ''Arevelyan Hayastan'') comprises the eastern part of the Armenian Highlands, the traditional homeland of the Armenian people. Between the 4th and the 20th centuries, Armenia was partitioned ...
, a new era had started for the Armenians within the newly established borders of Iran. The Armenians in the recently lost territories north of the
Aras river
, az, Araz, fa, ارس, tr, Aras
The Aras (also known as the Araks, Arax, Araxes, or Araz) is a river in the Caucasus. It rises in eastern Turkey and flows along the borders between Turkey and Armenia, between Turkey and the Nakhchivan excl ...
would go through a
Russian-dominated period until 1991.
Twentieth century up to 1979
The Armenians played a significant role in the development of 20th-century Iran, regarding both its economical as well as its cultural configuration.
They were pioneers in photography, theater, and the film industry, and also played a very pivotal role in Iranian political affairs.
The Revolution of 1905 in Russia had a major effect on northern Iran and, in 1906, Iranian liberals and revolutionaries demanded a constitution in Iran. In 1909 the revolutionaries forced the crown to give up some of its powers.
Yeprem Khan
Yeprem Khan ( hy, Եփրեմ Խան; 1868–1912), born Yeprem Davidian ( hy, Եփրեմ Դավթյան, fa, یپرمخان داویدیان), was an Iranian-Armenian revolutionary leader and a leading figure in the Constitutional Revolutio ...
, an ethnic Armenian, was an important figure of the
Persian Constitutional Revolution
The Persian Constitutional Revolution ( fa, مشروطیت, Mashrūtiyyat, or ''Enghelāb-e Mashrūteh''), also known as the Constitutional Revolution of Iran, took place between 1905 and 1911. The revolution led to the establishment of a par ...
.
Armenian Apostolic theologian
Malachia Ormanian
Malachia Ormanian ( hy, Մաղաքիայ Օրմանեան; 11 February 1841 – 19 November 1918) was the Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople from 1896 to 1908. He was also a theologian, historian, and philologist.
Life
Boghos Ormanian (baptism ...
, in his 1911 book on the Armenian Church, estimated that some 83,400 Armenians lived in Persia, of whom 81,000 were followers of the Apostolic Church, while 2,400 were Armenian Catholics. The Armenian population was distributed in the following regions: 40,400 in
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan (, ; az, Azərbaycan ), officially the Republic of Azerbaijan, , also sometimes officially called the Azerbaijan Republic is a transcontinental country located at the boundary of Eastern Europe and Western Asia. It is a part of th ...
, 31,000 in and around
Isfahan
Isfahan ( fa, اصفهان, Esfahân ), from its Achaemenid empire, ancient designation ''Aspadana'' and, later, ''Spahan'' in Sassanian Empire, middle Persian, rendered in English as ''Ispahan'', is a major city in the Greater Isfahan Regio ...
, 7,000 in
Kurdistan
Kurdistan ( ku, کوردستان ,Kurdistan ; lit. "land of the Kurds") or Greater Kurdistan is a roughly defined geo-cultural territory in Western Asia wherein the Kurds form a prominent majority population and the Kurdish culture, Kurdish la ...
and
Lorestan, and 5,000 in Tehran.
During the
Armenian genocide
The Armenian genocide was the systematic destruction of the Armenians in the Ottoman Empire, Armenian people and identity in the Ottoman Empire during World War I. Spearheaded by the ruling Committee of Union and Progress (CUP), it was ...
, about 50,000 Armenians fled the
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman Empire, * ; is an archaic version. The definite article forms and were synonymous * and el, Оθωμανική Αυτοκρατορία, Othōmanikē Avtokratoria, label=none * info page on book at Martin Luther University) ...
and took refuge in Persia. As a result of the
Persian Campaign Persian expedition or Persian campaign may refer to:
* Persian campaign (Alexander the Great) (334–333 BC)
*Julian's Persian expedition (363)
* Persian expedition of Stepan Razin (1699)
* Persian campaign of Peter the Great (1722–1723)
* Pers ...
in
northern Iran
Northern Iran consists of the southern border of the Caspian Sea and the Alborz mountains.
It includes the provinces of Gilan, Mazandaran, and Golestan. (Ancient kingdom of Hyrcania, medieval region of Tabaristan). The major provinces, Gilan ...
during
World War I
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
, the Ottomans massacred 80,000 Armenians and 30,000 fled to the Russian Empire. The community experienced a political rejuvenation with the arrival of the exiled
Dashnak
The Armenian Revolutionary Federation ( hy, Հայ Յեղափոխական Դաշնակցութիւն, ՀՅԴ ( classical spelling), abbr. ARF or ARF-D) also known as Dashnaktsutyun (collectively referred to as Dashnaks for short), is an Armenian ...
(ARF) leadership from
Russian Armenia
Russian Armenia is the period of Armenian history under Russian rule from 1828, when Eastern Armenia became part of the Russian Empire following Qajar Iran's loss in the Russo-Persian War (1826–1828) and the subsequent ceding of its territorie ...
in mid-1921; approximately 10,000 Armenian ARF party leaders, intellectuals, fighters, and their families crossed the
Aras River
, az, Araz, fa, ارس, tr, Aras
The Aras (also known as the Araks, Arax, Araxes, or Araz) is a river in the Caucasus. It rises in eastern Turkey and flows along the borders between Turkey and Armenia, between Turkey and the Nakhchivan excl ...
and took refuge in Qajar Iran.
This large influx of Armenians who were affiliated with the ARF also meant that the ARF would ensure its dominance over the other traditional Armenian parties of Persia, and by extension over the entire Iranian Armenian community, which was centered around the Armenian church.
Further immigrants and refugees from the Soviet Union numbering nearly 30,000 continued to increase the Armenian community until 1933. Thus by 1930 there were approximately 200,000 Armenians in Iran.
The modernization efforts of Reza Shah (1924–1941) and Mohammad Reza Shah (1941–1979) gave the Armenians ample opportunities for advancement, and Armenians gained important positions in the arts and sciences, economy and services sectors, mainly in Tehran, Tabriz, and Isfahan that became major centers for Armenians. From 1946–1949 about 20,000 Armenians left Iran for the Soviet Union and from 1962–1982 another 25,000 Armenians followed them to
Soviet Armenia
The Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic,; russian: Армянская Советская Социалистическая Республика, translit=Armyanskaya Sovetskaya Sotsialisticheskaya Respublika) also commonly referred to as Soviet A ...
. By 1979, in the dawn of the Islamic Revolution, an estimated 200,000 – 300,000 Armenians were living in Iran.
Armenian churches, schools, cultural centers, sports clubs and associations flourished and Armenians had their own senator and member of parliament, 300 churches and 500 schools and libraries served the needs of the community.
Armenian presses published numerous books, journals, periodicals, and newspapers, the prominent one being the daily "Alik".
After the 1979 Revolution
Many Armenians served in the
Iranian Armed Forces
The Islamic Republic of Iran Armed Forces, are the combined military forces of Iran, comprising the Islamic Republic of Iran Army (''Arteš''), the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (''Sepâh'') and the Law Enforcement Force (Police).
Iran ...
, with 89 killed in action during the
Iran–Iraq War
The Iran–Iraq War was an armed conflict between Iran and Iraq that lasted from September 1980 to August 1988. It began with the Iraqi invasion of Iran and lasted for almost eight years, until the acceptance of United Nations Security Council ...
. Ayatollah
Ali Khamenei
Sayyid Ali Hosseini Khamenei ( fa, سید علی حسینی خامنهای, ; born 19 April 1939) is a Twelver Shia ''marja and the second and current Supreme Leader of Iran, in office since 1989. He was previously the third president o ...
has praised the role of Armenians in the war, saying to the
Armenian Prime Minister
The prime minister of Armenia is the head of government and most senior minister within the Armenian government, and is required by the constitution to "determine the main directions of policy of the Government, manage the activities of the Gove ...
that "Armenian martyrs of the imposed war are like Muslims martyrs and we consider them as honors of Iran".
The fall of the
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, it was nominally a federal union of fifteen national ...
, the common border with Armenia, and the Armeno-Iranian diplomatic and economic agreements have opened a new era for the Iranian Armenians. Iran remains one of Armenia's major trade partners, and the Iranian government has helped ease the hardships of Armenia caused by the blockade imposed by
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan (, ; az, Azərbaycan ), officially the Republic of Azerbaijan, , also sometimes officially called the Azerbaijan Republic is a transcontinental country located at the boundary of Eastern Europe and Western Asia. It is a part of th ...
and
Turkey
Turkey ( tr, Türkiye ), officially the Republic of Türkiye ( tr, Türkiye Cumhuriyeti, links=no ), is a list of transcontinental countries, transcontinental country located mainly on the Anatolia, Anatolian Peninsula in Western Asia, with ...
. This includes important consumer products, access to air travel, and energy sources (like petroleum and electricity).
Current status
The Armenians remain the largest
religious minority in Iran, and is still the largest Christian community in the country, far ahead of
Assyrians. They are appointed two out of the five seats in the
Iranian Parliament
The Islamic Consultative Assembly ( fa, مجلس شورای اسلامی, Majles-e Showrā-ye Eslāmī), also called the Iranian Parliament, the Iranian Majles (Arabicised spelling Majlis) or ICA, is the national legislative body of Iran. The P ...
reserved for religious minorities (more than any other religious minority) and are the only minority with official observing status in the
Guardian
Guardian usually refers to:
* Legal guardian, a person with the authority and duty to care for the interests of another
* ''The Guardian'', a British daily newspaper
(The) Guardian(s) may also refer to:
Places
* Guardian, West Virginia, Unite ...
and
Expediency Discernment Council
The Expediency Discernment Council of the System ( fa, مجمع تشخیص مصلحت نظام ''Majma'-e Taškhīs-e Maslahat-e Nezām'') is an administrative assembly appointed by the Supreme Leader and was created upon the revision to the Co ...
s. Half of Iran's Armenians live in the Tehran area, most notably in its suburbs of Narmak, Majidiyeh, Nadershah, etc. A quarter live in Isfahan, and the other quarter is concentrated in Northwestern Iran or Iranian Azerbaijan.
[Իրանահայ «Ալիք»- ը նշում է 80- ամյակը](_blank)
/ref>
There are Iranian Armenians who converted to the Shia
Shīʿa Islam or Shīʿīsm is the second-largest Islamic schools and branches, branch of Islam. It holds that the Prophets and messengers in Islam, Islamic prophet Muhammad in Islam, Muhammad designated Ali, ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib as his S ...
sect of Islam
Islam (; ar, ۘالِإسلَام, , ) is an Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic Monotheism#Islam, monotheistic religion centred primarily around the Quran, a religious text considered by Muslims to be the direct word of God in Islam, God (or ...
.
Distribution
Azerbaijan
In 387 AD when the Sasanian Empire
The Sasanian () or Sassanid Empire, officially known as the Empire of Iranians (, ) and also referred to by historians as the Neo-Persian Empire, was the History of Iran, last Iranian empire before the early Muslim conquests of the 7th-8th cen ...
and the Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire, also referred to as the Eastern Roman Empire or Byzantium, was the continuation of the Roman Empire primarily in its eastern provinces during Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, when its capital city was Constantinopl ...
split Armenia, the historically Armenian areas of Nor Shirakan
Nor Shirakan ( hy, Նոր Շիրական), Parskahayk ( hy, Պարսկահայք) or Persarmenia, was the seventh province of the ancient kingdom of Armenia, situated on the western shore of Lake Urmia, bordered on Adiabene and Atropatene, now i ...
, Paytakaran
Paytakaran ( hy, Փայտակարան, translit=Pʻaytakaran) was the easternmost province ( or ) of the Kingdom of Armenia. The province was located in the area of the lower courses of the Kura and Arax rivers, adjacent to the Caspian Sea. It ...
, and the eastern half of Vaspurakan
Vaspurakan (, Western Armenian pronunciation: ''Vasbouragan'') was the eighth province of the ancient kingdom of Armenia, which later became an independent kingdom during the Middle Ages, centered on Lake Van. Located in what is now southeaster ...
were ceded to the Persians, these territories comprise the western and northern regions of Azerbaijan. Following the Russo-Persian War (1826–28)
The Russo-Persian Wars or Russo-Iranian Wars were a series of conflicts between 1651 and 1828, concerning Persia (Iran) and the Russian Empire. Russia and Persia fought these wars over disputed governance of territories and countries in the Cau ...
about 40,000 Armenians left Azerbaijan and resettled in newly established Russian Armenia
Russian Armenia is the period of Armenian history under Russian rule from 1828, when Eastern Armenia became part of the Russian Empire following Qajar Iran's loss in the Russo-Persian War (1826–1828) and the subsequent ceding of its territorie ...
.
The area retained a large Armenian population until 1914 when World War I began the Azerbaijan was invaded by the Ottomans who slaughtered much of the local Armenian population. Prior to the Ottoman invasion there were about 150,000 Armenians in Azerbaijan, and 30,000 of them were in Tabriz. About 80,000 were massacred, 30,000 fled to Russian Armenia, and the other 10,000 fled the area of the modern West Azerbaijan Province and took refuge among the Armenians of Tabriz. After the war ended in 1918 the 10,000 refugees in Tabriz returned to their villages, but many resettled in Soviet Armenia from 1947 up until the early 80s. Currently, about 4,000 Armenians remain in the countryside of East Azerbaijan and about 2,000 remain in Tabriz living in the districts of Nowbar, Bazar, and Ahrab owning 4 churches, a school and a cemetery.
This is a list of previously or currently Armenian inhabited settlements:
*Maku (''Շավարշան'' / ''Shavarshan'' or ''Արտազ'' / ''Artaz
The district of Mardistan, in historic Armenia corresponds to Artaz, the origin of the Amatuni.A History of Armenia by Vahan M. Kurkjian - Armenia as Xenophon saw it The district of Mardali (Mardaghi) must have been located to the south of Erzurum, ...
'' ( hy) in Armenian) now in Maku and Chalderan counties in West Azerbaijan Province:
** Maku, Qareh-Kelisa, Avajiq
Avajiq ( fa, آواجيق; az, Avacıq, Kilsəkəndi; tr, Avacık; formerly, Arab Dizaj (Persian: عرب دیزج), also Romanized as ‘Arab Dīzaj, and ‘Arab-e Dīzaj; also known as Arāb Dizeh, ‘Arab-e Dīzehsī, and ‘Arab Dizehsī) is ...
, Siah Cheshmeh
Siah Cheshmeh ( fa, سيه چشمه; also Romanized as Sīāh Cheshmeh, Seyah Cheshmah, Siāh Chashmeh, and Sīyah Cheshmeh; also known as ( az, Qareh Eynī or Kara Aineh.) is a city and capital of Chaldoran County, West Azerbaijan Province, Iran ...
, Shaveran, Sadal
, native_name_lang = fa
, settlement_type = Village
, image_skyline =
, imagesize =
, image_alt =
, image_caption =
, image_flag =
, flag_alt =
, i ...
and Baron (Dzor Dzor).
*Khoy
Khoy (Persian and az, خوی; ; ; also Romanized as Khoi), is a city and capital of Khoy County, West Azerbaijan Province, Iran. At the 2012 census, its population was 200,985.
Khoy is located north of the province's capital and largest city ...
(''Հեր'' / ''Her'' in Armenian) now in Khoy
Khoy (Persian and az, خوی; ; ; also Romanized as Khoi), is a city and capital of Khoy County, West Azerbaijan Province, Iran. At the 2012 census, its population was 200,985.
Khoy is located north of the province's capital and largest city ...
and Chaypareh (Avarayr Plain
The Avarayr Plain ( hy, Ավարայրի Դաշտ) is the location of the Battle of Avarayr in 451, and is described as being along the banks of the Ṭłmut River ( hy, Տղմուտ գետ) (Rūd-e Zangemār, Iran), apparently the Armeno-Persian ...
) counties in West Azerbaijan Province:
**Khoy
Khoy (Persian and az, خوی; ; ; also Romanized as Khoi), is a city and capital of Khoy County, West Azerbaijan Province, Iran. At the 2012 census, its population was 200,985.
Khoy is located north of the province's capital and largest city ...
, Mahlazan, Ghris, Fanai, Dizeh, Qotur
, native_name_lang = fa
, settlement_type = City
, image_skyline =
, imagesize =
, image_alt =
, image_caption =
, image_flag =
, flag_alt =
, image_ ...
, Chors, Var
Var or VAR may refer to:
Places
* Var (department), a department of France
* Var (river), France
* Vār, Iran, village in West Azerbaijan Province, Iran
* Var, Iran (disambiguation), other places in Iran
* Vár, a village in Obreja commune, Ca ...
, Quruq, Shurab, Qarajelu, Qareh Shaban
Qareh Shaban ( fa, قره شعبان, also Romanized as Qareh Sha‘bān; also known as Ghareh Sha’ban, Kara-Shaban, and Qara Shābān) is a village in Gowharan Rural District, in the Central District of Khoy County, West Azerbaijan Province, ...
and Saidabad.
*Salmas
Salmas ( fa, سلماس; ; ; ; syr, ܣܵܠܵܡܵܣ, Salamas) is the capital of Salmas County, West Azerbaijan Province in Iran. It is located northwest of Lake Urmia, near Turkey. According to the 2019 census, the city's population is 127,864. ...
(''Սալմաստ'' / ''Salmast'' or ''Սաղամաստ'' / ''Saghamast'' in Armenian) now in Salmas County
Salmas County ( fa, شهرستان سلماس) is located in West Azerbaijan province, Iran. The capital of the county is Salmas. At the 2006 census, the county's population was 180,708, in 40,298 households. Retrieved 2 November 2022 At the ...
in West Azerbaijan Province:
**Salmas
Salmas ( fa, سلماس; ; ; ; syr, ܣܵܠܵܡܵܣ, Salamas) is the capital of Salmas County, West Azerbaijan Province in Iran. It is located northwest of Lake Urmia, near Turkey. According to the 2019 census, the city's population is 127,864. ...
t, Kohneshahr, Akhtekhaneh ( fa), Aslanik
Aslanik ( fa, اصلانيك, also Romanized as Aşlānīk) is a village in Chahriq Rural District, Kuhsar District, Salmas County, West Azerbaijan Province, Iran
Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also called Pe ...
, Charik, Drishk, Qalasar, Qezeljeh, Haftvan ( fa), Khosrowabad ( fa) ( fa), Goluzan, Malham
Malham is a village and civil parish in the Craven district of North Yorkshire, England. Before 20th century boundary changes, the village was part of the Settle Rural District, in the historic West Riding of Yorkshire. In the ''Domesday Book' ...
( fa), Sheitanabad, Payajuk ( fa), Karabulagh, Vardan
Vardan ( hy, Վարդան; Vartan in Western Armenian transliteration, pronounced in both Eastern and Western Armenian), Varden ( ka, ვარდენ) in Georgian, is an Armenian name of Middle Persian origin (from Mid. Pers. Wardā), popu ...
( fa), Hodar, Malham
Malham is a village and civil parish in the Craven district of North Yorkshire, England. Before 20th century boundary changes, the village was part of the Settle Rural District, in the historic West Riding of Yorkshire. In the ''Domesday Book' ...
( fa) ( fa), Saramelik, Sarna
Sarna may refer to:
;People
* Sarna (Polish surname)
* Sarna (Punjabi surname)
* Sarna (clan), a Punjabi clan of India
;Places
* Sarna, Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship, a village in northern Poland
*Sarna sthal, a place of worship in India
*Särna, ...
( fa), Savera
''Savera'' is a Bollywood drama film directed by Virendra C. Desai. It was released in 1942
Events
Below, the events of World War II have the "WWII" prefix.
January
* January 1 – WWII: The Declaration by United Nations is sig ...
( hy), Zivajik, Kojamish and Ula.
*Urmia
Urmia or Orumiyeh ( fa, ارومیه, Variously transliterated as ''Oroumieh'', ''Oroumiyeh'', ''Orūmīyeh'' and ''Urūmiyeh''.) is the largest city in West Azerbaijan Province of Iran and the capital of Urmia County. It is situated at an alt ...
(''Ուրմիա'' / ''Urmia'' or ''Ուռմի'' / ''Urmi'' in Armenian) now in Urmia County
Urmia County ( fa, شهرستان ارومیه) is located in West Azerbaijan province, Iran. The capital of the county is Urmia
Urmia or Orumiyeh ( fa, ارومیه, Variously transliterated as ''Oroumieh'', ''Oroumiyeh'', ''Orūmīyeh'' ...
in West Azerbaijan Province:
**Urmia
Urmia or Orumiyeh ( fa, ارومیه, Variously transliterated as ''Oroumieh'', ''Oroumiyeh'', ''Orūmīyeh'' and ''Urūmiyeh''.) is the largest city in West Azerbaijan Province of Iran and the capital of Urmia County. It is situated at an alt ...
, Balanej
, native_name_lang = fa
, settlement_type = Village
, image_skyline =
, imagesize =
, image_alt =
, image_caption =
, image_flag =
, flag_alt =
, i ...
, Badelbo, Surmanabad, Jamalabad
Jamalabad Fort is an old hilltop fortification in Killoor road, Belthangady, Dakshina Kannada District, Karnataka, India. It is located in the Kudremukh range of hills, 8 km north of Beltangady town and 65 km from the city of Mangalor ...
, Gardabad, Ikiaghaj, Isalu
Isalu ( fa, عیسیلو, also Romanized as ‘Īsālū) is a village in Baranduzchay-ye Jonubi Rural District, in the Central District of Urmia County, West Azerbaijan Province, Iran
Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Ir ...
, Karaguz, Nakhichevan Tepe, Reihanabad, Sepurghan, Karabagh, Adeh, Dizej Ala, Khan Babakhan, Kachilan, Shirabad, Charbakhsh, Chahar Gushan, Ballu
Balwant Singh (1945 – 14 November 2010), popularly known as Ballu, was an Indian volleyball player, considered a star of the India men's national volleyball team. His son Narender is a professional volleyball player who plays for the Indian vol ...
, Darbarud, ِDigala ( fa), Kukia and Babarud.
* Julfa (''Ջուղա'' / ''Jugha'' in Armenian):
**Upper Darashamb, Middle Darashamb and Lower Darashamb.
*Arasbaran
Arasbaran ( fa, ارسباران ''Arasbârân'') or shortened to Arasbar ( fa, ارسبار ''Arasbâr''), meaning "The Banks of the Aras/Araxes river," also known as "Qaradagh" or "Karadagh" ( az, Qaradağ / , meaning ...
(''Պարսպատունիք'' / ''Parspatunik'' ( hy) or ''Ղարադաղ'' / ''Gharadagh'' ( hy) in Armenian) now in Julfa, Khoda Afarin, Varzaqan
Varzaqan ( fa, ورزقان; also Romanized as Varzeqān and Warzagan; formerly, Karzigan (Persian: كَرزيگَن), also Romanized as Kārzigān and Karzygan) is a city in the Central District of Varzaqan County, East Azerbaijan provinc ...
, Ahar
Ahar ( fa, italic=yes, اهر, az, اهر) is a city and capital of Ahar County, East Azerbaijan Province, Iran. According to the 2016 census, Ahar was the fourth most populated city of the province with a population of 100,641 in 20,844 fam ...
and Kaleybar
Kaleybar ( fa, كليبر) ( az, كليبر); also Romanized as Kalībar, Kalipar, Keleibar, and Keleivar) is a city and capital of Kaleybar County, East Azerbaijan Province, Iran. According to the 2006 census, Kaleybar, with a popula ...
counties in East Azerbaijan Province
East Azerbaijan Province ( fa, استان آذربایجان شرقی ''Āzarbāijān-e Sharqi''; az-Arab, شرقی آذربایجان اوستانی) is one of the 31 provinces of Iran. It is located in Iranian Azerbaijan, bordering Armenia, ...
:
**Dizmar (West
West or Occident is one of the four cardinal directions or points of the compass. It is the opposite direction from east and is the direction in which the Sunset, Sun sets on the Earth.
Etymology
The word "west" is a Germanic languages, German ...
, Central
Central is an adjective usually referring to being in the center of some place or (mathematical) object.
Central may also refer to:
Directions and generalised locations
* Central Africa, a region in the centre of Africa continent, also known as ...
and East
East or Orient is one of the four cardinal directions or points of the compass. It is the opposite direction from west and is the direction from which the Sun rises on the Earth.
Etymology
As in other languages, the word is formed from the fa ...
):
*** Aghaghan, Khaneqah
A khanqah ( fa, خانقاه) or khangah ( fa, خانگاه; also transliterated as ''khankah'', ''khaneqa'', ''khanegah'' or ''khaneqah''; also Arabized ''hanegah'', ''hanikah'', ''hanekah'', ''khankan''), also known as a ribat (), is a buildin ...
, Qeshlaq, Yurgiutiun, Sardu ( hy), Owli.
** Mishepara:
*** Nepesht, Mikidi, Aghayi, Balan, Berd, Qasmushen, Garmanab
Garmanab ( گرمناب) was a village in Khoda Afarin County which was abandoned by the turn of the 20th century. In late nineteenth and early twentieth century the village was inhabited by Armenians, who later emigrated to Armenia or Tabriz. Jus ...
.
** Mnjivan:
***Vinaq
Vinaq ( fa, وينق, also Romanized as Vīnaq; also known as Vinek; in hy, Վինէ) is a village in Minjavan-e Sharqi Rural District, Minjavan District, Khoda Afarin County, East Azerbaijan Province, Iran
Iran, officially the Islam ...
, Aynalu, Sevahogh, Vardanashen, Karaglukh, Keshish Qeshlaq, Abbasabad, Norashen, Mzget, Luma, Vayqan.
** Keivan:
*** Siran, Avanlu
Avanlu ( fa, اوانلو, also Romanized as Āvānlū) is a village in Keyvan Rural District, in the Central District of Khoda Afarin County, East Azerbaijan Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 29, in 7 families. The village is ...
, Qalamlu
Qalamlu ( fa, قلملو, also Romanized as Qalamū) is a village in Keyvan Rural District, in the Central District (Khoda Afarin County), Central District of Khoda Afarin County, East Azerbaijan Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population w ...
, Avarsin
Avarsin ( fa, اوارسين, also Romanized as Āvārsīn; also known as Varsīn) is a village in Keyvan Rural District, in the Central District of Khoda Afarin County, East Azerbaijan Province, Iran
Iran, officially the Islamic Rep ...
, Asran, Ashraf
Sharīf ( ar, شريف, 'noble', 'highborn'), also spelled shareef or sherif, feminine sharīfa (), plural ashrāf (), shurafāʾ (), or (in the Maghreb) shurfāʾ, is a title used to designate a person descended, or claiming to be descended, fr ...
, Seqin, Dogidara.
**Hagar
Hagar, of uncertain origin; ar, هَاجَر, Hājar; grc, Ἁγάρ, Hagár; la, Agar is a biblical woman. According to the Book of Genesis, she was an Egyptian slave, a handmaiden of Sarah (then known as ''Sarai''), whom Sarah gave to he ...
:
***Abella
Abella, often known as Abella of Salerno or Abella of Castellomata, was a physician in the mid fourteenth century. Abella studied and taught at the Salerno School of Medicine. Abella is believed to have been born around 1380, but the exact time o ...
, Amredul.
*Tabriz
Tabriz ( fa, تبریز ; ) is a city in northwestern Iran, serving as the capital of East Azerbaijan Province. It is the List of largest cities of Iran, sixth-most-populous city in Iran. In the Quri Chay, Quru River valley in Iran's historic Aze ...
(''Թավրիզ'' / ''Tavriz'' or ''Թաւրէժ'' / ''Tavrezh'' in Armenian) now in Tabriz County
Tabriz County ( fa, شهرستان تبریز) is located in East Azerbaijan province, Iran. The capital of the county is Tabriz
Tabriz ( fa, تبریز ; ) is a city in northwestern Iran, serving as the capital of East Azerbaijan Province. It ...
in East Azerbaijan Province:
**Tabriz
Tabriz ( fa, تبریز ; ) is a city in northwestern Iran, serving as the capital of East Azerbaijan Province. It is the List of largest cities of Iran, sixth-most-populous city in Iran. In the Quri Chay, Quru River valley in Iran's historic Aze ...
, Mujumbar, Sohrol
Sohrol ( fa, سهرل, also Romanized as Sahrol; also known as Sohreqeh, Sokhrul, and Sūhrul) is a village in Rudqat Rural District, Sufian District, Shabestar County, East Azerbaijan Province, Iran
Iran, officially the Islamic Repu ...
, Aljamolk and Minavar.
* Ardabil
Ardabil (, fa, اردبیل, Ardabīl or ''Ardebīl'') is a city in northwestern Iran, and the capital of Ardabil Province. As of the 2022 census, Ardabil's population was 588,000. The dominant majority in the city are ethnic Iranian Azerbaija ...
(''Արտավիլ'' / ''Artavil'' or ''Արտավետ'' / ''Artavet'' in Armenian)
* Maragheh
Maragheh ( fa, مراغه, Marāgheh or ''Marāgha''; az, ماراغا ) is a city and capital of Maragheh County, East Azerbaijan Province, Iran. Maragheh is on the bank of the river Sufi Chay. The population consists mostly of Iranian Azerb ...
(''Մարաղա'' / ''Maragha'' in Armenian)
*Miandoab
Miandoab ( fa, مياندوآب) is a city and capital of Miandoab County, West Azerbaijan Province, Iran. At the 2012 census, its population was 135,880, in 38,704 families.
Demographics
Miandoab is largely populated by Azerbaijanis. Geography ...
:
**Taqiabad
Tabriz
Traditionally, Tabriz was the main city in Iranian Azerbaijan where Armenian political life vibrated from the early modern (Safavid) era and on. After the ceding of swaths of territories to Russia in the first quarter of the 19th century, the independent position of the Tabrizi Armenians was strengthened, as they gained immunities and concessions by Abbas Mirza
Abbas Mirza ( fa, عباس میرزا; August 26, 1789October 25, 1833) was a Qajar crown prince of Iran. He developed a reputation as a military commander during the Russo-Persian War of 1804–1813 and the Russo-Persian War of 1826–1828, as ...
.[Christoph Werner. ''An Iranian Town in Transition: A Social and Economic History of the Elites of Tabriz, 1747–1848'' page 90. Otto Harrassowitz Verlag, 2000. ] The particular importance of the Tabrizi Armenians also grew with the transfer of the bishop's seat from St.Taddeus (or ''Qara Kelissa'') near Salmas
Salmas ( fa, سلماس; ; ; ; syr, ܣܵܠܵܡܵܣ, Salamas) is the capital of Salmas County, West Azerbaijan Province in Iran. It is located northwest of Lake Urmia, near Turkey. According to the 2019 census, the city's population is 127,864. ...
to Tabriz in 1845. Tabriz has an Arajnordaran, three Armenian Churches ( St. Sargis, Shoghakat, and St. Mary
Mary; arc, ܡܪܝܡ, translit=Mariam; ar, مريم, translit=Maryam; grc, Μαρία, translit=María; la, Maria; cop, Ⲙⲁⲣⲓⲁ, translit=Maria was a first-century Jewish woman of Nazareth, the wife of Joseph and the mother of ...
), a chapel ( fa), a school, Ararat Cultural Club and an Armenian cemetery ( fa) ( fa).
=Notable Armenians from Tabriz
=
;Pre-Pahlavi period (pre-1925)
* Arakel of Tabriz
Arakel Davrizhetsi or Arakel of Tabriz (; 1590s–1670) was a 17th-century Armenian historian and clergyman from Tabriz. His ''History'' is an important and reliable source for the histories of the Safavid and Ottoman empires, Armenia, Azerba ...
, historian
* Mohammad Beg Mohammad Beg ( fa, محمد بیگ; died 1672), was a Muslim of Armenian origin, who served as the Grand Vizier of the Safavid king (''shah'') Abbas II (r. 1642–1666) from 1654 to 1661.
Origins
Mohammad Beg was born in Tabriz to an Armenian ...
, statesman
* William Cormick
William Cormick (born 1822, Tabriz; died 30 December 1877), was a British physician of Irish people, Irish origin in Qajar Iran during the reigns of Mohammad Shah Qajar (1834–1848) and Naser al-Din Shah Qajar (1848–1896). He is noted for havin ...
, physician (half Armenian)
* Hayk Bzhishkyan
Hayk Bzhishkian ( hy, Հայկ Բժշկյան, Persian هایک پزشکیان, Russian: Гайк Бжишкян, also known as Guy Dmitrievich Guy, Gai Dmitrievich Gai (Гай Дмитриевич Гай), Gaya Gai (Гая Гай), or Bzhishky ...
, Soviet military commander (half Armenian)
* Ardashes Badmagrian, movie theater owner
* Hambarsoom Grigorian, composer
* Vartan Hovanessian
Vartan Hovanessian ( hy, Վարդան Յովհանիսեան; Persian:وارطان هوانسیان , 1896 in Tabriz – 1982 in Tehran) was an Iranian Armenian architect and leading figure in architectural practice and philosophy.
He was ...
, architect
* Ivan Galamian
Ivan Alexander Galamian ( hy, Իվան Ղալամեան; April 14, 1981) was an Armenian-American violin teacher of the twentieth century who was the violin teacher of many seminal violin players including Itzhak Perlman.
Biography
Galamian w ...
, violin teacher
* Hakob Karapents
Hakob Karapents ( hy, Յակոբ Կարապենց), also known as Jack Karapetian, was a prolific Iranian-Armenian author born in 1925 in Tabriz, Iran.
He settled in the United States in 1947. He wrote numerous novels and short stories in both ...
, author
* Gegham Saryan
Gegham Baghdasaryan ( hy, Գեղամ Բաղդասարի Բաղդասարյան, December 25, 1902, Tabriz – November 14, 1976, Yerevan) better known by his pen name Gegham Saryan ( hy, Գեղամ Սարյան) is an Armenian poet and translator. ...
, poet and translator
* Vahan Papazian
Vahan Papazian ( hy, Վահան Փափազյան; 1876–1973), also known by his pseudonym Goms (Կոմս) was an Armenian doctor, politician, political activist who was one of the leaders of the Armenian national liberation movement. He was the ...
, political activist and community leader
* Avetis Nazarbekian
Avetis Vardan Nazarbekian ( hy, Ավետիս Վարդանի Նազարբեկյան, 1866, Tabriz – 1939, Moscow), also known as ''Nazarbek'' or ''Lerents'', was an Armenian poet, journalist, political activist and revolutionary, one of the foun ...
, poet, journalist, political activist and revolutionary
* Louise Aslanian
Louise Aslanian (pseudonym ''LAS''; french: Louise Aslanian, Lass, hy, Լուիզա Ասլանյան; 5 May 1904 – 30 January 1945) was a French-Armenian communist and anti-fascist activist, writer, novelist, poet and a prominent figure in ...
, writer and figure in the French Resistance
;Pahlavi and post-Pahlavi period (post-1925)
* Alexander Abian, mathematician
* Varto Terian
Varto Terian (; May 11, 1896 – October 2, 1974) also known by the pseudonym LaLa, was an Iranian-born Armenian actress and educator. She was Iran’s first stage actress of theater.
Early life and education
Varto Terian was born on May 11, 1 ...
, Iran's first stage actress of theater and educator
* Samuel Khachikian
Samuel Khachikian ( hy, Սամուէլ Խաչիկեան ; fa, ساموئل خاچیکیان; October 21, 1923 – October 22, 2001) was an Iranian film director, screenwriter, author, and film editor of Armenian descent. He was one of the most ...
, film director, screenwriter, author, and film editor
* Arman (actor)
Aramais Vardani Hovsepian (Armenian language, Armenian: Արամայիս Վարդանի Հովսեփյան), known as Arman Hovsepian ( fa, آرمان هوسپیان; February 21, 1921 – August 18, 1980) was an Iranian Armenian actor.
Biograp ...
, actor, film director, producer
* Robert Ekhart, film director (half Armenian)
* Emik Avakian
Emik Avakian ( hy, Էմիք Աւաքեան; August 15, 1923 – July 11, 2013) was an Armenian American inventor and owner of numerous patents including breath-operated computer, a mechanism that facilitates putting wheelchairs on automobiles, and ...
, inventor
* Khachik Babayan
Khachik Babayan is an Iranian-Armenian violin player. He was a student of Manoug Parikian.
Life
Khachik Babayan was born in 1956 in Tabriz, Iran. He began to play the violin when he was four. At the age of seven, he began violin studies with his ...
, violin player
* Grigor Vahramian Gasparbeg
Grigor Vahramian Gasparbeg ( hy, Գրիգոր Վահրամյան Գասպարբեգ; russian: Григор Вахрамян Гаспарбек) was an Iranian painter of Armenian descent. Most of Gasparbeg's paintings are in oil and of classical ...
, painter
* Vartan Vahramian
Vartan Vahramian (; hy, Վարդան Վահրամեան; born 1955) is an Iranian-Armenian composer, artist and painter. He has made musical creations, solo performances as a baritone, and conducted choirs.
Early life
Vartan Vahramian was b ...
, composer, artist, and painter
* Vartan Gregorian, academic
* Vartan Hovanessian
Vartan Hovanessian ( hy, Վարդան Յովհանիսեան; Persian:وارطان هوانسیان , 1896 in Tabriz – 1982 in Tehran) was an Iranian Armenian architect and leading figure in architectural practice and philosophy.
He was ...
, architect
* Rouben Galichian
Rouben Galichian ( hy, Ռուբեն Գալչյան) (born 1938, Tabriz) is an independent London-based scholar and researcher specializing in historical maps of Armenia and the South Caucasus region.
Rouben Galichian has published many books and ...
, scholar
* Henry D. Sahakian, businessman
Central Iran
List of Armenian villages in central Iran:
* Kharaqan (''Ղարաղան'' / ''Gharaghan'' in Armenian) now in Zarandieh County
Zarandieh County ( fa, شهرستان زرندیه) is located in Markazi province, Iran, the northernmost county of the province. The capital of the county is Mamuniyeh
, native_name_lang = fa
, settlement_type = City
, ima ...
in Markazi Province:
** Upper Chanakhchi, Lar, Charhad and Lower Chanakhchi.
*Hamadan
Hamadan () or Hamedan ( fa, همدان, ''Hamedān'') ( Old Persian: Haŋgmetana, Ecbatana) is the capital city of Hamadan Province of Iran. At the 2019 census, its population was 783,300 in 230,775 families. The majority of people living in Ha ...
:
**Hamadan
Hamadan () or Hamedan ( fa, همدان, ''Hamedān'') ( Old Persian: Haŋgmetana, Ecbatana) is the capital city of Hamadan Province of Iran. At the 2019 census, its population was 783,300 in 230,775 families. The majority of people living in Ha ...
and Sheverin Shawarin . Hamadan
Sheverin ( fa, شورين, also Romanized as Sheverīn, Shavarīn, Shawarīn, Shevarīn, and Shūrīn) is a village in Sangestan Rural District, in the Central District (Hamadan County), Central District of Hamadan County, Hamadan ...
.
*Malayer
Malayer ( fa, ملایر, Malāyer), formerly Dowlatabad ( fa, دولتآباد, Doulatābād, also Romanized as Dowlatābād and Daūlatābād), is a city and capital of Malayer County, Hamadan Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its populat ...
:
** Anuch, Deh Chaneh
Deh Chaneh ( fa, ده چانه, also Romanized as Deh Chāneh; also known as Deh-i-Chunāi) is a village in Kamazan-e Vosta Rural District, Zand District, Malayer County, Hamadan Province, Iran
Iran, officially the Islamic Republic ...
and Qaleh Fattahieh.
*Kazaz
Kazaz is a collection of villages and small towns that are in a short distance from Arak, Iran.
Populated places in Arak County
{{Markazi-geo-stub ...
(''Kiazaz'' in Armenian) now in Shazand County
Shazand County ( fa, شهرستان شازند) is in Markazi province, Iran
Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also called Persia, is a country located in Western Asia. It is bordered by Iraq and Turkey to t ...
in Markazi Province:
**Shazand
Shazand ( fa, شازند, also Romanized as Shāzand and Shah Zand; also known as Azadshahr ( fa, آزادشَهر), also Romanized as Āzādshahr) is a city and capital of Shazand County, Markazi Province, Iran
Iran, officially the ...
( fa) ( fa) ( fa), Abbasabad, Gurezar ( fa) and Anbarteh
Anbarteh ( fa, عنبرته, also Romanized as ‘Anbarteh and ‘Anbar Tah) is a village in Qarah Kahriz Rural District, Qarah Kahriz District, Shazand County, Markazi Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 823, in 213 families.
...
.
* Kamareh (''Kiamara'' in Armenian) now in Khomeyn County
Khomeyn County ( fa, شهرستان خمین) is in Markazi province, Iran. The capital of the county is the city of Khomeyn. At the 2006 census, the county's population was 108,840 in 29,888 households. The following census in 2011 counted 1 ...
in Markazi Province:
** Lilian ( fa), Qurchibash ( fa), Chartagh, Davudabad
Davudabad ( fa, داودآباد, also Romanized as Dāvūdābād and Dāvodābād) is a city in the Central District of Arak County, Markazi Province, Iran
Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also called Persia, ...
, Kandha, Darreh Shur, Mazra, Saki
Hector Hugh Munro (18 December 1870 – 14 November 1916), better known by the pen name Saki and also frequently as H. H. Munro, was a British writer whose witty, mischievous and sometimes macabre stories satirize Edwardian society and cultur ...
, Ortachiman, Asadabad, Danian
The Danian is the oldest age or lowest stage of the Paleocene Epoch or Series, of the Paleogene Period or System, and of the Cenozoic Era or Erathem. The beginning of the Danian (and the end of the preceding Maastrichtian) is at the Cretaceous ...
, Farajabad, Hajiabad, Nasrabad, Kajarestan and Mazraeh Qasem.
* Borborud (''Բուրւարի'' / '' Bourvari'' in Armenian) now in Aligudarz County in Lorestan Province:
** Shapurabad, Khorzand, Parmishan, Pahra
Pahra was a jagir in India during the British Raj. It was under the Bundelkhand Agency of the Central India Agency until 1896 when it was transferred to the Baghelkhand Agency. It was later transferred back to the Bundelkhand Agency.
Pahra had a ...
, Sang-e Sefid, Bahramabad, Dehnow, Qareh Kahriz, Nasrabad, Goran, Jowz
Jowz ( fa, جوز, also Romanized as Juz) is a village in Borborud-e Sharqi Rural District, in the Central District of Aligudarz County, Lorestan Province, Iran
Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also called Per ...
, Cherbas, Jahan Khosh and Anuj.
* Japloq ( hy) (''Գյափլա'' / ''Giapla'' in Armenian) now in Azna County
Azna County ( fa, شهرستان ازنا) is in Lorestan province, Iran
Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also called Persia, is a country located in Western Asia. It is bordered by Iraq and Turkey to the w ...
in Lorestan Province and Shazand County in Markazi Province:
** Azna, Ahmadabad, Bosnava, Berk, Perchestan, Marzian, Qataat, Gorji, Kamian, Masoudabad, Abbasabad, Bamian, Bagh Muri, Zarna, Tokhmar and Sharafabad.
*Faridan (''Փերիա'' / '' Peria'' in Armenian) now in Faridan, Buin & Miandasht and Fereydunshahr
Fereydunshahr ( fa, فریدونشهر, ka, ფერეიდანი "Phereidan") is a city and capital of Fereydunshahr County, about 150 kilometres west of the city of Isfahan in the western part of Isfahan Province, Iran. At the 2011 ...
counties in Isfahan Province:
**Zarneh
Zarneh ( fa, زرنه; also known as Kāni Zarnah, Kanī Razneh, and Zarrīneh) is a city in and capital of Zarneh District, in Eyvan County, Ilam Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 2,909, in 605 families. The city is populat ...
(Boloran), Upper Khoygan, Nemagerd
Nemagerd ( fa, نماگرد, also Romanized as Nemāgerd; also known as Namājerd and Nimagird) is a village in Varzaq-e Jonubi Rural District, in the Central District of Faridan County, Isfahan Province, Iran
Iran, officially the I ...
, Gharghan
Gharghan ( fa, غرغن, also Romanized as Gharghen) is a village in Varzaq-e Jonubi Rural District, in the Central District of Faridan County, Isfahan Province, Iran
Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also call ...
, Sangbaran, Hezar Jarib, Singerd
Eskandari baraftab ( fa, اسکندری برآفتاب, also Romanized as eskandari baraftab and eskandari baraftab; also known as eskandari baraftab) is a village in Zayandeh Rud-e Shomali Rural District, in the Central District of Faridan County ...
, Lower Khoygan, Adegan
Adegan ( fa, عادگان, also Romanized as ‘Ādegān and Adgān; also known as Adgūn and Adkān) is a village in Zayandeh Rud-e Shomali Rural District, in the Central District of Faridan County, Isfahan Province, Iran
Iran, of ...
, Chigan
Chigan ( fa, چيگان, also Romanized as Chīgān; also known as Chegān and Jīgān) is a village in Varzaq-e Jonubi Rural District, in the Central District of Faridan County, Isfahan Province, Iran
Iran, officially the Islamic R ...
, Hadan, Milagerd, Surshegan, Savaran, Chigan
Chigan ( fa, چيگان, also Romanized as Chīgān; also known as Chegān and Jīgān) is a village in Varzaq-e Jonubi Rural District, in the Central District of Faridan County, Isfahan Province, Iran
Iran, officially the Islamic R ...
, Derakhtak
Derakhtak ( fa, درختك, also Romanized as Darakhtak) is a village in Varzaq Rural District, in the Central District of Faridan County, Isfahan Province, Iran
Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also called Pe ...
, Punestan, Qaleh Khajeh, Aznavleh, Bijgerd, Khong (now part of town of Fereydunshahr
Fereydunshahr ( fa, فریدونشهر, ka, ფერეიდანი "Phereidan") is a city and capital of Fereydunshahr County, about 150 kilometres west of the city of Isfahan in the western part of Isfahan Province, Iran. At the 2011 ...
), Moghandar, Qalamelik, Nanadegan and Darreh Bid.
* Karvan, now in Tiran & Karvan County in Isfahan Province.
*Lenjan and Alenjan, now in Lenjan, Falavarjan
Falavarjan ( fa, فلاورجان, also Romanized as Falāvarjān, Falāvar Jān, and Felāvarjān; also known as Pol-e Vargān, Pol-e Varqān, Pul-i-Vargān, and Mollāvarjān) is a city and capital of Falavarjan County, Isfahan Province, Iran
...
and Mobarakeh
Mobarakeh ( fa, مباركه, also Romanized as Mobārakeh and Mubārakeh) is a city and capital of Mobarakeh County, Isfahan Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 62,454, in 16,583 families. Mobarakeh Steel Company (MSC, Persia ...
counties in Isfahan Province:
** Khansarak, Kelisan
Kelisan ( fa, كليسان, also Romanized as Kelīsān and Kalīsān) is a village in Garkan-e Shomali Rural District, Pir Bakran District, Falavarjan County, Isfahan Province, Iran
Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, ...
, Mehregan
Mehregan ( fa, ) or Jashn-e Mehr ( ''Mithra Festival'') is a Zoroastrian and Iranian festival celebrated to honor the yazata Mithra ( fa, Mehr), which is responsible for friendship, affection and love.
Name
"Mehregan" is derived from the Middl ...
, Pelart, Semsan
Semsan ( fa, سمسان, also Romanized as Semsān and Samsān; in hy, Սէմսուն) is a village in Garkan-e Shomali Rural District, Pir Bakran District, Falavarjan County, Isfahan Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 802, in ...
, Kaleh Masih, Garkan, Zudan, Barchan
A barchan or barkhan dune (from Kazakh бархан ) is a crescent-shaped dune. The term was introduced in 1881 by Russian naturalist Alexander von Middendorf, based on their occurrence in Turkestan and other inland desert regions. Barchans ...
, Jushan, Bondart
Bondart ( fa, بندارت, also Romanized as Bondārt; in hy, Բոնդարդ) is a village in Golestan Rural District, in the Central District of Falavarjan County, Isfahan Province, Iran
Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of ...
, Koruj, Zazeran, Kapashan and Mamad.
*Charmahal ( hy) or Gandoman
Gandoman ( fa, گندمان, also Romanized as Gandomān; also known as Qal‘eh Ganduman and Qal‘eh-ye Gandomān (Persian: قَلعِۀ گَندُمان), both meaning "Fort Gandoman") is a city and capital of Gandoman District, in Borujen Cou ...
now in Borujen
Boroujen ( fa, بروجن, also Romanized as Borojen, ''Borūjen'', ''Boroojen'', ''Broojen''; also known as ''Urjen'', or ''Oorjen'') is a city and capital of Borujen County, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its po ...
, Kiar, Lordegan and Shahr-e Kord
Shahr-e Kord ( fa, شهركرد, also Romanized as Shahrekord and Shahr Kord) is the capital city of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province, Iran. It is the largest city in the province, and is 90 km away from Iran's third largest city, Isfaha ...
counties in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province:
** Vastegan ( fa), Geshnigan ( fa), Shalamzar, Gandoman
Gandoman ( fa, گندمان, also Romanized as Gandomān; also known as Qal‘eh Ganduman and Qal‘eh-ye Gandomān (Persian: قَلعِۀ گَندُمان), both meaning "Fort Gandoman") is a city and capital of Gandoman District, in Borujen Cou ...
, Sirak ( fa), Boldaji ( fa), Azan ( fa), Galugerd ( fa), Konarak ( fa), Aqbolagh ( fa) ( fa), Sinagan ( fa), Mamura ( fa), Mamuka ( fa) ( fa), Sulugan, Gushki ( fa), Ferendigan, Hajiabad ( fa), Ahmadabad, Livasian ( fa) and Zorigan.
The settlements of Lenjan, Alenjan and Karvan were abandoned in the 18th century.
The other settlements depopulated in the middle of the 20th century due to emigration to New Julfa, Teheran or Soviet Armenia (in 1945 and later in 1967). Currently only 1 village (Zarneh
Zarneh ( fa, زرنه; also known as Kāni Zarnah, Kanī Razneh, and Zarrīneh) is a city in and capital of Zarneh District, in Eyvan County, Ilam Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 2,909, in 605 families. The city is populat ...
) in Peria is totally, and 4 other villages ( Upper Khoygan, Gharghan
Gharghan ( fa, غرغن, also Romanized as Gharghen) is a village in Varzaq-e Jonubi Rural District, in the Central District of Faridan County, Isfahan Province, Iran
Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also call ...
, Nemagerd
Nemagerd ( fa, نماگرد, also Romanized as Nemāgerd; also known as Namājerd and Nimagird) is a village in Varzaq-e Jonubi Rural District, in the Central District of Faridan County, Isfahan Province, Iran
Iran, officially the I ...
and Sangbaran) in Peria and 1 village ( Upper Chanakhchi) in Gharaghan are partially settled by Armenians.
Other than these settlements there is an Armenian village near Gorgan ( Qoroq) which is settled by Armenians recently moved from Soviet territory.
Culture and language
In addition to having their own churches and clubs, Armenians of Iran are one of the few linguistic minorities in Iran with their own schools.
The Armenian language used in Iran holds a unique position in the usage of Armenian in the world, as most Armenians in the Diaspora use Western Armenian
Western Armenian ( Classical spelling: , ) is one of the two standardized forms of Modern Armenian, the other being Eastern Armenian. It is based mainly on the Istanbul Armenian dialect, as opposed to Eastern Armenian, which is mainly based ...
. However, Iranian Armenians speak an Eastern Armenian
Eastern Armenian ( ''arevelahayeren'') is one of the two standardized forms of Modern Armenian, the other being Western Armenian. The two standards form a pluricentric language.
Eastern Armenian is spoken in Armenia, Artsakh, Russia, as we ...
dialect that is very close to that used in Armenia
Armenia (), , group=pron officially the Republic of Armenia,, is a landlocked country in the Armenian Highlands of Western Asia.The UNbr>classification of world regions places Armenia in Western Asia; the CIA World Factbook , , and ''Ox ...
, Georgia
Georgia most commonly refers to:
* Georgia (country), a country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia
* Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the Southeast United States
Georgia may also refer to:
Places
Historical states and entities
* Related to the ...
, and Russia
Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a List of transcontinental countries, transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia, Northern Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the ...
. Iranian Armenians speak this dialect due in part to the fact that in 1604 much of the Armenian population in the Lake Van area, which used the eastern dialect, was displaced and sent to Isfahan
Isfahan ( fa, اصفهان, Esfahân ), from its Achaemenid empire, ancient designation ''Aspadana'' and, later, ''Spahan'' in Sassanian Empire, middle Persian, rendered in English as ''Ispahan'', is a major city in the Greater Isfahan Regio ...
by Shah Abbas. This also allowed for an older version to be preserved which uses classical Armenian orthography
Classical Armenian orthography, traditional orthography or Mashtotsian orthography ( in classical orthography and in reformed orthography, ''Hayereni tasagan ughakrutyun''), is the orthography that was developed by Mesrop Mashtots in the 5th centu ...
known as "Mashtotsian orthography" and spelling, whereas almost all other Eastern Armenian users (especially in the former Soviet Union) have adopted the reformed Armenian orthography
The Armenian orthography reform occurred between 1922 and 1924 in Soviet Armenia and was partially reviewed in 1940. Its main features were neutralization of classical etymological writing and the adjustment of phonetic realization and writing.
Th ...
which was applied in Soviet Armenia
The Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic,; russian: Армянская Советская Социалистическая Республика, translit=Armyanskaya Sovetskaya Sotsialisticheskaya Respublika) also commonly referred to as Soviet A ...
in the 1920s and continues in the present Republic of Armenia. This makes the Armenian language used in Iran and in the Armenian-Iranian media and publications unique, applying elements of both major Armenian language branches (pronunciation, grammar and language structure of Eastern Armenian
Eastern Armenian ( ''arevelahayeren'') is one of the two standardized forms of Modern Armenian, the other being Western Armenian. The two standards form a pluricentric language.
Eastern Armenian is spoken in Armenia, Artsakh, Russia, as we ...
and the spelling system of Western Armenian
Western Armenian ( Classical spelling: , ) is one of the two standardized forms of Modern Armenian, the other being Eastern Armenian. It is based mainly on the Istanbul Armenian dialect, as opposed to Eastern Armenian, which is mainly based ...
).
See also
* Armenia–Iran relations, Satrapy of Armenia
The Satrapy of Armenia (Old Persian: 𐎠𐎼𐎷𐎡𐎴 or 𐎠𐎼𐎷𐎡𐎴𐎹 ), a region controlled by the Orontid dynasty (570–201 BC), was one of the satrapies of the Achaemenid Empire in the 6th century BC that later became an ind ...
, Battle of Avarayr
The Battle of Avarayr ( hy, Ավարայրի ճակատամարտ ''Avarayri čakatamart'') was fought on 2 June 451 on the Avarayr Plain in Vaspurakan between a Christian Armenian army under Vardan Mamikonian and Sassanid Persia. It is conside ...
, Persian Armenia, Marzpanate Armenia
Sasanian Armenia, also known as Persian Armenia and Persarmenia ( hy, Պարսկահայաստան – ''Parskahayastan''), may either refer to the periods in which Armenia ( pal, 𐭠𐭫𐭬𐭭𐭩 – ''Armin'') was under the suzerainty of ...
, Arsacid dynasty of Armenia, Armenians in the Persianate
Armenians ( hy, հայեր, ''hayer'' ) are an ethnic group native to the Armenian highlands of Western Asia. Armenians constitute the main population of Armenia and the ''de facto'' independent Artsakh. There is a wide-ranging diaspora o ...
, Iranian Armenia
* Ethnic minorities in Iran
This article focuses on the status of ethnic minorities in contemporary Iran.
Ethnic demographics
The majority of the Iranian population is formed by the Persians
(estimated at between 51% and 65%).
The largest other ethno-linguistic groups ( ...
, Christians in Iran
* List of Armenian churches in Iran
This is a list of Armenian churches in Iran. Today there are more about 200 Armenian temples in modern Iran territory.
Tehran
New Julfa, Isfahan
Northern Iran West Azerbaijan Salmas
Urmia
Khoy
Maku
Miandoab
East Azerbaija ...
* Monasteries: Monastery of St. Thaddeus, Monastery of St. Stephen the Protomartyr
* Cathedrals: Holy Mother of God Cathedral, All Saviour's Cathedral, St. Sarkis Cathedral
* List of Iranian Armenians
* Media: Alik Alik may refer to:
People
Given name
*Alik Arakelyan (born 1996), Armenian footballer
*Alik Cavaliere (1926–1998), Italian sculptor
*Alik Gershon (born 1980), Ukraine-born Israeli chess grandmaster
*Alik Gunashian or Gyunashyan (born 1955), Armen ...
, Arax
, az, Araz, fa, ارس, tr, Aras
The Aras (also known as the Araks, Arax, Araxes, or Araz) is a river in the Caucasus. It rises in eastern Turkey and flows along the borders between Turkey and Armenia, between Turkey and the Nakhchivan excl ...
, Hooys
* Sports: Ararat Football Club
The Ararat Football Club, nicknamed the ''Rats'', is an Australian rules football and netball club based in the city of Ararat, Victoria. The football team currently competes in the Wimmera Football League (WFL).
History
Formed in 1871, Arara ...
, Ararat Basketball Club, Ararat Stadium
Ararat Stadium ( hy, Արարատ մարզադաշտ; fa, ورزشگاه آرارات) is a football stadium with 10,000 seats built in 1971 and located in the Ararat Sports Complex in the Vanak neighbourhood of Tehran, Iran. It is named aft ...
, Pan-Armenian Games
The Pan-Armenian Games ( hy, Համահայկական խաղեր) are a multi-sport event, held between competitors from the Armenian diaspora and Armenia. They consist of various competitions in individual and team sports among the Armenian athle ...
* Politics: Armenian Revolutionary Federation in Iran The Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) ( hy, Հայ Յեղափոխական Դաշնակցութիւն ''Hay Heghapokhagan Tashnagtsutiun''; fa, فدراسیون انقلابی ارمنی, in short form "Dashnak"), has a long history in Iran, d ...
* Art: Lilihan carpets and rugs
Armenians wove Lilihans in Lilihan village in what used to be called Kamareh (now Khomeyn) district in Iran. 1 The term Lilihan is better known in the US, in Europe it is not as widely used.2
Structure
Although a wide range of carpet and ma ...
Notes
References
Sources
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* Yves Bomati and Houchang Nahavandi,''Shah Abbas, Emperor of Persia,1587–1629'', 2017, ed. Ketab Corporation, Los Angeles, , English translation by Azizeh Azodi.
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External links
Armenian Iranians news portal
Hamaynk: Iranian Armenian News Network
"Iranian Armenians" BBC Persian
Alik, Armenian daily in Iran
Arax Armenian weekly in Iran
Hooys Armenian Biweekly
{{Armenian diaspora
Iran
Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also called Persia, is a country located in Western Asia. It is bordered by Iraq and Turkey to the west, by Azerbaijan and Armenia to the northwest, by the Caspian Sea and Turkmeni ...
Iran
Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also called Persia, is a country located in Western Asia. It is bordered by Iraq and Turkey to the west, by Azerbaijan and Armenia to the northwest, by the Caspian Sea and Turkmeni ...
Armenians
Armenians ( hy, հայեր, ''hayer'' ) are an ethnic group native to the Armenian highlands of Western Asia. Armenians constitute the main population of Armenia and the ''de facto'' independent Artsakh. There is a wide-ranging diaspora ...
Ethnic groups in the Middle East