New Julfa ( fa, نو جلفا – ''Now Jolfā'', – ''Jolfâ-ye Now''; hy, Նոր Ջուղա – ''Nor Jugha'') is the Armenians, Armenian quarter of Isfahan (city), Isfahan, Iran, located along the south bank of the Zayande River. Established and named after the older city of Gülüstan, Nakhchivan, Julfa (''Jugha''), Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, Nakhchivan in the early 17th century, it is still one of the oldest and largest List of Armenian ethnic enclaves, Armenian quarters in the world (:hy:Նոր Ջուղայի գաղութ, hy).

History

New Julfa was established in 1606 as an Armenian quarter by the edict of Abbas I of Persia, Shah Abbas I from the Safavid dynasty. Over 150,000 Armenians Deportation of Armenians to Iran, were forcibly moved there from Gülüstan, Nakhchivan, Old Julfa (also known as ''Jugha'' or ''Juła'') in Nakhchivan (:hy:Նախիջևանի հայ բնակչության բռնագաղթ (1605), hy) (:hy:Հայերի բռնագաղթն Իրան (1603-1604), hy). Iranian sources state that the Armenians came to Iran fleeing the Ottoman Empire's persecution. Nevertheless, historical records indicate that the residents of Julfa were treated well by Shah Abbas in the hopes that their resettlement in Isfahan would be beneficial to Iran due to their knowledge of Trade in Iran's Safavid era, the silk trade (:hy:Խոջայություն, hy).Sushil Chaudhuri and Kéram Kévonian eds., Les Arméniens dans le commerce asiatique au début de l’ere moderne [Armenians in Asian trade in the Early Modern Era], (Paris, 2007).Baghdiantz McCabe, Ina The Shah’s Silk for Europe’s Silver: The Eurasian Silk trade of the Julfan Armenians in Safavid Iran and India (1590–1750). University of Pennsylvania Series, Scholar’s Press, 1999. Since its foundation, New Julfa was administered by the Lazaryan noble family which moved to Russia after Nader Shah's death in 1747. One of its members, Ivan Lazarevich Lazarev, Ivan Lazarev, became a court banker to Catherine the Great and was made an Imperial Count in 1788. His brother established the Lazarev Institute in Moscow. In 1947, the historian Fernand Braudel wrote that the Armenians had a trade network that stretched from Amsterdam to Manila in the Philippines. Many scholars in Armenia have done pioneering work on this network in the 60s, 70s and 80s. Levon Khachikian and Sushanik Khachikian have edited and published several New Julfan account books. Over the next few centuries, New Julfa became the hub of "one of the greatest trade networks of the early modern era," with outposts as far east as Guangzhou, Canton, Surabaya, and Manila,Bhattacharya, Bhaswatti “Making Money at the Blessed Place of Manilla: Armenians in the Madras- Manila Trade in the Eighteenth Century.” Journal of Global History, (2008),3, 1-20. and as far west as Cadiz, London, and Amsterdam, with a few merchants traveling across the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic or Pacific Ocean, Pacific oceans to Acapulco or Mexico City. Isfahan New Julfa R01

A significant majority of Armenian trading families were based in New Julfa. Due to their dispersal, many families that were originally from the older city of Julfa created a main settlement in Bengal expanding the trade network based in New Julfa. However, Some scholars argue that Surat, Bengal and Hughli were independent nodes and that the central control of New Julfa was not as important to their thriving Indian Ocean trade. Many New Julfan Armenians later settled in Manila, Hong Kong, and also in Australia. Their networks have been studied based on Armenian sources. Some also settled in Singapore, where Armenians from New Julfa became the mainstay of the Armenians in Singapore, Armenian community in the country. Most were traders, but perhaps better known were the Sarkies Brothers, Sarkies (Ter Woskanian) brothers who founded Singapore's Raffles Hotel in 1887. Christmas shop in New Julfa, Isfahan

New Julfa is still an Armenian-populated area with an Armenian school and sixteen churches, including the Vank Cathedral, Holy Savior Cathedral. Armenians in New Julfa observe Iranian law with regard to clothing, but retain a distinct Armenian language, identity, cuisine, and culture which is protected by the Iranian government. According to David Petrosyan of the Institute for Central Asian and Caucasian Studies, New Julfa had between 10,000–12,000 Armenian inhabitants in 1998. As of today, it is still one of the world's largest List of Armenian ethnic enclaves, ethnic Armenian quarters.

Sites

Churches

Museum of Khachatur Kesaratsi, New Julfa

Armenian Apostolic Church, Armenian Apostolic

* Vank Cathedral, Holy Savior Cathedral (''Surp Amenaprgich'', commonly known as ''the Vank'') – 1655 * St. Jacob Church, New Julfa, Saint Jacob Church (''Surp Hakop Mdzbena Hayrapet'') – 1607 * St. Georg Church, Saint George Church (''Surp Gevork'') – 1611 * St. Mary Church, Isfahan, Holy Mother of God Church (''Surp Asdvadzadzin'') – 1613 * St. Stephen Church, New Julfa, Saint Stephen Church (''Surp Stepanos Nakhavga'') – 1614 * St. John the Baptist Church, New Julfa, Saint John the Baptist Church (''Surp Hovannes Mgrditch'') – 1621 * St. Catherine Convent, Saint Catherine Convent (''Surp Katarine'') – 1623 * Bedkhem Church, Holy Bethlehem Church (''Surp Betłehem'') – 1628 * St. Nicholas Church, New Julfa, Saint Nicholas Church (''Surp Nikołayos Hayrapet'') – 1630 * St. Gregory the Illuminator Church, New Julfa, Saint Gregory the Illuminator Church (''Surp Grigor Lusavoritch'') – 1633 * St. Sarkis Church, Saint Sarkis Church (''Surp Sarkis'') – 1659 * St. Minas Church, Saint Minas Church (''Surp Minas'') – 1659 * St. Nerses Church, Saint Nerses Church (''Surp Nerses Medz'') – 1666

Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Ispahan, Roman Catholic

* Church of Our Lady of the Rosary, New Julfa, Cathedral of Our Lady of the Rosary (Dominican Order, Dominicans) – 1681/1705

Protestantism, Protestant

* St. Paul Church, New Julfa, Saint Paul Church – 1875 * Seventh-day Adventist Church, Seventh-day Adventist – 1957 * Jama'at-e Rabbani, Assemblies of God – 1965

Museums

* The museum of Khachatur Kesaratsi, in the compound of the Vank Cathedral, Holy Savior Cathedral

Schools

* Samian (1831–1853) (:hy:Սամյան դպրոց, hy) * Katarinyan (1858–now) (:hy:Սուրբ Կատարինյան դպրոց, hy) * Azgayin Kntronakan (1880–now) (:hy:Ազգային կենտրոնական դպրոց, hy) * Gevorg Kananyan (1905–now) (:hy:Գևորգ Քանանյան դպրոց, hy)

Notable people

* Apcar family – merchant family * Sceriman family – merchant family * De l'Estoile family – merchant family * Lazarian family (:ru:Лазаревы (армянский род), ru) – noble family * Sarkies Brothers – businessmen * Khvajeh Safar (d. 1618) – mayor of Julfa * Martin the Armenian (:hy:Մարտին Հայ, hy) (d. 1619) – first Armenian Americans, Armenian-American / Iranian Americans, Iranian-American * Mesrop of Khizan (c.1560–c.1652) – manuscript illuminator * Stepanos Dzik Jughayetsi (:hy:Ստեփանոս Ձիք Ջուղայեցի, hy) (1583–1647) – writer * Khachatur Kesaratsi (1590–1646) – archbishop and publisher (:hy:Նոր Ջուղայի հայկական տպագրություն, hy) * Khvajeh Petros Velijanian (:fa:خواجه پطرس ولیجانیان, fa) (d. 1649) – merchant * Simeon Jughayetsi (:ru:Симеон Джугаеци, ru) (d. 1657) – scholar * Hakob IV of Julfa (:hy:Հակոբ Դ Ջուղայեցի, hy) (1598–1680) – Catholicos of All Armenians, Catholicos (1655–80) * Safiqoli Khan, Mirman Mirimanidze (17th century) – mayor of New Julfa * Otar Beg (1583–1663) – mayor of New Julfa * Hakop Jughayetsi (:ru:Акоп Джугаеци, ru) (17th century) – manuscript illuminator * Siet Khachikian (:hy:Սիետ Խաչիկյան, hy) (17th century) – diplomat * Grigor Usta (:hy:Գրիգոր Ուստա, hy) (17th century) – architect * Kostand Jughayetsi (:hy:Կոստանդ Ջուղայեցի, hy) (17th century) – scholar * Marcara Avanchintz (17th century) – merchant * Minas (:hy:Մինաս (նկարիչ), hy) (17th century) – painter * Hovhannes Jughayetsi Ktreshents (:hy:Հովհաննես Ջուղայեցի Քթռեշենց, hy) (c.1610–c.1660) – publisher * Minas Jughayetsi (:hy:Մինաս Ջուղայեցի, hy) (1610–1670) – painter * Mohammad Beg (d. 1671) – mayor of New Julfa * Voskan Yerevantsi (1614–1674) – publisher * Hajji Piri (d. 1694) – mayor of New Julfa * Bogdan Saltanov (1630–1703) – painter * Hovhannes Mrkouz (:hy:Հովհաննես Մրքուզ (փիլիսոփա), hy) (1643–1715) – philosopher * Egaz Norjughayetsi (:hy:Էգազ Նորջուղայեցի, hy) (1650–1734) – Gusans, musician * Ghul Arzuni (:hy:Ղուլ Արզունի, hy) (1650–1750) – musician * Arapiet di Martin (:hy:Հայրապետ Վելիջանյան, hy) (1650–1760) – musician * Stepanos Dashtetsi (:ru:Степанос Даштеци, ru) (1653–1720) – writer * Abgar Ali Akbar Armani (d. 1708) – merchant * Alexander I of Julfa (d. 1714) – Catholicos (1706–14) * Petros di Sargis Gilanents (:ru:Гиланенц, Петрос ди Саргис, ru) (d. 1724) – merchant * Hagopdjan de Deritchan (d. 1726) – diplomat * Coja Petrus Uscan (1680–1751) – merchant * Aghazar di Khachik (:hy:Ախիջանենց Աղազար դի Խաչիկ, hy) (1690–1750) – military man * Aghazar Lazarian (:hy:Աղազար Լազարյան, hy) (1700–1782) – merchant * Zaccaria Seriman (:it:Zaccaria Seriman, it) (1709–1784) – writer * Tovmas Khojamalian (:hy:Թովմաս Խոջամալյան, hy) (c.1720–1780) – historian * Shahamir Shahamirian (1723–1798) – political activist * Stefano Domenico Sceriman (:it:Stefano Domenico Sceriman, it) (1729–1806) – writer * Ivan Lazarevich Lazarev (1735–1801) – jeweller * Petros Kalantarian (:hy:Պետրոս Քալանթարյան, hy) (1735–1???) – physician * Minas Lazarian (:hy:Մինաս Լազարյան, hy) (1737–1809) – politician * Astvadsatour Babikian (:hy:Աստվածատուր Բաբիկյան, hy) (1738–1825) – writer * Khachatour Lazarian (:hy:Խաչատուր Լազարյան (հասարակական գործիչ), hy) (1741–1774) – politician * Hovakim Lazarian (:hy:Հովակիմ Լազարյան, hy) (1743–1826) – political activist * Movses Baghramian (18th century) – political activist * Tadevos Soginian (:hy:Թադեոս Սոգինյան, hy) (18th century) – political activist * George Manook (1763–1827) – merchant * Hakob Hovnatanyan (1806–1871) – painter * Tadevos Avetoumian (:hy:Թադեոս Սոգինյան, hy) (1811–1863) – writer * Zerouni Masehian (:fa:زرونی ماسحیان, fa) (1811–18??) – goldsmith * Megrtich Emin (:ru:Эмин, Мкртич, ru) (1815–1890) – scholar * Minus Megerdich Zorab (1833–1896) – painter * Tiruhi Ter-Nahapetian (:hy:Տիրուհի Տեր-Նահապետյան, hy) (19th century) – artist * Mirza Malkam Khan (1834–1908) – politician * Martiros Khan Davidkhanian (:fa:مارتیروس خان, fa) (1843–1905) – general * Sarkis Khan Davidkhanian (1846-) – general * Eskandar Khan Davidkhanian – professor and general * Vittoria Aganoor (1855–1910) – poet * Minas Manook Basil (Barseghian) (:hy:Մինաս Բարսեղյան, hy) (1857–1922) – physician * Diana Abgar (1859–1937) – diplomat * Matevos Aghakhan Karakhanian (:fa:ماتئوس آقاخان قاراخانیان, fa) (1860–1946) – photographer * Arathoon Stephen (1861–1927) – businessman * Hovsep Mirzayan (:hy:Հովսեփ Միրզայան, hy) (1868–1935) – politician * Mesrovb Jacob Seth (1871–1939) – scholar * Hovhannes Abkarian (:fa:یحیی تارساز, fa) (1875–1931) – musician * Tigran Abgarian (:hy:Տիգրան Աբգարյան, hy) (1877–1950) – philologist * Petros Abkar (:fa:پطروس آبکار, fa) (1884–19??) – politician * Megrdich Abgar (:hy:Մկրտիչ Աբգար, hy) (1884–1967) – archbishop * Mkrtich Hakobian (:hy:Մկրտիչ Հակոբյան, hy) (1885–1971) – photographer * Minas Patkerhanian (:hy:Մինաս Պատկերհանյան, hy) (1885–1972) – photographer * Markar Galstiants (:fa:مارکار گالستیانس, fa) (1888–1985) – architect * Yeghia Velijanian (:hy:Եղիա Վելիջանյան, hy) (1889–1976) – artist * Guregh Israelian of Jerusalem, Guregh Israelian (1894–1949) – List of Armenian Patriarchs of Jerusalem, Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem (1944–49) * Zabel Stepanian-Bartev (:fa:زابل استپانیان-بارتو, fa) (1894–1982) – telegraph technician * Karo Minassian (:hy:Կարո Մինասյան, hy) (1897–1973) – physician * Meguertitch Khan Davidkhanian (:fa:مگردیچ خان داویدخانیان, fa) (1902–1983) – general and politician * Haykush Ter-Martirosian (:hy:Հայկուշ Տեր-Մարտիրոսյան, hy) (1905–1987) – actress * Bersabe Hovsepian (:hy:Բերսաբե Հովսեփյան, hy) (1906–1999) – public figure * Rafael Atayan (:hy:Ռաֆայել Աթայան, hy) (1907–1990) – writer * Poghos Petrosian (:hy:Պողոս Պետրոսյան, hy) (1907–19??) – bishop * Abraham Gurgenian (:hy:Աբրահամ Գուրգենյան, hy) (1908–1991) – painter * Annik Shefrazian (1909–1996) – actress * Aramais Aghamalian (1910–1985) – film director * Johny Baghdasarian (:fa:جانی باغداساریان, fa) (1913–1979) – film director * Sumbat Der Kiureghian (1913–1999) – painter * Yervand Nahapetian (:fa:یرواند ناهاپتیان, fa) (1916–2006) – painter * Emma Abrahamian (:fa:اما آبراهامیان, fa) (b. 1919) – sculptor * Alain John (1920–1943) – sculptor * Alenush Terian (1920–2011) – astronomer and physicist * Levon Minassian (:fa:جانی باغداساریان, fa) (1920–2013) – scholar * Sevak Saginian (:fa:سواک ساگینیان, fa) (1921–2003) – politician * Clara Abkar (:hy:Կլարա Աբգար, hy) (1922–1996) – painter * Hrand Ghoukasian (:fa:هراند قوکاسیان, fa) (1927–1996) – physician and translator * Arsham Yesayi (:fa:آرشام یسایی, fa) (b. 1931) – tennis player * Karekin I, Neshan Sarkissian (Karekin I) (1932–1999) – Prelate of the Armenian Apostolic Diocese of Isfahan and Southern Iran, Diocese of New Julfa (1971–75), List of Armenian Catholicoi of Cilicia, Catholicos of Cilicia (1983–94) and Catholicos of All Armenians (1994–99) * Nechan Karakéhéyan (b. 1932) – Catholic bishop of New Julfa (2000–05) * Krzysztof Penderecki (b. 1933) – "Poland's greatest living composer" * Nikol Faridani (1935–2008) – photographer * Grish Davtian (:hy:Գրիշ Դավթյան, hy) (b. 1935) – poet * Alek Ter-Khachatourian (:fa:آلک در-خاچاطوریان, fa) (b. 1935) – translator * Grigor Nazarian (:hy:Գրիգոր Նազարյան, hy) (b. 1937) – architect * Varouj Karapetian (:fa:واروژ کاراپتیان, fa) (b. 1938) – film technician * Arbi Hovhannisian (:hy:Արբի Հովհաննիսյան, hy) (b. 1942) – film director * Sako Ghoukasian (:fa:ساکو قوکاسیان, fa) (1943–2015) – opera singer * George Bournoutian (b. 1943) – scholar * Megerdich Toumanian (:hy:Մկրտիչ Թումանյան, hy) (b. 1943) – mathematician * Vartan Vartanian (:fa:وارطان وارطانیان, fa) (b. 1943) – politician * Nelson Shirvanian (:hy:Նելսոն Շիրվանյան, hy) (1944–2018) – sculptor * Tigran Toumanian (:fa:تیگران تومانیان, fa) (b. 1946) – film technician * Armen Der Kiureghian (b. 1947) – scholar * Herach Khachatourian (:fa:هراچ خاچاطوریان, fa) (b. 1948) – politician * Caro Lucas (1949–2010) – scholar * Zaven Ghoukasian (:fa:زاون قوکاسیان, fa) (1950–2015) – film director * Masis Hambarsounian (b. 1950) – boxer * Georgik Abrahamian (:fa:ژرژیک آبراهامیان, fa) (b. 1952) – politician * Artavazd Baghoumian (:fa:آرداواز باقومیان, fa) (b. 1953) – politician * Jirayr Kocharian (:hy:Ժիրայր Քոչարյան, hy) (b. 1955) – cartographer * Hrant Markarian (b. 1958) – politician and chairman of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation * Robert Beglarian (b. 1961) – politician * Vahik Trossian (:fa:واهیک طروسیان, fa) (b. 1967) – football player * Nairy Baghramian (b. 1971) – visual artist * Aren Davoudi (b. 1986) – basketball player * Oshin Sahakian (b. 1986) – basketball player * Kajayr Hakopian (:hy:Քաջայր Հակոբյան, hy) (b. 1989) – actor * Armen Tahmazyan (b. 1990) – football player

Friendly cities

New Julfa has friendly relations with: * Issy-les-Moulineaux, France

Gallery

Entrance of the Holy Savior Cathedral (the Vank), New Julfa.JPG, Entrance of the Vank Cathedral. Ispahan Vank Cathedral 01.jpg, Inside the Vank Cathedral. Bedkhem Church 09.jpg, Inside the Bedkhem Church, Surp Bethłehem Church. Vank Church -3.jpg, Vank Cathedral. New Julfa - Armenian quarter of Isfahan 02.jpg, Surp Nikołayos Hayrapet Church.

References

Sources

* Yves Bomati and Houchang Nahavandi,''Shah Abbas, Emperor of Persia,1587-1629'', 2017, ed. Ketab Corporation, Los Angeles, , English translation by Azizeh Azodi. * Gregorian, Vartan. “Minorities of Isphahan: The Armenian Community of Isphahan, 1587-1722.” Iranian Studies 7, no. 2 (1974), pp. 652–81. *

External links

Iran Chamber Society: Historical Churches of Iran

Armeniapedia: ''Isfahan''

''New Julda, To be...'', directed by Arsen Gasparyan
– ''Hayk Documentary Film Studio''
Julfa in Isfahan - Armenian Churches and Armenians in Iran
(Video)
Armeniapedia: ''Hin Jugha''

معماری کلیساهای اصفهان – فصلنامه فرهنگی پیمان
{{Authority control Armenian diaspora communities Armenian diaspora in the Middle East Isfahan 1606 establishments in Iran