Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East
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The Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East ( hy, Մերձաւոր Արեւելքի Հայ Աւետարանական Եկեղեցիներու Միութիւն, ՄԱՀԱԵՄ), abbreviated as UAECNE, is an autonomous body of Armenian Evangelical churches comprising 25
congregation A congregation is a large gathering of people, often for the purpose of worship. Congregation may also refer to: *Church (congregation), a Christian organization meeting in a particular place for worship *Congregation (Roman Curia), an administra ...
s throughout
Lebanon Lebanon ( , ar, لُبْنَان, translit=lubnān, ), officially the Republic of Lebanon () or the Lebanese Republic, is a country in Western Asia. It is located between Syria to the north and east and Israel to the south, while Cyprus li ...
,
Syria Syria ( ar, سُورِيَا or سُورِيَة, translit=Sūriyā), officially the Syrian Arab Republic ( ar, الجمهورية العربية السورية, al-Jumhūrīyah al-ʻArabīyah as-Sūrīyah), is a Western Asian country loc ...
,
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 ...
,
Greece Greece,, or , romanized: ', officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the southern tip of the Balkans, and is located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Greece shares land borders with ...
,
Egypt Egypt ( ar, مصر , ), officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a transcontinental country spanning the northeast corner of Africa and southwest corner of Asia via a land bridge formed by the Sinai Peninsula. It is bordered by the Mediter ...
,
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 ...
,
Iraq Iraq,; ku, عێراق, translit=Êraq officially the Republic of Iraq, '; ku, کۆماری عێراق, translit=Komarî Êraq is a country in Western Asia. It is bordered by Turkey to Iraq–Turkey border, the north, Iran to Iran–Iraq ...
and
Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
.


History


Origin

Beginning in the second decade of the 19th century as an indigenous reform movement within the
Armenian Apostolic Church , native_name_lang = hy , icon = Armenian Apostolic Church logo.svg , icon_width = 100px , icon_alt = , image = Էջմիածնի_Մայր_Տաճար.jpg , imagewidth = 250px , a ...
, it developed into an independent community in 1846 in Istanbul to become known as the
Armenian Evangelical Church The Armenian Evangelical Church ( hy, Հայաստանեայց Աւետարանական Եկեղեցի) was established on July 1, 1846, by thirty-seven men and three women in Constantinople. History In the 19th century there was an intellectua ...
and in subsequent decades registered a membership of 60,000 throughout 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) ...
. After the First World War, when the
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 ...
population was devastated and the remnant deported from its historic homeland in what is now called Turkey, the Union was reorganized in Syria and Lebanon. The Union is composed of autonomous congregations. Its organizational pattern is a kind of modified
congregationalism Congregationalist polity, or congregational polity, often known as congregationalism, is a system of ecclesiastical polity in which every local church (congregation) is independent, ecclesiastically sovereign, or "autonomous". Its first articul ...
. The annual convention of the Union is the highest authority, presided by Rev. Megerdich Karageozian. The central committee of 12 members, elected at the convention, acts as an administrative body supervising and coordinating the activities of the member churches and church related institutions. From its inception, the Armenian Evangelical Church has stressed the importance of education. It now operates more than 20 schools, four of them being high schools and also owns the only university in the diaspora:
Haigazian University Haigazian University ( hy, Հայկազեան Համալսարան, pronounced ''Haygazyan Hamalsaran''; ar, جامعة هايكازيان) is a higher education institution founded in 1955 in Beirut, Lebanon as Haigazian College. For a brief pe ...
, member of the Association of International Colleges and Universities-Europe Inc., with an enrollment of 650 students. It operates four conference centers in Syria, Lebanon, Iran and Turkey. Together with the Arabic-speaking Evangelical churches, the Union owns and operates a secondary school in
Aleppo )), is an adjective which means "white-colored mixed with black". , motto = , image_map = , mapsize = , map_caption = , image_map1 = ...
and the
Near East School of Theology The Near East School of Theology (NEST), located in Beirut, Lebanon, is an interdenominational Reformed Protestant theological seminary serving Christian churches of the Middle East and North Africa, and also educates international students who ...
in
Beirut Beirut, french: Beyrouth is the capital and largest city of Lebanon. , Greater Beirut has a population of 2.5 million, which makes it the third-largest city in the Levant region. The city is situated on a peninsula at the midpoint o ...
(the latter also supported by foreign missionary agencies). With the Armenian Apostolic and
Armenian Catholic 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 ...
Catholicossates it operates the old people's homes in Aleppo and Beirut, and a
sanatorium A sanatorium (from Latin '' sānāre'' 'to heal, make healthy'), also sanitarium or sanitorium, are antiquated names for specialised hospitals, for the treatment of specific diseases, related ailments and convalescence. Sanatoriums are often ...
in Azounieh, Lebanon. It has developed ecumenical ties with several churches and fraternal relations with the
Armenian Evangelical Union of North America The Armenian Evangelical Union of North America resulted from the merger of the Armenian Evangelical Union of Eastern States and Canada (founded in 1901) and the Armenian Evangelical Union of California (founded in 1908). The merger took place at a ...
, the
Armenian Evangelical Union of France 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 ...
and the
Armenian Evangelical Union of Armenia 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 ...
. In spite of grave problems of emigrations and persecution, the Union continues to function with a growing awareness of its mission in its territories. The church is a member of the
World Communion of Reformed Churches The World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC) is the largest association of Calvinist churches in the world. It has 230 member denominations in 108 countries, together claiming an estimated 80 million people, thus being the fourth-largest Chris ...


Establishment

The Lebanon-based Armenian Evangelical Union of the Near East, established in 1924, is one of the oldest among the five Unions that comprise the Armenian Evangelical Church. It is a union of over two dozen churches and congregations in seven countries in the Middle East and one church in Australia, as the origin of the Sydney church is traced back to Lebanon and Syria. Each member church in the Union is independent in its internal affairs; however, certain Union-wide functions are centralized, such as the screening of candidates for the ministry. New recruits study at the Near East School of Theology, and at Haigazian University. Unlike those in other parts of the world, the Armenian Evangelicals in Lebanon, as part of the Evangelical Denomination of Lebanon aefa Protestant are one of the officially recognized communities in the country’s sectarian political system. “The Denomination has wide cooperation with the Armenian Evangelical community and is much closer to the Armenian milieu,” says Rev. Megerdich Karageozian, President of the Near East Union, “but legally and formally we are part of the Evangelical Denomination of Lebanon.” The Denomination is guaranteed one seat in the Lebanese Parliament. From 1972 to 2000s the “Protestant MP” had been an Armenian. In the past Antranik Manoogian, Nourjan Demirjian, and Abraham Dedeyan served as MPs; currently Edgard Traboulsi represents the interests of all the Evangelicals in Lebanon... “An estimated five percent of Armenians in Lebanon are Evangelicals,” says Rev. Karageozian. “Currently that is probably around 5-6,000 members.” Over the last two decades, thousands have left Lebanon depleting the human and financial resources of the church. Especially during the Lebanese Civil War, “50 percent of our congregation emigrated,” says Rev. Karageozian. The Union closed two schools in Zahleh and Tripoli due to lack of students and difficult financial conditions and two other schools in Beirut; including The
Armenian Evangelical Guertmenian School The Armenian Evangelical Guertmenian School ( hy, Հայ Աւետարանական Կերթմէնեան Վարժարան) was founded in 1931 in Ashrafieh. It has kindergarten and six primary classes. The last principal was Mr. Sahag Dedeyan, for ...
in 2015. But the community continues to educate around 1,350 students (as of 17/18 school year) in Four Secondary and One Middle School in Lebanon, with help from endowment funds. Before the beginning of the war, the Evangelical schools had more than 5,000 students in their schools. “The economic well-being of the population has been disrupted because of the war and emigration.” He explains that the community expects the Union to provide scholarships and cover the cost of every student who attends their schools. “In the past, a $100 scholarship meant a lot, but today an upper class student costs about $2000,” he explains. But the pride of the Armenian Evangelical Church is th
Haigazian University
the only higher education institution in the Diaspora.


Presidents

* Rev. Megerdich Karageozian (1998-current) * Rev. Dr. Hovannes Karjian (1992-1998) * Rev. Dr. Hovannes Aharonian (1972-1985)


Member churches of the Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East


Australia


Armenian Evangelical Uniting Church of Sydney


Cyprus

* Armenian Evangelical Fellowship of Cyprus (Nicosia)


Egypt

* Armenian Evangelical Church of
Alexandria Alexandria ( or ; ar, ٱلْإِسْكَنْدَرِيَّةُ ; grc-gre, Αλεξάνδρεια, Alexándria) is the second largest city in Egypt, and the largest city on the Mediterranean coast. Founded in by Alexander the Great, Alexandria ...


Greece


Armenian Evangelical Church of Kokkinia
* Armenian Evangelical Church of Dergouty


Iran

* Sourp Hovhannes Armenian Evangelical Church of
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 ...
* Hokeshounch Armenian Evangelical Church of Tehran * Shnorhali Armenian Evangelical Church of Tehran


Iraq

* Armenian Evangelical Church of
Baghdad Baghdad (; ar, بَغْدَاد , ) is the capital of Iraq and the second-largest city in the Arab world after Cairo. It is located on the Tigris near the ruins of the ancient city of Babylon and the Sassanid Persian capital of Ctesiphon ...


Lebanon


Armenian Evangelical Church of Anjar

Armenian Evangelical Church of Ashrafieh
*
First Armenian Evangelical Church The First Armenian Evangelical Church (Հայ Աւետարանական Ա. Եկեղեցի) is the first church founded in Lebanon by Armenian Evangelicals, in February 1922. It is located at the heart of Beirut, Mexique Street, Kantari. It serves ...

Armenian Evangelical Emmanuel Church of Amanos

Nor Marash Armenian Evangelical church

Syriac Evangelical Church of Jdeideh


Syria

*
Martyrs' Church, Aleppo Martyrs' Church (Nahadagats Church) is an Armenian Evangelical Church located in Souleimaniye district of Aleppo, Syria. The origin of the church goes back to 1865, Aintab, Turkey, where the congregation of the first Armenian Evangelical - Kay ...
*
Bethel Church, Aleppo Bethel Church is an Armenian Evangelical Church in Aleppo, Syria. It was founded in 1937, and its early membership was vastly of deportees from the Marash Marash (Armenian: Մարաշ), officially Kahramanmaraş () and historically Germanicea ...
*
Emmanuel Church, Aleppo Armenian Evangelical Emmanuel Church is an Armenian Evangelical Church in Aleppo, Syria. The church was established in 1852. However, the current building of the church was erected in 1923 and presently serves as the seat of the Armenian Evangel ...
* Church of Christ,
Aleppo )), is an adjective which means "white-colored mixed with black". , motto = , image_map = , mapsize = , map_caption = , image_map1 = ...
* Syriac Evangelical Church of Aleppo * Armenian Evangelical Church of
Damascus )), is an adjective which means "spacious". , motto = , image_flag = Flag of Damascus.svg , image_seal = Emblem of Damascus.svg , seal_type = Seal , map_caption = , ...
* Armenian Evangelical Church of
Homs Homs ( , , , ; ar, حِمْص / ALA-LC: ; Levantine Arabic: / ''Ḥomṣ'' ), known in pre-Islamic Syria as Emesa ( ; grc, Ἔμεσα, Émesa), is a city in western Syria and the capital of the Homs Governorate. It is Metres above sea level ...

Holy Trinity Church, Kessab
* Armenian Evangelical Church of Ekizolouk, Kessab * Armenian Evangelical Church of Keorkuneh, Kessab * Armenian Evangelical Church of Karadouran, Kessab


Turkey

* Armenian Evangelical Church of Gedikpaşa,
Kumkapı Kumkapı (meaning 'sand gate' in Turkish) is a quarter in Fatih district of Istanbul. It is located along the northern shore of Marmara Sea. Up to recent times, Kumkapı is the center of the Armenian community of the city, boasting a school an ...
,
Istanbul Istanbul ( , ; tr, İstanbul ), formerly known as Constantinople ( grc-gre, Κωνσταντινούπολις; la, Constantinopolis), is the List of largest cities and towns in Turkey, largest city in Turkey, serving as the country's economic, ...
* Armenian Evangelical Church of
Beyoğlu Beyoğlu (, ota, بك‌اوغلی, script=Arab) is a district on the European side of İstanbul, Turkey, separated from the old city (historic peninsula of Constantinople) by the Golden Horn. It was known as the region of Pera (Πέρα, meani ...
, Istanbul


Institutions, Instrumentalities and Offices


Ք.Ջ. երիտասարդաց (Christian Endeavor Union)
ref>
Armenian Evangelical Christian Endeavor Union of Syria and Lebanon The Armenian Evangelical Christian Endeavor Union of Syria and Lebanon ( hy, Լիբանանի և Սուրիոյ Հայ Աւետարանական Եկեղեցիներու Քրիստոնէական Ջանից Միութիւն) is the youth organizatio ...

ՔՋԱԿ, Armenian Christian Endeavor Summer Camp (KCHAG)
*
Haigazian University Haigazian University ( hy, Հայկազեան Համալսարան, pronounced ''Haygazyan Hamalsaran''; ar, جامعة هايكازيان) is a higher education institution founded in 1955 in Beirut, Lebanon as Haigazian College. For a brief pe ...
*
Centers for the Armenian Handicapped of Lebanon Center or centre may refer to: Mathematics *Center (geometry), the middle of an object * Center (algebra), used in various contexts ** Center (group theory) ** Center (ring theory) * Graph center, the set of all vertices of minimum eccentricity ...
* Community Councils of Lebanon and Syria * Constitution Committee * Educational Councils of Syria and Lebanon * Publications Office * AREVIG Day Care Center for Armenian Retarded Children, Aleppo (ecumenical) * Bethel Polyclinic, Aleppo
CAHL - Armenian Elderly Home


External links


UAECNE Official Website
* ttps://web.archive.org/web/20070630115601/http://www.amaa.org/AMAA%20Directory.pdf Directory of Armenian Evangelical Churches, Institutions, Pastors and Christian Workers Worldwidebr>UAECNE Facebook Page


References

{{reflist Armenian Evangelical Church Members of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches Members of the World Council of Churches Christian organizations established in 1924 Reformed denominations in Asia Evangelical denominations in Asia