Armenian in Kyrgyzstan

Introduction / History

Throughout history, Armenia has been a battlefield for many invaders and contending empires and a bridge for many cultures and civilizations. During the past 2,700 years, Armenia has been conquered by the Persian Empire, Alexander the Great, the Roman Empire, the Byzantines, Arabs, Mongols, Tatars, Ottomans, Persians and Russians. Armenian kingdoms, principalities, and even a short-lived empire (95-55 B.C.) managed to survive and thrive for some 1,700 years. Under various kings and princes, the Armenians developed a sophisticated culture, original architecture, and their own alphabet.

The 1905 Russian Revolution and the 1908 Young Turk Revolution raised the hopes of the Armenians for reform and an opportunity to build a homeland in historical Armenia. These hopes were dashed as the Ottoman and the Russian Empires fought each other during World War I. A dark hour of Armenian history is the Armenian genocide, which started on April 24, 1915. Some 1,750,000 Armenians were deported into Syria and Mesopotamia by the Ottoman authorities. Subject to famine, disease, and systematic massacres, most of them perished. This "ethnic cleansing" of the Armenians from their historical homeland led Raphael Lemkin, the father of the Genocide Treaty, to coin the new term "genocide" in the 1930s to describe the historical plight of the Assyrians and the Armenians as subjects of the first genocide of the 20th century. Armenia gained independence on September 23, 1991.

Today, there are several million Armenians worldwide. Significant numbers are located in Armenia, France, and the United States. Major diaspora centers of the Middle East are Iran, Syria, and Lebanon. Some came hundreds of years ago as traders and warlords in the various Central Asian countries. During the Soviet Era, some Armenians were moved to Kyrgyzstan. Only a small number remain in that Muslim country.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Armenians in Kyrgyzstan were moved there during the days of the USSR when both countries were under the rule of the USSR.

What Are Their Beliefs?

In 301 AD, during the rule of King Dirtad III, Armenia became the world's first Christian nation. A Christian monk, commonly known as Krikor Lusavorich or St. Gregory the Illuminator, cured the king of a disease. After this event, King Dirtad III was baptized and accepted Christianity as Armenia's official state religion. Before this, two disciples had brought Christianity to Armenia, St. Thaddeus and St. Bartholomew. Today, Armenia is still a Christian nation, comprising of Armenian Apostolic Orthodox (the overwhelming majority) and other Christians (a small percentage).

What Are Their Needs?

Some have trouble forgiving the Russians for the damage they did to Armenia during the 70 years of misrule of the USSR. This impedes their spiritual lives.

Prayer Points

Pray for healing for Armenians in Kyrgyzstan.
Pray for the Armenians in the diaspora to hold on to their Christian faith and to have a personal experience with Jesus Christ.
Pray for Armenians to become vibrant witnesses of Christ’s grace, mercy, and power to their Kyrgyz neighbors.
Pray for them to share Christ’s spiritual answers.
Pray that God would bring a revelation of Christianity as a spiritual relationship rather than a call to nationalism.

Text Source:   Joshua Project