Bodil Katharine Biørn
Encyclopedia
Bodil Katharine Bioern also known as Mother Katharine was a Norwegian missionary.
, in a family of a wealthy ship owner. In 1905, after studying nursing in Germany
, she was sent by "Women Missionary Organization" to the Ottoman Empire
and worked as a missionary nurse in Mezereh, Kharberd province and later in Mush
, Western Armenia
. In cooperation with the German missionaries she tried to help the widows and orphans. A witness of the Armenian Genocide
, among with her colleagues she save the lives of many homeless women and children. She also documented the tragic events she witnessed through her testimonial diary and her photography.Bioern, Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute In the Near East
, Bodil took care of Armenian orphans in Syria
, Lebanon
and Constantinople
. In 1922 she founded an orphanage named "Lusaghbyur" in Alexandrapol, Soviet Armenia. Then she continued her work by aiding the Armenian refugees in Syria
and Lebanon
.By the initiative of the Armenian community of Aleppo, the Norwegian city of Kragero has erected a statue honoring Bodil Biorn.
Biography
She was born on 27 January 1871 in Kragerø, NorwayNorway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, in a family of a wealthy ship owner. In 1905, after studying nursing in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, she was sent by "Women Missionary Organization" to the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
and worked as a missionary nurse in Mezereh, Kharberd province and later in Mush
Mush
Mush may refer to:*mush , a kind of corn pudding or porridge*mushing , a sport or transport method powered by dogs or a command to a dog team*Muş Province , in eastern Turkey**Muş , the capital of Muş Province...
, Western Armenia
Western Armenia
Western Armenia is a term, primarily used by Armenians, to refer to Armenian-inhabited areas of the Armenian Highland that were part of the Ottoman Empire and now are part of the Republic of Turkey....
. In cooperation with the German missionaries she tried to help the widows and orphans. A witness of the Armenian Genocide
Armenian Genocide
The Armenian Genocide—also known as the Armenian Holocaust, the Armenian Massacres and, by Armenians, as the Great Crime—refers to the deliberate and systematic destruction of the Armenian population of the Ottoman Empire during and just after World War I...
, among with her colleagues she save the lives of many homeless women and children. She also documented the tragic events she witnessed through her testimonial diary and her photography.Bioern, Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute In the Near East
Near East
The Near East is a geographical term that covers different countries for geographers, archeologists, and historians, on the one hand, and for political scientists, economists, and journalists, on the other...
, Bodil took care of Armenian orphans in Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
, Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
and Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
. In 1922 she founded an orphanage named "Lusaghbyur" in Alexandrapol, Soviet Armenia. Then she continued her work by aiding the Armenian refugees in Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
and Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
.By the initiative of the Armenian community of Aleppo, the Norwegian city of Kragero has erected a statue honoring Bodil Biorn.