Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East
Encyclopedia
The Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East (UAECNE) is an autonomous body of churches comprising 25 congregations throughout Syria
, Lebanon
, Turkey
, Greece
, Egypt
, Iran
Iraq
and Australia
. Beginning in the second decade of the 19th century as an indigenous reform movement within the Armenian Apostolic Church
, it developed into an independent community in 1846 in Istanbul to become known as the Armenian Evangelical Church
and in subsequent decades registered a membership of 60,000 throughout the Ottoman Empire
. After the First World War, when the Armenian
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
. 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 23 schools and four high schools and owns the only university in the diaspora: Haigazian University
, member of the Association of International Colleges and Universities-Europe Inc., with an enrolment 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
and the Near East School of Theology
in Beirut
(the latter also supported by foreign missionary agencies). With the Armenian Apostolic and Armenian Catholic Catholicossates it operates the old people's homes in Aleppo and Beirut, and a sanatorium
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 France and the Armenian Evangelical Union of Armenia. In spite of grave problems of emigrations and persecution, the Union continues to function with a growing awareness of its mission in its territories.
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...
, Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
, Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
and Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. Beginning in the second decade of the 19th century as an indigenous reform movement within the Armenian Apostolic Church
Armenian Apostolic Church
The Armenian Apostolic Church is the world's oldest National Church, is part of Oriental Orthodoxy, and is one of the most ancient Christian communities. Armenia was the first country to adopt Christianity as its official religion in 301 AD, in establishing this church...
, it developed into an independent community in 1846 in Istanbul to become known as the Armenian Evangelical Church
Armenian Evangelical Church
The Armenian Evangelical Church was established on July 1, 1846 by thirty-seven men and three women in Constantinople.-History:In the 19th century there was intellectual and spiritual awakening in Constantinople. This awakening and enlightenment pushed the reformists to study the Bible...
and in subsequent decades registered a membership of 60,000 throughout 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...
. After the First World War, when the Armenian
Armenians
Armenian people or Armenians are a nation and ethnic group native to the Armenian Highland.The largest concentration is in Armenia having a nearly-homogeneous population with 97.9% or 3,145,354 being ethnic Armenian....
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
Congregationalist polity, often known as congregationalism, is a system of church governance in which every local church congregation is independent, ecclesiastically sovereign, or "autonomous"...
. 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 23 schools and four high schools and owns the only university in the diaspora: Haigazian University
Haigazian University
Haigazian University was founded in 1955 in Beirut, Lebanon. It offers programs leading to Bachelor's degrees in the Arts and Sciences, as well as Master's degrees in the Arts. All degrees from Haigazian are recognized by both the Lebanese government and the Association of International Colleges...
, member of the Association of International Colleges and Universities-Europe Inc., with an enrolment 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
Aleppo
Aleppo is the largest city in Syria and the capital of Aleppo Governorate, the most populous Syrian governorate. With an official population of 2,301,570 , expanding to over 2.5 million in the metropolitan area, it is also one of the largest cities in the Levant...
and the Near East School of Theology
Near East School of Theology
The Near East School of Theology is an interdenominational Protestant theological seminary serving the Evangelical churches of the Middle East and African churches, and is once again able to accommodate international students who have a special interest in Biblical and Islamic studies in a Middle...
in Beirut
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
(the latter also supported by foreign missionary agencies). With the Armenian Apostolic and Armenian Catholic Catholicossates it operates the old people's homes in Aleppo and Beirut, and a sanatorium
Sanatorium
A sanatorium is a medical facility for long-term illness, most typically associated with treatment of tuberculosis before antibiotics...
in Azounieh, Lebanon.
It has developed ecumenical ties with several churches and fraternal relations with the Armenian Evangelical Union of North America
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 and the Armenian Evangelical Union of California . The merger took place at a Constitutional Assembly held in Detroit, Michigan, in October 1971...
, the Armenian Evangelical Union of France and the Armenian Evangelical Union of Armenia. In spite of grave problems of emigrations and persecution, the Union continues to function with a growing awareness of its mission in its territories.
Presidents
- Rev. Megerdich Karageozian (1998-current)
- Rev. Dr. Hovannes Karjian (1992-1998)
- Rev. Dr. Hovannes Aharonian (1972-1985)
Greece
- Armenian Evangelical Church (Kokkinia) (Kokkinia, Greece) http://www.netministries.org/see/churches/ch01041
- Armenian Evangelical Church (Dergouty) (Derghouty, Greece)
Iran
- Armenian Evangelical “Sourp Hovhannes” Church (Tehran, Iran)
- Armenian Evangelical “Hokeshounch” Church (Tehran, Iran)
- Armenian Evangelical “Shnorhali” Church (Tehran, Iran)
Lebanon
- Armenian Evangelical Church (Anjar) (Anjar, Lebanon)http://www.evangelical-anjar.org/
- Armenian Evangelical Church (Ashrafieh) (Ashrafieh, Lebanon)http://arevchas.org/
- First Armenian Evangelical Church (Beirut, Lebanon)
- Armenian Evangelical Emmanuel Church (Amanos) (Amanos, Dora, Lebanon)
- Armenian Evangelical Church (Nor Marash) (Nor Marash, Bourj Hammoud, Lebanon)
- Syriac Evangelical Church (Sed-eL-Bouchrieh, Lebanon)
Syria
- Armenian Evangelical Martyrs' ChurchArmenian Evangelical Martyrs' ChurchThe Armenian Evangelical Martyrs' Church is located in Soulemaniye quarter, Aleppo, Syria. The origin of the church goes back to 1865, Aintab, Turkey, where the first Armenian Evangelical - Kayajik church with the full content of its members was split into two groups and one group moved into Hayik...
(Meidan, Aleppo, Syria) - Armenian Evangelical Bethel Church (Suleimaniyeh, Aleppo, Syria)
- Armenian Evangelical Emmanuel ChurchArmenian Evangelical Emmanuel ChurchThe Armenian Evangelical Emmanuel Church, is an Armenian Evangelical church in Aleppo, Syria. The church has been established in 1852. The building that is currently being used as a place of worship was built in 1923. The Church has a wealthy past....
(Azizieh, Aleppo, Syria)http://www.aeechurch.com/ - Church of Christ (Suleimaniyeh, Aleppo, Syria)
- Syriac Evangelical Church (Assyrian Quarter, Aleppo, Syria)
- Armenian Evangelical Church of Damascus (Damascus, Syria)
- Armenian Evangelical Church of Homs (Homs, Syria)
- Armenian Evangelical Holy Trinity Church of Kessab (Kesab, Syria) The minister is Pastor Sevag Trashian
- Armenian Evangelical Church of Ekiz Olouk (EkizOloukh, Kesab, Syria)
- Armenian Evangelical Church of Keorkuneh (Keorkuneh, Kesab, Syria)
- Armenian Evangelical Church of Kaladouran (Karadouran, Kesab, Syria)
Turkey
- Armenian Evangelical Church (Gedik Pasa) (Kumkapi, Istanbul, Turkey)
- Armenian Evangelical Church (Beyoglu) (Aynalicesme, Beyoglu, Istanbul, Turkey)
Institutions and Instrumentalities
- Haigazian UniversityHaigazian UniversityHaigazian University was founded in 1955 in Beirut, Lebanon. It offers programs leading to Bachelor's degrees in the Arts and Sciences, as well as Master's degrees in the Arts. All degrees from Haigazian are recognized by both the Lebanese government and the Association of International Colleges...
- Centers for the Armenian Handicapped of Lebanon
- Armenian Evangelical Christian Endeavor Union of Syria and LebanonArmenian Evangelical Christian Endeavor Union of Syria and LebanonThe Armenian Evangelical Christian Endeavor Union of Syria and Lebanon is the youth organization that is affiliated with the World Christian Endeavor Union and the Christian Endeavor International. The CE movement was first established in The Armenian Evangelical Church of Aintab in 1886 which was...
- Community Councils of Lebanon and Syria
- Constitution Committee
- Educational Councils of Syria and Lebanon
- Publications Office