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Armenian Quarter Of Jerusalems Old City

31 46'29 "N 35 13'45" E / 31.77472, 35.22917

Armenian Quarter of Jerusalem's Old City

Some 2,000 Armenians live in the Armenian Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem and its famous monastery , occupying one-sixth of the old city.

Summary

1 Establishment of the Armenian community in Jerusalem from 95 BC. BC to 638 AD. AD
2 The Islamic Conquest: 638-1099
Mamluk 3: 1260-1517
4 See also
- 4.1 Article Related
- External 4.2 Links

/ / Establishment of the Armenian community in Jerusalem from 95 BC. BC to 638 AD. AD

Armenian cross the Armenian cathedrals

For more than four thousand years, Armenians have lived in the territories of the Armenian history in the eastern part of Asia Minor. From the ^eleventh century began the conquest of Turkey which will absorb these territories to incorporate them into what became Turkey.

The first known example of Armenians from around Jerusalem dated from -95 in the reign of Tigran II , king of Armenia who conquered territories from Armenia to Jerusalem. It was at this time as trade began. Communities of Jews settled in this distant country, while the Armenians discovered lands surrounding Jerusalem. In 70 , after the destruction of Jerusalem, the Romans are coming merchants, craftsmen, soldiers and administrators Armenians. It is at this precise moment that the apostles Jude and Bartholomew arrived in Armenia to preach. Subsequently, the Christianity spread through the Armenian kingdom.

In 301 , during the reign of Tiridates IV , Armenia becomes first Christian state. During this period, pilgrims already emigrated to Jerusalem in 313 , the edict of Constantine tolerate Christianity in the Roman Empire, which facilitates the establishment of Armenian Christians in Jerusalem. In 326 , Empress Helena went to Jerusalem to restore the Christian holy places. Built there at the same time the Holy Sepulchre.

Between ^Fourth and ^eighth centuries , nearly seventy monasteries were built in the Holy Land by the Armenian community, who moved to the ^sixth century around the Mount Zion. From 405 , the invention of the Armenian alphabet using archiving in their native language of more than 4,000 manuscripts in the church of Saint-Toros, near the Cathedral Saint-Jacques. In the nineteenth ^century , six mosaics have been discovered in the soil of Russian monastery of Mount of Olives , demonstrating again the presence of Armenians in and around Jerusalem since. A similar mosaic was also discovered in the neighborhood of Musrara (200 meters Gates Damascus ) and acquired by the Armenian Patriarchate in 1912.

Religion is the main reason for the existence of an Armenian quarter. Unlike most Christians of Israel, they are not Arabs but have an origin and religion of their own. The reason for their perpetuation may be explained by internal marriages in the community and the preservation of culture through language.

The Islamic Conquest: 638-1099

Conquer Persia to Jerusalem in 614 and the Arab conquest of 638 people found the Armenians under siege by the Byzantines. However, the invaders they render the church property confiscated under Emperor Justinian , whose access had been banned. Armenians are now subject to the Covenant of Omar , and have become dhimmi. They pay a capitation Force, the jizya , and are sometimes forced to wear a blue turban as a sign of distinction, it does not allow them to build new religious buildings. They do however suffer the fate of pagans , systematically killed or enslaved.

Armenians living in different dynasties Muslim between 638 and arrival of the Crusaders in 1099 : the Umayyads based in Damascus , followed by the Abbasids established in Baghdad , then the most destructive and intolerant reigns of Fatimids from 969 and finally the Seljuk Turks who sacked the city in 1071.

Mamluk Period: 1260-1517

The arrival of the Mamluks in 1260 does not significantly affect the Armenians but has a great influence on other Christian communities, which in this period share the mindset of crusaders. Patriarch Sarkis ^I. (1281-1313) met the Mamluk governor in the hope of maintaining peace after the Crusades. At that time, another Armenian community settled in Egypt and it happens that patriarchy moves to Cairo to meet with leaders Mamluks. Of these contacts results in 1340 building a wall around the Armenian quarter, the Mamluks do not feel a threat in this community.