History
The traditional homeland of the Armenians has been
in the mountainous and agricultural areas of the Caucasus (former Soviet Union)
and Anatolia (modern-day Turkey). Their history has been characterized by successive
periods of conflict and relative peace, occupation and independence, persecution
and resilient recovery.
JMP client in Beirut, Lebanon. Photo by David Young. In the late 19th century and early 20th century, nearly
one and one-half million Armenians perished in the Turkish and Ottoman Empire,
the result of genocide attributed to the Turks. That most Turks dispute these
facts is the principal reason for continuing enmity and distrust between many
Turks and Armenians, who are both ancient and contemporary neighbors. Due to
dispersion caused by this post-World War I genocide and deportation, Armenians
can be found today on all continents. The Republic of Armenia came to present-day
independence in 1991, at the time of the demise of the Union of Soviet Socialist
Republics (USSR). Its capital is Yerevan.
The Etchmiadzin Cathedral of the Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church. Armenians have been Christian for more than 1,700 years.
Although administratively divided into two autonomous churches, the Armenian
Apostolic Orthodox of Etchmiadzin and of Antelias, Lebanon, the acknowledged
spiritual head of the ancient Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church is His Holiness,
Karekin II, Catholicos and Supreme Head of All Armenians, resident at the Holy
See of Etchmiadzin, Republic of Armenia. Significant numbers of Armenian Catholics
and Armenian Evangelicals are present in the Republic of Armenia and especially
in the diaspora.
JMP family in Istanbul. Photo by David H. Nelson. The Jinishian Memorial Program (JMP) has operated in the Middle East since
1967 and in the Republic of Armenia since 1994. Prior to the Iran-Iraq war of
the 1980s, JMP programs were active in those two countries.
In the 35th year after its founding by Vartan H. Jinishian and the Presbyterian
Church (U.S.A.), the Jinishian Memorial Program (JMP) published a brief historical
account of its own origins and the resulting humanitarian and spiritual work
among Armenians as an ecumenical relief and development agency. The book, Serving
the Least of These, by Sylvia Casberg Guinn-Ammons, published in 2001, is
available to order free of charge or you may download this printable
online version.  This
historical account is in pdf format which is not meant to be read on a computer
screen, but on a printed page. You may order a copy by emailing or
calling (888) 728-7228 x5293. |
