Armenian Uruguayans

Armenian Uruguayans
Հայերն Ուրուգվայում
Total population
15,000[1] - 19,000[2]
Regions with significant populations
Languages
Armenian, Spanish
Religion
Armenian Apostolic, Armenian Catholic, Evangelical and Protestant
Related ethnic groups
Armenian

Armenian Uruguayans number around 19,000.[2] The Armenian community in Uruguay is one of the oldest in South America. Most live in the capital Montevideo.

History

Khachkar at the Rambla of Montevideo

One of the Armenian diaspora's smaller communities, Armenians in Uruguay are concentrated mostly in the capital city, Montevideo. Many of them are third- or even fourth-generation descendants of the first wave of immigrants coming from the Ottoman Empire between the end of the 19th century and the Armenian Genocide.[3] The Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) established a chapter in Uruguay in 1939[4] and inaugurated a community center complex in 1953.[1] Recognition of the Armenian Genocide by various world parliaments was spearheaded by Uruguay's Parliament, when in 1965 it became the first country in the world to recognize the Genocide.[5] The Parliament has subsequently consistently supported various resolutions in favor of the Armenians.[6]

Community

Between 1974 and 1975, the AGBU Uruguay Chapter established an educational center which was completed in two phases: first to be completed was the Nubarian Elementary School in honor of the founder of AGBU, Boghos Nubar; then came the Alex Manoogian High School, named after the then AGBU President.

The Armenians are very active in the arts. Alvaro Hagopian is the conductor of the Montevideo Philharmonic Orchestra. Also operating are Cordoba Dance Group "Ararat" (AGBU) and the Armenian National Center "Gayane" Dance Group (of Uruguay's Armenian National Center).

A long-running radio station, "Radio Armenia", broadcasts from Montevideo across Uruguay, Argentina—to the Armenian community of Buenos Aires—and into southern Brazil.

Montevideo has a public square named Armenia. The Uruguayan Government also has a minister (and former member of Parliament) of Armenian origin, Liliam Kechichian.

Religion

St. Nerses Shnorhali Church
Our Lady of Bzommar Cathedral
Armenian Evangelical Church

Most Armenians belong to the Armenian Apostolic Church. The main center is the Armenian Church of Montevideo, Uruguay (Spanish: Iglesia Armenia del Uruguay). This church has a memorial statue by sculptor Nerses Ounanian, dedicated to the victims of the Armenian Genocide.

There is also a significant presence of Armenian Catholics and Armenian Evangelicals.

The main Armenian places of worship in Montevideo are:

Notable people

  • Diego Rossi Marachlian – footballer (LA FC)

See also

References

  1. 1 2 AGBU - AGBU XVIII World Games Takes Montevideo by Storm, 1,000 People Participate Archived December 5, 2010, at the Wayback Machine.
  2. 1 2 ArmenianDiaspora website Archived May 11, 2013, at the Wayback Machine.
  3. ↑ Felipe Arocena. "The contribution of immigrants to Uruguay" (PDF) (in Spanish). multiculturalismoenuruguay.com. Retrieved 6 March 2014.
  4. ↑ AGBU Uruguay Chapter Archived March 6, 2014, at the Wayback Machine.
  5. ↑ http://genocide.am/article/recognition_of_the_armenian_genocide.html
  6. ↑ Armenians in Uruguay
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