ARMENIAN PROTESTANT COMMUNITIES IN SOUTH AMERICA
Tigran Ghanalanyan
21.04.2011
T.Ghanalanyan – An Expert of the Center of the Armenian Studies at
“Noravank” Foundation
Today alongside with the Armenian Apostolic and Catholic communities,
the Armenian Protestant community exists in South America. In
particular, there are the Armenian Protestant communities in
Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay which are the integral part of the local
Armeniancy. The study of the Armenian Protestant communities in South
America is of great importance in the context of the issues connected
with both the Armenian Protestants and local Armenians in general.
Argentina. The Armenian community in Argentina was formed at the
beginning of the 20th century. There were 20 thousand Armenians in
Argentina in 1914, and in 1962 there were 40 thousand Armenians.
According to the data for 2003 there were about 70 thousand Armenians
living in Argentina, and 60 thousand of them in Buenos Aires, 5
thousand in Cordoba. There are also Armenians in Mar-del-Plata and
Rosario (500 in each)1.
The reason for moving and setting in Argentina for thousands of
Armenians was the 1890s pogroms and the Genocide. Those events made
the survived Armenians look for the shelter in the foreign lands.
Thus, the establishment of the Armenian Protestants in Argentina was
conditioned by the flow of the Armenians to that country in general.
In 1920s the first Armenian Protestant churches appeared in Argentina.
Public prayers were held by Hrant Apachian and Nazaret Salipian in
Buenos Aires. Soon the number of the adherents reached 200. In 1929
the Armenian Evangelical Conciliar church was established. In 1939 the
number of the Armenians living in Buenos Aires and its surroundings
reached 15 thousand, among which one tenth were Evangelicals. I.e. the
number of the Armenian Evangelicals was 1500. In the mid-20th
century the number of the members of the oldest of the three
Armenian Evangelical churches – the Armenian Brotherhood church –
was 80. Over the same period the second Armenian Evangelical church
(which pastor was Rev. N. Ter-Khorenian) had 75 adherent families and
the Armenian Evangelical Conciliar church (pastor – Rev. M. Palian)
only 30 families2.
The Armenian Brotherhood church in Buenos Aires had about 300 and
in Cordoba about 100 members in the mid-20th century. The Armenian
Brotherhood church in Buenos Aires had its own building too3. Today
the pastor of the Armenian Brotherhood Bible church is Luis Vinas4.
There are two Evangelical Churches, four Evangelical prayer houses
in Buenos Aires and one prayer house in Cordoba5.
Today the pastors of the Armenian Evangelical Congregational church are
Roberto Gongora and David Casaretto6. An important role in the life
of the Armenian Evangelicals in Argentina is taken by the Armenian
Missionary Association of Argentina.
In 1961-1983 in Buenos Aires “Erdjanik huys” (“Happy Hope”) monthly
was issued by the Union of the Armenian Evangelical Brotherhood
Churches. Since 1983 it has been issued in Pasadena (US). “Erdjanik
huys” has spiritual content; it has also published news about the
Brotherhood7.
2009 was marked in the life of the Armenian Evangelical community in
Argentina by the events devoted to the 80th anniversary of the Armenian
Evangelical Conciliar Holy Trinity church. Many spiritual pastors and
benefactors who made an essential contribution to the history of the
church participated in those events. Today the Church owns Cristo es el
Cambio church in Floresta district. The Armenian Evangelical Conciliar
church initiated the creation of this prayer house back in 1998. Today
the main functions of the Armenian Evangelical Conciliar church are
public prayer, panegyric and doxology, music biblical school for the
people of different ages, Armenian and Spanish languages lessons8.
Thus, the Armenian Evangelicals play an important role in the biggest
Armenian community in South America. Their close cooperation with the
other groups of the Armeniancy is also topical. The active cooperation
of the Armenian Protestants from Argentina with various spiritual
and secular bodies in Armenia is important either.
Brazil. The Armenians settled in Brazil in the second half of the 19th
century. In 1885 the number of the Armenians was 100. The bigger groups
of our compatriots arrived to Brazil in 1920s and settled mainly in
San-Paulo and other cities of the similar state. In 1994 the number
of the Armenians in Brazil was 20 thousand9. At current moment there
are 25-30 thousand Armenians. Their main part (15 thousand) lives
in San Paulo and surrounding cities (Ozasko, Presidente, Altino
and others). About 600 Armenians live in Rio de Janeiro and about
300 Armenians in the capital Brasilia. The rest are spread all over
the other states (Parana, Ceara, Bahia, Mato Grosso, Minas Gerias,
Santa Catarina and others) 10.
The Armenian Evangelicals in Brazil has held public prayers since
1920s. Over that period an important role was taken by Rev. Mikael
Pichmenian. In a short run an abrupt growth of the number of the
adherents was registered. Pichmenian held the public prayers till
April 1930. On April 7, 1930 a church which consisted of 65 members was
formed in San Paulo. The church formed in 1939 included 42 families,
234 people, 73 church members; the number of the pupils of Sunday
schools was 30, and number of the members of “Zargatsman Arshaloys”
(“Development Rising”) was 4511.
The activity of the Armenian Brotherhood Biblical church in Brazil
(San Paulo) is also remarkable. Today the pastor of the church in
San Paulo is Movses Nersisian12.
Currently there are three Armenian Evangelical organizations in
Brazil – two Armenian Evangelical churches and regional committee
of the Armenian Missionary Association. The pastor of the Armenian
Evangelical Central church in San Paulo is Roy Abrahamian, and
his assistant is Dionisio Palha Ataide. Roy Abrahamian is also the
pastor of the Armenian Evangelical church established in 1970 and
his assistant is also Dionisio Palha Ataide. The activity of the
regional committee of the Armenian Missionary Association, which head
is Hampartsum Moumdjian, is of great importance in the life of the
local Armenian Evangelicals13. It is obvious that Roy Abrahamian as
well as Dionisio Palha Ataide play an important role in the Armenian
Evangelical community in Brazil. But the scantiness of the qualified
ministers of church is a negative phenomenon.
Currently there are 400 Armenian Evangelical families in Brazil;
they have church in San Paulo. They have often arranged public and
beneficial events, issue periodicals (in Armenian and in Portuguese).
“Evangelical Brothers” union functions14.
In Brazil the Armenian Evangelicals also carry out important
educational functions; they have Sunday schools which are of great
importance for not only the Armenian Evangelical community but also
for the entire Armenian community in Brazil.
It is obvious that the Armenian Protestant community in Brazil is of
great importance for the Armenian community of that country both in
terms of quantity and its functions.
Uruguay. The Armenians has settled in Uruguay since the 19th century,
but before 1900 only 15 Armenians migrated to Uruguay. The Armenian
community in Uruguay had been formed in 1920s when a big groups of
the Armenians who survived the Genocide and then found shelter in the
countries of the Middle East decided to move there. In that period the
number of the Armenians was 3 thousand. The community enlarged in 1926
when the second big group of the Armenians arrived. In 1931, according
to the community census, 4 thousand Armenians lived in Uruguay.
According to the information for 2003 the number of the Armenians
in Uruguay was 15 thousand; they are mostly centred in Montevideo;
there are also several Armenian families in Piriapolis15.
In Uruguay, just like in Brazil and Argentina, the Armenian
Protestants started their eager activity in the 1920s. At that
time their preacher in Montevideo was Z. Karapetian. In 1920s there
were only 6-8 parishioner families. In 1934 H. Ataturian spread his
spiritual activity there; in the same year Rev. H. Ter-Ghazarian was
invited as a preacher. In 1938 the church community consisted of 60
families. There was also a Sunday school where 30 pupils studies16.
The activity of the Armenian Brotherhood Bible church in Uruguay is
also remarkable. In the mid-20th century it had about 100 members in
Montevideo. Today the pastor of the Armenian Brotherhood Bible church
in Montevideo is Rev. Pedro Lapadjian17.
In Uruguay, side by side with the Armenian Apostolic and Armenian
Catholic churches, two Armenian Evangelical churches work18. The
Armenian Evangelical church spreads eager activity. In a consequence,
the number of the Armenian Evangelicals in Uruguay has abruptly grown
over the recent two decades19. This does not mean that the Armenian
Apostolic church does not play its traditionally important role in
the life of the Armenian community of Uruguay, but the presence and
activity of the Armenian Protestants in the life of the Armenian
community is getting more prominent.
The pastor of the First Armenian Evangelical church in Montevideo
is Obed Boyajian. The regional committee of the Armenian Missionary
Association in Montevideo also takes an important place in the life
of the community. It is headed by Jeremiah Elmasian20.
The cooperation of the Armenian Protestants of South America, in
this case the Armenian Protestant community in Uruguay, with other
Protestant churches and organizations is important. It promotes
strengthening of the community in the country, and due to this the
role of Armeniancy in that state is raised.
The Armenian Evangelical church is a member of the Federation of the
Evangelical Churches of Uruguay, which was established in 1956; it has
8 members and 5 associate members. The Federation of the Evangelical
Churches of Uruguay is affiliated with the Commission on World Mission
and Evangelism of the World Council of Churches21.
The activity of the Armenian Missionary Association of America in
South America. The activity of the Armenian Missionary Association
of America also plays an important role in the life of the Armenian
Protestant communities in South America. Particularly, in Argentina
the AMAA mainly helps poor and elder as well as disseminates Bible
and spiritual literature. Among main functions of the AMAA in Brazil
is the assistance to the Armenian Evangelical church, dissemination
of the spiritual literature, granting scholarships to needy students,
assistance to poor families. In Uruguay the AMAA furnishes financial
assistance to the local church, needy families, spreads Bible and
Christian literature22.
So it is obvious that in the Armenian Protestant communities in South
America the AMAA mainly deals with rendering assistance to the most
vulnerable strata, as well as dissemination of Christian literature.
Thus, in these communities the AMAA singles out social issues, as
well as evangelical work in order to satisfy the spiritual needs of
the coreligionists. The eager social activity in those communities
is conditioned by the general social and economic situation in South
America. To compare, in the Armenian Evangelical communities in North
America, i.e. in Canada and especially in the US, the AMAA mainly
deals with educational and cultural issues, establishment of the
strong organizational structures, which, naturally, is conditioned
by the auspicious situation in those countries.
Nevertheless, it should be mentioned, that the Armenian Evangelical
communities in South America do not play a leading role in the life
of the Armenian Evangelicals in general. This can be proved by,
e.g. the fact that none of the 13 members of the Armenian Evangelical
World Council represents South American communities. Meanwhile,
there are 8 representatives from North America. Three of five key
posts in the council are occupied by the representatives of the
Armenian Evangelical community in the US. They are the president
Mgrdich Melkonian23, Treasurer Albert Momjian, executive director
Rev. Vahan H. Tootikian. There are also 4 other representatives of
the Armenian Evangelical community in the US in the council24. So,
the Armenian Evangelical communities of South America look much
moderate as compared with the leading role of the Armenian Evangelical
communities of North America (especially US). This is conditioned by
more powerful organizations of the Armenian Evangelical community in
North America and its longer history.
The American Evangelicals of South America are an integral part of the
Armenian Protestants spread all over the world. In Argentina, Brazil
and Uruguay the Armenian Protestant communities constitute a part of
the Armenian communities in those countries and Armeniancy in general.
The development of the relations of the Armenian Protestant communities
in those three countries with the other Armenian communities there,
as well as with each others is important. The cooperation of the South
American Armenian Protestant communities with the Armenian Protestant
communities of North America and other communities all over the world
is also valuable. The collaboration of the Armenian Protestants of
North America with the adherents of both Apostolic Armenian church
and Armenians of other confessions is of topical priority.
1Õ~DÕ¡Õ¬ÕÕ¡Õ½ÕµÕ¡Õ¶ Õ~D., Õ~@Õ¡ÕµÕ¥O~@Õ¶ Õ¡Õ·ÕÕ¡O~@Õ°Õ¸O~BÕ´,
ÔµO~@O~GÕ¡Õ¶, 2007, Õ§Õ” 21-22O~I
2Ô±Õ¿Õ¡Õ¶Õ¡Õ¬Õ¥Õ¡Õ¶ Ô¿.Õ~J., Õ…Õ¸O~BÕ·Õ¡O~@Õ±Õ¡Õ¶ Õ~@Õ¡Õµ
Ô±O~BÕ¥Õ¿Õ¡O~@Õ¡Õ¶Õ¡Õ¯Õ¡Õ¶Õ¡O~A Õ¥O~B Ô±O~BÕ¥Õ¿Õ¡O~@Õ¡Õ¶Õ¡Õ¯Õ¡Õ¶
Õ¥Õ¯Õ¥Õ²Õ¥O~AO~BÕ¸Õµ, Õ-O~@Õ¥Õ¦Õ¶Õ¸, 1952, Õ§Õ” 465O~I
3Ibid, p 457O~I
4Armenian Brotherhood Bible Churches Around The World,
5Õ~@Õ¡Õµ Õ½O~CÕµÕ¸O~BÕ¼O~D Õ°Õ¡Õ¶O~@Õ¡Õ£Õ”Õ¿Õ¡O~@Õ¡Õ¶, ÔµO~@O~GÕ¡Õ¶,
2003, Õ§Õ” 103:
6AMAA Directory 2011: Armenian Evangelical Churches, Institutions,
Organizations, Pastors and Christian Workers Worldwide, p. 4.
7Õ~@Õ¡Õµ Õ½O~CÕµÕ¸O~BÕ¼O~D Õ°Õ¡Õ¶O~@Õ¡Õ£Õ”Õ¿Õ¡O~@Õ¡Õ¶, ÔµO~@O~GÕ¡Õ¶,
2003, Õ§Õ” 110:
880 Õ¿Õ¡O~@Õ” Õ°Õ¡Õ¾Õ¡Õ¿O~DÕ” O~G Õ®Õ¡Õ¼Õ¡ÕµÕ¸O~BÕ©ÕµÕ¡Õ¶,
9Õ~@Õ¡ÕµÕ¥O~@Õ¶ Õ¡Õ·ÕÕ¡O~@Õ°Õ¸O~BÕ´, Õ°Õ¡Õ¶O~@Õ¡Õ£Õ”Õ¿Õ¡Õ¯Õ¡Õ¶
Õ°Õ¡Õ´Õ¡Õ¼Õ¸Õ¿ Õ¢Õ¡Õ¼Õ¡O~@Õ¡Õ¶, ÔµO~@O~GÕ¡Õ¶, 1995, Õ§Õ” 33O~I
10Õ~@Õ¡Õµ Õ½O~CÕµÕ¸O~BÕ¼O~D Õ°Õ¡Õ¶O~@Õ¡Õ£Õ”Õ¿Õ¡O~@Õ¡Õ¶, ÔµO~@O~GÕ¡Õ¶,
2003, Õ§Õ” 118-119:
11Ô±Õ¿Õ¡Õ¶Õ¡Õ¬Õ¥Õ¡Õ¶ Ô¿.Õ~J., Õ¶Õ·Õ¾. Õ¡Õ·Õ., Õ§Õ” 463O~I
12Armenian Brotherhood Bible Churches Around The World,
13AMAA Directory 2011: Armenian Evangelical Churches, Institutions,
Organizations, Pastors and Christian Workers Worldwide, p. 8.
14
15Õ~@Õ¡Õµ Õ½O~CÕµÕ¸O~BÕ¼O~D Õ°Õ¡Õ¶O~@Õ¡Õ£Õ”Õ¿Õ¡O~@Õ¡Õ¶, ÔµO~@O~GÕ¡Õ¶,
2003, Õ§Õ” 613:
16Ô±Õ¿Õ¡Õ¶Õ¡Õ¬Õ¥Õ¡Õ¶ Ô¿.Õ~J., Õ¶Õ·Õ¾. Õ¡Õ·Õ., Õ§Õ” 463, 465O~I
17Armenian Brotherhood Bible Churches Around The World,
18Õ~@Õ¡Õµ Õ½O~CÕµÕ¸O~BÕ¼O~D Õ°Õ¡Õ¶O~@Õ¡Õ£Õ”Õ¿Õ¡O~@Õ¡Õ¶, ÔµO~@O~GÕ¡Õ¶,
2003, Õ§Õ” 614:
19Ð~PкопÑ~Oн Ð~P., УÑ~@Ñ~Cгвай – даДекий и
бДизкий,
20AMAA Directory 2011: Armenian Evangelical Churches, Institutions,
Organizations, Pastors and Christian Workers Worldwide, p. 17.
21Federation of Evangelical Churches of Uruguay,
22AMAA At Work Around the World,
23Previously the post of the vice-president was occupied by the
representative of the Armenian Evangelical community in the US Avedis
Boinerian; see: AMAA Directory 2010: Armenian Evangelical Churches,
Institutions, Organizations, Pastors and Christian Workers Worldwide,
p. 2.
24See AMAA Directory 2011: Armenian Evangelical Churches,
Institutions, Organizations, Pastors and Christian Workers Worldwide,
p. 2.
“Globus National Security”, issue 2, 2011
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