The Armenians of Athens, 1918

The Athenian newspaper, Ethnos published a speech from the President of the Armenian community in Athens, M. Nigoghosian which was given after mass to his compatriots in the Armenian Church on September 26th, 1918.

The name of the Armenian church, Saint Gregory the Illuminator, is not mentioned in the news article but it is known that it was founded in Athens in 1908.

A brief history of the Armenian presence in Greece will be provided as context for understanding the speech. The first significant Armenian community was established in Thessaloniki during the 1880s, which was then under Ottoman rule. The Greek historian, Ioannis K. Hasiotis states in his book on the Armenians in Greece: “Armenian political fugitives and activists sought refuge in Athens, Piraeus, and Crete during the first decade of the 20th century and shortly after the Armenian Genocide.” He continues that “after World War I, the Armenians in Thessaloniki, Athens, and Crete began to take serious political initiatives, first in order to publicize the Genocide of 1915 and after 1918 to welcome the refugees from Turkey.”

It should be noted the Armenian communities were small in number ranging from 300-400 to 1,500 members before the end of the Great War.

The speech praised Greece for allowing the Armenians to live in safety away from the clutches of the Ottoman State. Nigoghosian congratulated “the success of the [Greek] arms” up to that time and felt that the prayers offered by the Armenians were answered by the “Most High.” The Greek army along with its British and French allies had played an important role in the defeat of the Bulgarian army in Macedonia in September 1918.

The Armenians never forgot the Turks using the yataghan (a short Turkish sword) against them and that the “noble [Greek] people welcomed us with open arms.” The Turks massacred Armenians and robbed and looted their villages. These poor surviving souls were left “naked” and needed to find refuge. The Armenians of 1918 remembered the Hamidian massacres of 1895-96, Adana in 1909, and the massacres of 1915-18 at the hands of the Young Turks. The word massacre has been used instead of Genocide as the later term did not exist in 1918. Rafael Lemkin coined the term ‘genocide’ in 1944.

For the modest number of Armenians who came to Greece, they considered themselves fortunate to be welcomed in a country where they could begin new lives without facing persecution like they had experienced in neighboring Turkey. In Greece, the Armenians would be free to establish businesses, churches, schools, and newspapers, and to maintain their language and culture. Nigoghasian stated that in Greece, “we [Armenians] found the life-giving manna.”

The Greeks are referred to as a “noble people” who fought with courage to overthrow the Ottoman yoke a century earlier. They fought with tenacity and determination to achieve their independence.  It seemed that Nigoghasian considered “the foundations of tyranny which constituted the misfortune of the East” could be squarely placed on the Ottoman Empire. He may have been happy to see its disappearance once and for all.

At the same time, Nigoghasian possibly hinted that his compatriots were striving to achieve their own independence. He mentioned that “on a third front, the heroic allied troops were [striking down] the walls of this tyranny [and against a] tyranny which [was considered unshakable].” This may have referred to the British military successes in Jerusalem and Syria in 1917-18 against the Ottoman army. In September 1918, with the capitulation of Bulgaria, the Ottoman government put out peace feelers to negotiate an armistice with Britain.

It should be noted that a small independent Armenian state had come into existence around Yerevan in May 1918.

Nigoghasian described the Ottomans as “the wild beast” who would pay for the crimes they committed against his compatriots. The day of reckoning was at hand and he hoped that the Turks would eventually face judgment and punishment for their hideous crimes. “It is the first ray of the dawn of Freedom, after the long and stormy night of woes, and we greet it with unutterable joy,” Nigoghasian said. He believed that God would answer the prayers of the Armenians who had endured so much during the Great War and bless Greece for giving them a place of refuge. The eternal memories of the Armenian martyrs who had been massacred would never be forgotten.

“On this occasion,” he said, “let us cry out with one voice once more: Long live Venizelos. Long live Greece. Long live the Allies.” Nigoghasian praised the Greek premier, Eleftherios Venizelos and the allies on their military successes in the Balkans and Middle East theaters. Nigoghasian thanked Greece on behalf of his compatriots for allowing them “to take refuge in this hospitable country” in the midst of a global conflict.

It would be interesting to see how Nigoghasian might have viewed the political schism between King Constantine and Venizelos. One can assume that he opposed the former, who was a Germanophile, whereas the latter supported the Anglo-French alliance. Germany and the Ottoman Empire were enemies of the Armenian people. A united Greece under Venizelos eventually joining the Anglo-French offered hope to the Armenians at the end of hostilities.

Besides offering prayers and “the _expression_ of gratitude to our benefactors,” the Armenian community could contribute to the Greek war effort. This could be achieved financially and by Armenians volunteering to join the Greek army.  Nigoghasian knew that the Armenian financial contribution would be a small one but might be viewed positively by the Greeks.

In conclusion, Nigoghasian showed his appreciation for his compatriots being granted refuge in Greece and praised the military successes of the Greek and Anglo-French arms against its foes.