[Azat]

http://news.bbc.co.u...sia/3303979.stm

[Armen]

bbc: The mission of Dhaka´s last Armenian
Tarih: 23.1.2004

The church is a quiet haven in the noisy metropolis
Alastair Lawson
BBC Bangladesh correspondent
Once a thriving community in South Asia, the number of Armenians has
dwindled to such an extent that in the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka only one
man remains. He is known by his Anglicised name of Michael Joseph Martin.
Whatever happens, I'm determined not to let this church go to rack and ruin
Michael Joseph Martin
When Mr Martin, 73, dies, it will not only mark the end of an era, but will
throw into doubt the future of one of Dhaka's most beautiful churches.
Nestling in one of the busiest parts of Old Dhaka, Armenian Street used to
be a thriving business area, but its Armenian community has vanished.
Little evidence remains of its presence, even though centuries ago Armenians
were at the heart of Bengal's jute and leather trade.
Chronicle
But one prominent Armenian landmark does remain.
It is an 18th century church, described by visitors who explore it as a
haven amid the traffic chaos and crowded streets outside.
Yet its future is uncertain.
The caretaker Mr Martin, whose Armenian name is Mikel Housep Martirossian,
lovingly preserves the building against the ravages of the weather and
pollution.
Mr Martin tends the tombstones that chronicle Armenian life
He keeps the centuries-old births, deaths and marriages register and looks
after the ancient tombstones that chronicle the history of the Armenian
community in Bengal.
But when Mr Martin dies, there will be no more Armenians to look after the
church.
''Whatever happens I'm determined not to let this church go to rack and
ruin,'' he says.
''I may be the last resident Armenian in Bangladesh, but I will do
everything in my power to ensure that an Armenian from abroad takes over the
job I have been doing. Otherwise centuries of tradition will be disappear
overnight.''
Pirate deaths
The church's graveyard is like a giant history book, chronicling the history
of the Armenian people in the region.
Mr Martin tries to counter the ravages of weather and pollution
Armenians - like Bengalis - are renowned for their love of trading.
They are believed to have arrived in the region in the 12th century.
''This person died on the high seas, they were killed by pirates," says Mr
Martin, pointing at two gravestones that carry carvings of a skull and
crossbones.
''They were Armenians and their bodies were brought and buried over here in
1783.''
Pointing at another gravestone he says: ''This man's father married into the
British royal family, and he did the same thing. They had money and power,
and were also the biggest jute merchants in the country.
''But that couldn't stop their children from dying of diphtheria. In the
18th century even minor royals couldn't save the lives of the children.''
Busy location
The interior of the church is looking a little the worse for wear after
numerous robberies, but the central attractions - portraits of the
Crucifixion and the Last Supper - remain.
They are believed to have been done by a prominent European artist.
The church may be rooted in history, but it is located in one of the busiest
parts of the city.
Roads nearby are so crowded that services cannot be held during the working
week because the multi-denominational expatriate congregation would never
get there on time.
But even if it is no longer possible to hold regular services, Mr Martin
says the future of this valuable piece of history will be secured.
Until someone is found among the Armenian community abroad, he says he will
carry on as caretaker.
''While most Armenians have left Bangladesh, as the last to remain it's my
mission in life to make sure this relic from a bygone age will not be
allowed to disappear."

[Armen]

Hovhannes Joughayetsi

1682-1693. Hovhannes Joughayetsi. Armenian merchant who traveled and traded between New Julfa (the Armenian suburb of Isfahan), Northern India and Tibet. He spent five years in Lhasa. His commercial ledger is a unique source of information on products, prices, trading conditions, and the Armenian commercial network on the seventeeth-century routes involving the Safavid and Mughal empires.

Hethoum and Kirakos Gandzaketsi

1254-1255. Hayton I (also, Hethum, Haithon) and Kirakos Gandsaketsi.
Primary sources:


E. Bretschneider, Mediaeval Researches from Eastern Asiatic Sources, Vol. I (NY: Barnes and Noble, 1967; repr. of 1888 ed.), pp. 164-172. A condensed version, in which the translator claims to have included everything of geographical interest. Largely a catalogue of place names.
Secondary sources:

Henry Yule and Henri Cordier, tr. and ed., Cathay and the Way Thither, Being a Collection of Medieval Notices of China, Vol. I (London, 1916; repr. ed., 1998), pp. 161-164. Note that the description of China translated from the "History of Hayton the Armenian (Written in 1307)" (pp. 258-259) and followed by the French and Latin texts is from the work by Hayton's nephew and is not the travel account.

Armenian community of Iran

One of his (Shah Abbas) great concerns was the promotion and control of the native Iranian silk industry, the trade being in the hands of important Armenian families who had been re-settled to a suburb of the Safavid capital. It is one of these Armenians, a man named Hohvannes, who left us a unique document of the Silk Road, his diary and account books encompassing his activity over many years on the routes from Safavid Iran through Mughal India and even up into Tibet.