Guest Posted June 20, 2000 Report Share Posted June 20, 2000 The Armenians of Poland are very proud of their heritage. After all, they have been part of the Polish landscape for nearly 800 years, and despite assimilation, many still see themselves as Armenians or at least Poles of Armenian origin. Historians differ on the date when the first Armenians began settling in what was once called Red Ruthenia which later became Poland. The difference, however, is only a matter of decades—between the middle of the 11th century and the early part of the 12th century. But they all agree that the Armenians came as friends, often to help the region’s local Polish kings and rulers against foreign invaders. One of the early recorded military missions dates to 1241, when a battalion of 40,000 Armenian officers and soldiers marched from the Crimean city of Kaffa, or Teodossia in present-day Crimea, to Kamieniec (Kamenets) to defend the region’s Armenian population against the Mongol invasion. One wave after the other, Armenians came from the Crimea and later Armenia proper establishing viable communities in and around the city of Lvov, then part of Poland and today in the Ukraine. The early immigrants included not only officers and soldiers, but also artisans, traders and builders who helped fortify the city which became their home away from home for many centuries to come. Polish King Casimir, in a letter dated June 17, 1356, names the Armenians among his loyal subjects. Other historical documents indicate that the Armenians had their own church in Lvov in 1303 or even as early as 1183. While Lvov is considered the main center of Armenian habitation in Poland, thousands of Armenians also settled in a number of smaller towns and villages in the region, including Vladimir, Lutsk, Tchichnov, and others. By the mid-14th century the number of Armenians in Poland had increased so much that the Armenian Apostolic Church in Armenia found it necessary to establish a separate Diocese and sent Archbishop Krikor to Poland in 1346. It was this core that continued to attract more immigrants over the years and new Armenian communities were established in Balta, Var, Berejni, Broti, Virmeni, Korodenka, Toupno, Zamosk, Bajkov, Stoutianitsa, Stanislaw, Dismenitsa and a score of other towns and cities. There are no concrete details regarding the number of the early Armenian settlers, but the 200,000 figure often appears in the historical documents of the era. The Polish kings and Dukes regarded the Armenians not only their loyal subjects, but at times an elite segment of the population, giving them special privileges—including self rule. Polish historians, describing the behavior of the Armenian immigrants, say “these people, who came to these lands carrying with them small bags of soil from their native land, soon became the salt of their adopted homeland. The credit for the luster of some Polish towns like Lvov and Kamenets goes to a great extent to the Armenians.” In a letter addressed to the Polish Armenian community in 1410, Catholicos Hagop refers to his fellow Armenians as “My dear priests, barons, seniors, doctors, traders, land owners, farmers and artisans.” Each segment of the Armenian population has played an important role in the life of the Polish nation, and yet, as a community never neglecting its own needs, establishing schools and helping its own poor and less fortunate members. Over the years, Armenians gained prominence and prestige. According to records regarding the development of the city of Lvov, especially during the period between the 15th and the 18th centuries, the Armenians were single-handedly responsible for the gold and silver industry that flourished during that era. Also famous were the Armenian businessmen, who over the years turned the region into a major trading center between east and west, selling European products in the east and importing such items as spices, Persian carpets and other goods into Europe. Maybe it was this wealth and the special status in the Polish marketplace that gave the Armenians certain privileges, including a tax exemption and the right not only to get involved in foreign trade, but also in wide scale commercial activity within Poland as well. During the 16th century, out of the 38 trading houses in Lvov, 22 belonged to Armenians. Later in the 17th century, all except two of Lvov’s trading houses were owned by Armenians who also maintained similar trading posts (offices) in Istanbul, Smyrna, Esfahan, Moscow, Amsterdam and other major cities. Some were so rich, that on more than one occasion, they made major financial gifts to the Polish kings of the era. One anecdote speaks of an Armenian merchant by the name of Avedik Bernatowicz who was approached by King Wladyslaw II (1632-1648) to lend him 100,000 Ducats, the currency of that period. According to historians, Avedik asked the monarch if he wanted the specified sum to be given in gold, silver or copper coins. The reply was “in all three”, to which Avedik responded by giving the king 100,000 Ducats in gold and the same amount in both silver and copper. It was this special relationship that paved the way for the Armenians to be granted an autonomous status in 1350, a privilege which gave them the right to establish their own courts of law and deal with their own community issues without interference from the Polish rulers. Consisting of 12 elders chosen by the community, the courts exercised their authority, and had their own civil code which was approved by the Polish authorities, especially those in the city of Lvov and its surrounding towns and villages where the majority of the Armenians lived. This special status continued until 1476, when one after the other of these privileges began diminishing until they were totally abolished in 1784. But this did not mean that the Armenians had lost all their clout. Labor unions had already begun taking shape, which not only dealt with the welfare of their own members, but also established an Armenian bank to help the needy and poor in the community. As much as the Armenians cared for their fellow-Armenians, they never neglected their obligations toward the host country, Poland. In 1444, Armenian volunteers joined their Polish “brothers” in fighting the Turkish forces. Armenian volunteers were also involved in similar encounters during the Polish-Turkish war in 1621 and again in 1672, further strengthening the bond between the Polish and Armenian people. Already integrated into Polish society, Armenians were soon to be appointed to key government positions. During the 15th century, an Armenian by the name of Hagop was sent on key diplomatic missions to Persia, Arabia and Tatarstan. Another Armenian by the name of Christapor Seropowicz was given the rank of ambassador. Yet others were given such royal titles as Duke and Prince. Polish Armenian ties were so strong that in 1696 the ruling Polish monarch offered to send 35,000 soldiers to help the Armenians under Ottoman rule regain their independence. But the stronger these ties became and the greater the trust between the Polish Armenians and the native Poles, so did the dangers of assimilation. Ethnic Armenian names began changing. Torosian became Torsowicz, and the traditional “ian” endings were soon replaced with the Polish “wicz”, which means the son of. The Polish influence was was soon to also make its way into the Armenian Apostolic church. Despite the objections of the Armenian community, Deacon Nicholas (Nigol) Torosewicz, the 22-year-old son a of a rich merchant, was elevated to the rank of Archbishop in 1627. He later initiated the Union with Rome and embraced Catholicism in 1635—thus renouncing all ties with Holy Etchmiadzin and paying homage to the Vatican. For more than 20 years, the community resisted the move into Catholicism and thousands left Poland to start new communities in nearby countries like Bulgaria, Romania and Moldova. The Armenians of Poland tried to oust Torosewicz by various means and take the Armenian church away from him, but the battle was lost—mainly because of the rich Armenian merchant class whose financial interests were closely linked to the Polish Catholic society and leadership. In 1664, the Vatican sent two Catholic monks who soon established a number of schools and seminaries to train new Armenian Catholic clergymen, and in effect spreading the Catholic faith within the community. By 1820, the Armenians of Poland had lost most of their clout. Their numbers had decreased to such an extent, that only 100 families remained in Lvov and even less in some of the other towns and cities of the region. The Polonization process was moving fast. One hundred years after the arrival in Lvov of the two Catholic monks from the Vatican, the Armenian language had disappeared almost completely from all official documents, while Grabar, the classical form of the Armenian language, was confined to the liturgy. The final blow to the Armenian language came in the middle of the 19th century when the separate Armenian schools were closed. The process of the Polonization of the Armenians was complete. But this did not destroy the community’s Armenian roots and heritage. True, Armenians of Poland today do not speak the native tongue of their ancestors, but still call themselves Armenians or at least Poles of Armenian origin. History may still repeat itself. As the continuous influx of new immigrants energized the Armenian settlers in the early years of the community, the arrival of tens of thousands of people from Armenia is rapidly changing the face of the Armenians of Poland today and the tide of total assimilation may soon be a thing of the past—another chapter of the 800-year-long history of one of Europe’s oldest Armenian communities. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 20, 2000 Report Share Posted June 20, 2000 They often call themselves the new gypsies of Europe, but in fact they are Armenian illegal immigrants, searching for an elusive, better life in Poland, thousands of miles away from their homes and families in Armenia. They have no work permits, and no healthcare. Most of their children stay at home, because parents—despite assurances to the contrary by the Polish authorities—are afraid to be caught and deported. In Warsaw and almost every town and city across Poland from Gdansk in the north to Krakow in the south, an estimated 70,000 to more than 100,000 Armenian illegal immigrants face an uncertain future. Vagabonds who have left their homeland due to war, unemployment, economic hardships and poverty and dropped anchor at the gates of western Europe. According to Polish Immigration authorities, the Armenians are part of a 600,000-strong illegal immigrant population now living in Poland. Many are from the former Soviet Union but some are from as far away countries like Vietnam. “Poland was their country of choice because they considered it a stepping-stone into western Europe. But Poland will soon be a member of the European Union and the immigrants seem to prefer staying here rather than risking arrest while trying to cross into Germany. “Why go anywhere else when the European Union is coming here,” a Polish social worker said. For the time being, the Polish authorities are only trying to prevent the arrival of new illegal immigrants by tightening their frontiers with neighboring Russia, Ukraine and Belarus—all members of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) whose doors are open to other CIS members like Armenia. “For many years, Poland did not require entry visas for CIS nationals, but now the authorities in Warsaw are realizing that this open-door policy can be counter-productive . They are also under pressure from the European Union headquarters in Brussels to stop the flow of CIS nationals into Poland,” a Western diplomat said. Illegal immigration is already a major social problem for many European countries like France and Germany, and Poland is not that far behind. “The Polish government cannot keep turning a blind eye forever. More than 600,000 illegal immigrants in a European country of 40 million like Poland can have some serious repercussions,” he said. European diplomats say given the free and open borders between the members of the EU, the presence of hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants from the former Soviet Union, including some 100,000 Armenians, can cause major social and economic problems in the region. “Once Poland becomes a full member of the EU, then the Polish-German border will disappear and the citizens of the two countries will drive freely from one country to the other. Germany cannot leave its border unguarded if such a large number of illegal immigrants remain in Poland,” another European diplomat said. Faced with the new realities, the Polish authorities have opened a separate department within the interior ministry designed to deal with issues involving illegal immigration. The 40-room department is already functioning above its capacity and plans are underway to expand its operations to deal with the thousands of applications for residence permits. “Poland is becoming a very ethnically diverse society and the push by illegals to settle down has just started,” an official explained. But Poland is also under pressure from the European Commission to halt the flow of non-Poles into the country. “The European Union does not want to absorb hundreds of thousands of people from the former Soviet Union,” one official said. In an effort to halt the influx, the Polish authorities have all but sealed their eastern borders, especially in the face of Armenian citizens trying to enter Poland from the Ukraine and Belarus. Similar measures have also been taken at the Polish-German border to avoid any infiltration by the illegal immigrants into Germany. “As of now, all Armenian citizens wishing to enter Poland need visas, something which did not exist earlier this year. And with no Polish Embassy in Armenia, the situation gets ever harder and more complicated,” a Warsaw-based Armenian diplomat said. “We have opened an Armenian Embassy in Warsaw and we are now waiting for the Polish government to reciprocate. The presence of a Polish Embassy in Armenia will be a very positive thing,” he aid. Interviews with scores of illegal Armenian immigrants indicate an overwhelming desire to return to their homeland, but the reality seldom reflects that. “We would like to go back tomorrow if only conditions were better. Many of us have family and parents in Armenia who depend on the few dollars we send back home every month ... but this is a difficult life and our future is dark. We feel trapped,” said Arsen, a father of four young children who runs a small kiosk selling compact discs at the central Warsaw sports stadium which has been converted into a huge flea-market. “In this location alone there are more than 2,000 to 3,000 Armenian traders. The Polish authorities know that we are here and have no residence permits, but they do not bother us. They turn a blind eye until one of us gets into trouble,” he said. In one corner of the stadium, most Armenians said they were from the Armenian town of Ashtarak who had followed their friends to Poland “because there is work here.” “There are a number of school teachers and even a couple of engineers who have left their families behind in search of a better life. Nearly all of us send money back home to support our families and relatives who have no real income,” Arsen said. The stadium’s “traders” pay rent to a management agency which allocates small blocks of space on a monthly basis. “You can do business as long as you pay your rent. Sometimes we have to make other under the table payments to stay here ,” he said. Arsen’s story is that of the majority of illegal immigrants. They survive day-by-day but see no future for themselves and their families unless their status is legalized in one form or another. “I am not asking for Polish citizenship. All I want is to have a work permit to function peacefully and pay my taxes like everybody else. I want a legal status which will allow me to leave Poland and be able to get back,” Arsen, who declined to further identify himself, said. According to official statistics, 217 Armenians applied for refugee status in 1997 and only three of the applications were approved. During the same year, 130 Armenians applied for visa extensions, and only 49 were approved. “Those who come forward with these applications are less than a minority. The illegal immigrants just don’t bother with even trying to legalize their status. They just stay,” an immigration lawyer said. At a small Armenian kiosk-type restaurant in central Warsaw, the conversation shifts from home front Armenian politics to unemployment and the prospects of returning to Armenia. The patrons are often unemployed themselves, just hanging out and waiting for an opportunity to make a few dollars to see them through the week. “Imagine more than 100,000 Armenians living in Poland as a society of street vendors. More than 95 percent are illegal immigrants who are effectively trapped in Poland with no where to go...except Armenia where there is no work,” said one of the patrons. “A few people got together a few years ago and tried opening a small school for the Armenian children, but they did not succeed because of financial reasons. At the moment, the majority of the children of the illegal Armenian immigrants are either at home, out on the streets, or helping their parents in the market. This situation can only lead to more trouble and even crime,” restaurant manager Levon Hovsepian said. Hovsepian himself is technically “employed” by a Polish citizen who owns the restaurant. He came to Poland five years ago after losing his acting job in Yerevan. “I have a family to feed and I was not finding work as an actor...Poland was open to Armenians, so I chose to come here rather than one of the countries of the former Soviet Union. Poland, after all, is Europe,” Hovsepian said. Similar stories are everywhere. There are the former factory workers, teachers, engineers, musicians, army deserters, and draft dodgers. The flow of Armenian immigration into Poland escalated in 1993 due to the devastating effects of a harsh winter, a total blockade by Azerbaijan and Turkey, and the collapse of the country’s industrial infrastructure. Armen Saribekian was a shoe factory worker near Gyumri, a city which was devastated by the 1988 earthquake in Armenia. “I lost my job, and for several years I tried to make a living selling cigarettes on street corners. I could not survive, so I decided to join my friends here in Gdansk,” he said. Saribekian has since married a Ukrainian woman and become a Ukrainian citizen, a status which allows him to travel in an out of Poland without restrictions. “I will go back to Armenia once I save enough money to start a small business there,” said Saribekian, who sells cheap men’s clothing out of a truck in one of Gdansk’s small bazaars. An estimated 800,000 Armenians have left their country since independence in 1991, many heading to Russia, the Central Asian republics and the other countries of the former Soviet Union. The exodus has slowed down in the last few years, mainly because of the high cost of living in most of the countries of the former Soviet Union which were among the popular destinations of the departing Armenians. “A lot has changed since the early 1990’s when things were cheap and most of these countries had not given the potential problems of illegal immigration much thought . There is more control now and the influx has slowed down,” Hovsepian said, But for those illegal Armenian immigrants, life is becoming more and more difficult, especially for the thousands of families with school-age children. “By definition, an illegal immigrant is poor, lives with a dozen others like him in the same house. He has no rights and does not enjoy any of the privileges of a citizen . Life under these circumstances can be, and in fact is, devastating for any ethnic group anywhere in the world,” a Polish social worker said. Life for the 100,000 plus illegal Armenian immigrants is not far from that definition. In some cases it’s worse. Schooling is available, but parents are afraid to register their children for fear of being tracked down by the authorities. Healthcare is expensive and often out of reach for the vast majority of the illegal immigrants. “Imagine a new Armenian generation growing up on the streets of Poland, without an education, culture or faith. This is the ugly truth ,” Hovsepian said. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 20, 2000 Report Share Posted June 20, 2000 These were both very interesting articles. I knew a woman who I worked with a while back who was an Armenian from Poland. She didn't speak a word of Armenian. Her husband was also a Polish Armenian, and he spoke little Armenian. So much for your theories of marrying Armenians will guarantee Armenian culture to survive (Raffi!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taguhi Posted March 16, 2001 Report Share Posted March 16, 2001 Polish Armenians don't speak Armenian.Long time ago Polish Armenians spoke in some kipchak dialect and they wrote in Armenian alphabet.I wonder why people who always talk about their Armenian roots or even wrote some books about Armenia and Armeniansdon't try to learn their nation lenguage.A lot of them speak fluently rusian and other languages. Why not Armenian? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yervant1 Posted November 19, 2016 Report Share Posted November 19, 2016 Krzysztof Stopka: Armenians Played Important Role in Polish History and Culture The Armenian community of Poland has had an important contribution in the life of Poland through history, says Dr. Krzysztof Stopka, Professor of History and Armenian studies at Jagiellonian University in Krakow (Poland) in the interview to Scholarm.com website. “The Armenians played from the 14th century a very important role in the history of Poland. They played an important role in the diplomatic relations between the Polish state and the Ottoman Empire… as well as with Persia since the 17th century. The Armenians also contributed to the orientalization of the Polish culture [as well as] played a role in the Polish high culture”, – says Dr. Stopka in the interview. Dr. Stopka also speaks about his books on Armenian issues, particularly the book Armenian Warsaw (Ormiańska Warszawa) which presents a large collection of facts about the contribution of the Armenians in cultural, economic, political and other spheres of life in Warsaw through history. “The Armenians were a small group in the capital, but they were very important for the economy and the government of the whole city. It was surprising for us to find this out… They imported oriental goods to Warsaw, but also they founded the manufactures of the oriental textiles. Near Warsaw they founded a factory of Polish belts (very typical for Polish national style) and during the 18th century this manufacture was very popular… In the 19thcentury the Armenians played a very important role in the Polish struggle for independence. They took part in the Polish revolution against Russia in the 18th century and they supported the Polish case (for the Polish people the Russians were oppressors)… The Armenians also took part in the Polish military during the World War II fighting against [Nazi] Germany. This is a reason for pride for the descendents of Armenians”, – says Dr. Stopka. Dr. Stopka says the history of the Armenian community in Poland should be interesting for Armenians today because, among other reasons, this small but rich and influential community had a political influence on the Armenian question in the 17-18th centuries. Also, he says the language that they spoke (both Armenian and Kipchak) is an interesting phenomenon for the linguists to study – he himself has written a book on this. Other publications by Dr. Stopka on the Armenian issues include Lehahayer – Journal of History of Polish Armenians and Armenia Christiana – a book on the history of the Armenian Church between Constantinople and Rome. Dr. Stopka plans to write a new book about the Armenian Apostolic Church in Poland – from the beginning up until the union with Rome. He has already collected a lot of new and interesting materials on this topic from the archives of Ukraine. Another book titled Armenian Krakow is now being prepared by Dr. Stopka’s colleague Dr. Andrzej Zięba, who is also a professor at the Jagiellonian University. Dr. Krzysztof Stopka started studying Armenian history and culture about 30 years ago when he wrote his Master’s thesis on the history of the Armenian colonies in Old Poland. Since then he has authored many books on the Armenian history, and he says that this subject has never stopped being interesting for him. See the complete interview at Scholarm.com By Nvard Chalikyan Source: Scholarm.com Panorama.am Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yervant1 Posted January 15, 2017 Report Share Posted January 15, 2017 Historykon: Silk belts for Polish noblemen were made by Armenian weavers21:36, 14.01.2017Region:World News, ArmeniaTheme: Society An exhibition of Polish silk belts will open in the Polish city of Sosnowiec, Historykon reports.The periodical presents a short story on when and how the Polish nobility began wearing belts, and who made and brought them.The embroidered belts began to be considered as an important detail of noblemen’s costume as early as in the first half of the 14th century. Because the belt fashion had arrived from the East, the workshops were given Persian names, whereas the belts were made by Armenians, who were sponsored by Polish magnates.Belts from Turkey were popular in the 16-17th centuries: they were imported to Poland by the Armenian traders from Lvov. Since the second half of the 17th century, expensive Persian belts had also appeared in Poland. They were 4-5 m long and about 60 cm wide.After the Afghan conquest in 1722, the trade with Persia stopped. Since the Polish elite still honored belts, the weavers moved to Turkey from Iran, and from there to the eastern regions of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.The first workshops appeared in the city of Stanisław, Ivano-Frankivsk city of modern Ukraine, as well as other cities. The most famous workshop was founded in Slutsk, located in the territory of modern Belarus. Head of the workshop, Prince Michał Kazimierz Radziwiłł, put Armenian weaver Jan Madjarski (Hovhannes Majaryan)—and after him his son, Leon—in charge of it. https://news.am/eng/news/367678.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yervant1 Posted March 30, 2017 Report Share Posted March 30, 2017 Radio PolandMarch 29 2017 President marks 650 years of Armenian community in PolandPR dla ZagranicyPaweł Kononczuk 29.03.2017 16:27President Andrzej Duda praised the contribution of Armenians to Polish society and culture during a meeting on Wednesday marking 650 years since an Armenian community arrived in this country.Andrzej Duda meets Poland's Armenian community. Photo: PAP/Jakub Kamiński Duda noted that Armenians began arriving after special privileges were granted by Polish king Casimir the Great in 1367, establishing the first Armenian diocese in Poland.During a meeting with the Armenian community at the presidential palace in Warsaw, a parchment from that year was displayed. The document testifies to privileges accorded by the Polish king to Armenian Bishop Gregory.Duda said the contribution made by Armenians to Poland “is invaluable and penetrates practically all of social life, because they were both excellent farmers and created [sections] of the Polish intelligentsia, they were wonderful craftsmen, merchants."http://www.thenews.pl/1/9/Artykul/300263,President-marks-650-years-of-Armenian-community-in-Poland Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yervant1 Posted April 13, 2017 Report Share Posted April 13, 2017 ‘Why Poland “forgot” Armenians?’09:29 | April 13 2017 http://en.aravot.am/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2017/04/Hrayr-Maghakyan.jpg A lecturer at Universities of Silesia (Katowice, Poland) and Kelts Hrayr Maghakyan, citing multifold sources proves in the interview with Aravot.am that in the 14th century Armenians came to Poland not as refugees seeking alms, but in a good sense as “colonists”. According to the scientist, due to Polish-Armenians the Polish aristocracy began to wear luxurious eastern clothes, to adorn and bear beautiful arms. According to him, Poles also used Armenians’ abilities to possess Eastern languages and to be aware of the lifestyles of different countries, and the whole entourage of the Polish ambassadors was comprised of Armenians. Our interlocutor, however, proves that today’s Polish society, as a result of very limited information about Armenia, perceives Armenians and Armenia as a part of Russia and because of antipathy towards Russia, a very small percentage of Poles knows what significant influence Armenians had on their country’s socio-economic and political life. Pursuant to Maghakyan’s assurance, a serious propaganda of Armenia and Armenian culture should be conducted in Poland and the international image of our country by an example of Georgians should be enhanced. Hrayr Maghakyan also reminded the names of several famous Polish-Armenians, about whom, perhaps, they are not informed in Armenia that much: journalist, writer, food critic and traveler Robert Maklovich, politician, former deputy Voychiekh Moyzesovich, monk, a follower of Armenian Catholic Church, social activist, church historian, poet Tadeusz Bohdan Isakowicz-Zaleski, film and theater actress, social activist Anna Dimna, composer, producer Robert Amiryan, politician, former deputy and senator Lukasz Abgarowicz. These are the people who have a significant role in today’s Poland’s life. We can add to the list the name of conductor, composer Krzysztof Penderecki, who has long become a friend of Armenia. Gohar HAKOBYAN http://en.aravot.am/2017/04/13/193131/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yervant1 Posted May 13, 2017 Report Share Posted May 13, 2017 Armenpress News Agency, ArmeniaMay 11, 2017 ThursdayPoland's Armenian community is outstanding manifestation of Diaspora,says AmbassadorYEREVAN, MAY 11, ARMENPRESS. Poland’s Armenian community is one of theunique manifestations of the Armenian Diaspora, with its rich historyand important roles in Poland’s life. Armenians live in Poland formore than 650 years. The 650th anniversary which is marked by thecommunity this year, which coincided with the 25th anniversary ofestablishing diplomatic ties between Armenia and Poland, relates tothe granting of exclusive privileges to Bishop Grigor of the ArmenianApostolic Church by one of the prominent kings of Poland’s history –Casimir the Great, Armenia’s Ambassador to Poland H.E. Edgar Ghazaryantold ARMENPRESS, speaking on the role of the Armenian community inPoland.“By the way, this isn’t the only privilege that the Polish authoritiesgranted to the Armenians. Armenians had the privilege of having aseparate autonomy in Poland, a separate court operating in Armenianlanguage with Mkhitar Gosh’s Code of Laws etc. And in terms of whatrole Armenians had in the history of Poland, I believe it waswonderfully presented by President of Poland Andrzej Duda, who hosteda special reception on March 29 in the Presidential Palace in honor ofthe Armenian community on the 650th anniversary”, the Ambassador said.Various sources mention 40,000-45,000 Armenians living in Poland. Thisnumber not only includes the descendants of Armenians who lived forcenturies in Poland, but also Armenians who arrived in the country inthe past 20-25 years.Namely after the collapse of the USSR tens of thousands of Armeniansarrived in Poland and were actively engaged especially in the tradingbusiness. In the future the majority of them repatriated to Armenia ortraveled to other countries, while a significant other part continuesto live and work in Poland.They are mostly engaged in trade and entrepreneurship activities.There are also many renowned public, arts, cultural figures who haveestablished themselves in the Polish society.“One can’t not mention Jadwiga Zarugevichovafrom historic figures ofArmenian descent, who is considered the symbolic Mother of the unknownsoldier of Poland, or Gjegoj Piramovich (Grigor Pirumyan), who is oneof the authors of Poland’s Constitution (first minister of educationof the first republic of Poland), Theodor Aksentovich – renownedpainter, the former rector of Krakow’s academy of arts and others.There are also present day famous figures of Armenian descent inPoland. One of the common prides of the Armenian and Polish peoples inworld famous composer and conductor, maestro Krzysztof Penderecki, whohas Armenian roots, or renowned clergyman and writer TadeuszIsakowicz-Zaleski, famous TV reporter Robert Maklovich and others”, hesaid.In cooperation with Polish authorities and partner organizations, aswell as Armenian organizations of Poland, the Armenian Embassy hasorganized more than two dozen events on the 650th anniversary of theprivilege granting to the Armenian community, as well as the 25thanniversary of establishing diplomatic ties between Armenia andPoland.According to the Ambassador, this year’s most important event was thereception in the Presidential Palace, which had great historicsignificance.“In terms of cultural events, the biggest event so far was theArmenian Youth Orchestra’s concerts in Warsaw and Lublin, within theframework of the Beethoven international music festival. Armenian Daysare being organized in various cities across Poland, as well asconcerts, exhibitions, forums etc. On May 8, 2017, the ministry ofDiaspora of Armenia and the Armenian Embassy in Poland jointlyorganized the 2nd annual forum of Poland’s Armenians”, the Ambassadorsaid.5 forums dedicated to the history of the Armenian community of Polandare scheduled to take place in 2017 in the country.A similar event entitled ‘Armenian Diaspora’s Art’ has already beenheld in Warsaw.Overall, more than 50 various anniversary events are planned to takeplace in 2017 in Armenia and Poland. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yervant1 Posted October 20, 2017 Report Share Posted October 20, 2017 Panorama, ArmeniaOct 19 2017 The Polish Senate adopted a resolution marking the 650th anniversary of the establishment of Armenian community in Poland The Polish Senate adopted on Thursday a resolution on the occasion of the 650th anniversary of granting special privilege to the Armenian diocese in the country.As the official press release by the Senate reads, the Speaker of the Armenian Parliament Ara Babloyan and Ambassador of Armenia to Poland Edgar Ghazaryan were present at the Senate session.Initiated by senator Yana Zaryanayi, the resolution congratulates the Armenians for the achievements and “contribution to the Polish culture and creative presence in the country’s history.” The adoption of the resolution was followed by an exhibition titled “Armenians in Poland.”To remind, on October 21 the Warsaw Mayor’s Office jointly with the Embassy of Armenia plans a symbolic tree planting event on the occasion of the special privilege granted to the first Armenian diocese in Poland by Polish king Casimir the Great in 1367https://www.panorama.am/en/news/2017/10/19/The-Polish-Senate/1852720 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yervant1 Posted November 24, 2017 Report Share Posted November 24, 2017 News.am, ArmeniaNov 24 2017 Poland Sejm unanimously adopts resolution on Armenian community14:51, 24.11.2017 The Sejm, which the lower house of the National Assembly (NA) of Poland, adopted a resolution unanimously by 435 votes, and in connection with the 650th anniversary of the privileges granted to the Polish Armenian community.In the resolution, the Polish lawmakers underscored the Armenian community’s part in the history of Poland, and paid tribute to those who gave their lives for the independence of the country, according to the official website of the Sejm.Also, this document expresses a conviction that the joint brotherly life of the Armenians and the Poles will open new wonderful chapters of their joint history in Poland.On October 19, the Senate, which is the upper house of the Polish NA, also had adopted a similar resolution. https://news.am/eng/news/422737.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yervant1 Posted December 4, 2017 Report Share Posted December 4, 2017 Pan Armenian, ArmeniaDec 4 2017 http://media.pn.am/media/issue/249/510/photo/249510.jpgDecember 4, 2017 - 14:40 AMT Historic Polish castle hosts "Armenian Day" to celebrate centuries-old ties The Castle of the Pomeranian Dukes in the Polish town of Szczecinek hosted a series of events titled "Armenian Day" on December 2.Armenia's ambassador to Poland Edgar Ghazaryan, head of the Armenian community in Szczecinek Yuri Khurshudyan, as well as representatives of local authorities and adjacent settlements attended the events.The "Armenian Day" were dedicated to the 25th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, as well as the 650th anniversary of Poland's Armenian community.A number of those in attendance delivered remarks and offered presentations on various subjects concerning Armenia, Poland, and the centuries-old ties between the two nations.The Polish Sejm on November 24 adopted a resolution on the 650th anniversary of Poland's Armenian community which states that King Casimir III gave the Armenians of Lwów in the 14th century the right of setting up a Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church.http://panarmenian.net/m/eng/news/249510 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yervant1 Posted May 30, 2018 Report Share Posted May 30, 2018 (edited) Public Radio of ArmeniaMay 29 2018 Poland’s Presidential Palace lights up in the colors of Armenian flag17:12, 29 May 2018 Poland’s Presidential Palace was lit up in the colors of the Armenian flag on April 28 on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the First Armenian Republic, the Armenian Embassy in Poland said in a Facebook post.http://www.armradio.am/en/2018/05/29/polands-presidential-palace-lights-up-in-the-colors-of-armenian-flag/ Edited May 30, 2018 by Yervant1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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