‘For us it’s like a second genocide’: Christian Armenians forced to flee
Hannah Felsbourg
Armenians are mourning the loss of historically Christian region Nagorno-Karabakh as the conflict with Azerbaijan destroys their cultural heritage.
More than 120,000 mostly Christian Armenians have been displaced from the Nagorno-Karabakh region leaving only a few dozen remaining under Azerbaijani rule.
Those displaced are finding it difficult to start a new life with limited support available.
St Mary’s Armenian Apostolic Church Melbourne parish priest the Reverend Father Khacher Harutyunyan said for the Armenian community it was like a second genocide.
He said to see a scenario like the genocide of 1915, in which up to 1.5 million Armenians died, brought back emotional trauma for their nation.
Even for Armenians living in Melbourne it brought back cultural memories of losing their families, heritage and churches.
13th-century Armenian Apostolic cathedral Gandzasar monastery in Artsakh. Picture: Emma YSU (CC BY-SA 4.0)Father Harutyunyan said Azerbaijan was destroying Armenian heritage in the region, especially Churches, crosses, graves, and anything with the Armenian language on it.
He said the Armenian Apostolic Church had been raising the attention of overseas organisations to advocate for the preservation of Armenian heritage in the region.
He said it was important for Christians to raise their voice to oppose the aggression.
Nagorno-Karabakh, known in Armenian as the Artsakh region, is a historically Armenian-majority region located within the borders of Azerbaijan whose ownership has long been disputed.
Exodus of Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh occurred in late 2023, after Azerbaijan launched a renewed offensive in September, leading to the complete takeover of the region.
Now there are only dozens of Armenians remaining in the region. As of 1 January 2024, all state institutions of the Republic of Artsakh were dissolved.
Many of those who left Artsakh now live in temporary housing in Armenia, a country struggling economically, or have travelled elsewhere to start over.
Father Harutyunyan said the hope was for Armenians to be able to return to Artsakh someday to preserve their cultural identity and Christian traditions.
