Armenia: Sanctuary Land

By Jirair Tutunjian, Toronto, 4 May 2025

Because of frequent invasions and the lawless occupation of their homeland, over the centuries, many Armenians have reluctantly left their homeland. But for millennia, Armenia has also acted as a refuge to people from China to Carthage, from Rome to Russia, from Assyria to India.

According to the Old Testament (2 Kings and Isaiah 37:37-38), Emperor Sennacherib of Assyria (705 B.C-681 B.C) was killed by his two sons (Adrammelech/Arda-Muliss and Sharezzer) while he was praying. It’s speculated that the brothers were angry with their father because he had passed over as heir his eldest son, Adrammelech. The killers fled to “the Land of Ararat.” The destination made sense because Armenia’s terrain (formidable mountains and valleys) offered protection from invading armies.

In “Primary History of Armenia,” 5^th century B.C. historian Movses Khorenatsi wrote that years earlier, two Chinese noblemen–Mamik and Konak–had fled to Armenia after their failed uprising against their half-brother, Chenbakur, the Emperor of China. According to legend, Mamik had become the founder of the Mamigonian noble family.

About 300 years later, the Great Hannibal of Carthage, who had almost vanquished the Roman Empire, fled to Armenia in 189 B.C. He became the guest of King Ardashes I and acted as a consultant in the new capital. In his free time, Hannibal pursued his hobby…formulating exotic poisons.

In 130 B.C., during the reign of King Vagharshag (149 -127 B.C), Meltes and Horian, the sons of chieftain Gisane (India) rebelled against King Dinaskhe. When their rebellion failed, the two young men and their followers fled to Armenia and settled in the country of Daron, which the Armenian king had granted them. They founded a city (Vishab, after their Indian god) and three villages. They retained their Identity for many centuries before being absorbed into the Armenian society.

Armenians are familiar with the story St. Hripsime, the beautiful daughter of a Roman nobleman who was harassed by Emperor Diocletian for converting to Christianity. She was instrumental in the conversion of Armenians to Christianity. Hripsime and 35 Roman virgins led by Abbess Gayane, fled to Armenia. The story was told by historian Agathangelos.

In the Middle Ages, a large group of Indians, who were eventually and misleadingly called Gypsies, settled in Armenia. They said they were fleeing religious persecution in what is now the Indian state of Rajasthan. Several centuries later, they moved west, although a significant number remained in Armenia. They took a number of Armenian words with them. Among the words are “pal” (Pallig in Armenian), meaning friend. The word is still used by people who speak English.

And who are the people who have most recently sought refuge in Armenia? Young Russians, of course. They are fleeing from Vladimir Putin’s Russia and possible recruitment in the army for the war with Ukraine. Ukrainians also fled from the war. Many Russians and Ukrainians are technicians, especially in the computer sciences, and they are boosting Armenia’s reputation as the Silicon Valley of the Caucasus.

Kurds and Yezidis have always found refuge in Armenia.

Armenia, a crossroads of civilizations, is a welcoming land to refugees from all over the world.

Photo: The largest Yezidi temple is located in Armenia.