Special for the Armenian Weekly
The homecoming trip of the (no more) hidden Armenians from Diyarbakir to Armenia finally began this week, after months of planning, preparation, resolving issues, and seemingly endless three-way long distance discussions from Diyarbakir to Yerevan and Toronto.
One moment they burst into dancing i
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Raffi Bedrosyan is doing incredible work, both in his actions and his writings! He is a visionary and I look forward to each and every one of his articles. I admire him and the work he is doing. Yes, these people are Kurdish and Muslim, but they also are Armenian and that miracle of Armenian identity is finally able to show itself, even if under great duress. All obstacles must be removed, that is the challenge both for the Kurdish leadership under which most of these people live and also for Armenians in the Diaspora and Armenia that still retain prejudices. It is a way forward and these people are only the beginning of what I hope is a great movement. Personally, I thank you Raffi for making this happen!
George Aghjayan
what a great heartwarming story, I can feel the emotions and bravo to all this brave new Armenians, I wish this is the start of something great on our long and sad histry
Congratulations, Raffi, for the great work you’re doing. A man of words and of acts.
Jirair Tutunjian
Thank you Mr. Bedrosian for this brave and emotional article. Thank you also for the great work you continue to do.
Thank you so much. It’s beautiful to see this and inspiring. I so wish that Western Armenian is taught!!
Simply fantastic! Now to find ways to encourage and help the reported millions of other hidden Armenians to reclaim their identity.
I can not grasp the joy he and she have reached of returning back to his and her ancestors pledge Christianity and comeback to their people safe. God Bless you and your family
I cried hard.
I got goosebumps reading this, thank you so much! I love you all!
…this is all just the beginning…
This story is so moving! It must be an incredible experience for Raffi to witness and be part of. Bravo to all of you for daring to explore your past and roots!
As we all know, Armenians come in all shapes and sizes, with different passports and languages, light hair, dark hair, blue eyes, brown eyes. We accept them all. Maybe it’s time we also learn to accept Armenians as they are, no matter what religious tradition they grew up with – Christian, Muslim, Zoroastrian, pagan….because at base they are still all Armenians. Instead of confining the concept of Armenian identity to Christianity, it can and probably should be expanded to embrace the concept of a much larger, more inclusive family regardless of religion.
We have to be careful here with what we say. It is a known sociological fact that “no nation can be built on language alone”; end of citation. It takes more. Social customs and traditions, social interaction, along with religious traditions are some of the key ingredients.
Dear Raffi
This is the best gift to both Turkish and Armenian societies and to humanity .
These Diarbakirians will become the ambassadors of both Armenia and Turkey and will be able to act as a bridge between the two. Their stories will be part of the common body of knowledge and/or common history that the Turks and the Armenians must have, in order to achieve future peace and neighbourly relationship .
We are all grateful to you, Srpazan Pakrad and the Government of Armenia for co hosting with you and your Turkish counterparts their trip to Armenia. We are amazed and equally grateful to them for taking this courageous pioneering step.
We are anxiously waiting for the rest of the news on their trip, their interaction with their newly found surrounding and state of mind and emotions they go through, which, you so beautifully had described in this article.
Your action and their courage speaks volumes on human dignity and respect. I hope this is just the beginning to bring more Armenians and Turks of all faith together. That will create stronger bonds than any signed Protocols .
Thank you
K.m.gregsarkissian@gmail.com
My respects to the woman who went through with the baptism in order to honor her father as it was his last wish of her, despite her husband’s refusal. That takes amazing courage, and I hope she will not get any reprisals as a result. Her husband needs to come to terms with history and understand that her family’s religion (and thus culture) was practiced in these lands centuries before Islam, and in the article itself we have a key last word in the passage: “They have mostly decided to come out as Armenians, but not as Christians—yet”
Thank you Mr Bedrosyan for also helping these ‘New Armenians’ who are interested in their roots to once again find themselves.
I don’t mean to be pessimistic, but I also feel that in order for this project to become successful, many of these Armenians need to come out and courageously declare themselves who they really are, by very large numbers. That way there could be at least a “safety net” for themselves and others who are unsure to go through with their coming out as Armenians. Let’s face it, as I write this, Turkey’s neo-Ottoman dictator was elected “president” and is about to take up residence in a confiscated Armenian house, despite publicly and shamelessly declaring that it is ‘dishonorable’ to be called one. So for these Armenians, coming out as New Armenians could also be a dangerous proposition.
I’m proud of this woman too. But for her next visit to church, it would be much nicer if she covered her bare arms, and avoid wearing dresses with deep cuts in the front LOL.. I’m sure Raffi can cover these issues without hearting feelings. Bravo Raffi!
Raffi jan, I admire you for what you have been doing. Keep up the good work!!
Bravo Raffi, excellent devotion, great cause, and even better, great authorship. I will circulate your article to friens.
Vahak
Bravo , Raffi , I congratulate you for the great work you have done. Their bravery is a reflection of yours.
My respect to our Muslim compatriots, I think that they should convey to Christians first and then to Armenians. There should be no other way. Our ancestors have paid a lot being and staying Christians throughout the ages. Having Muslim Armenians will turn Christian Armenia into Muslim Armenia in a couple of decades. Muslims will multiply exponentially. Their loyalty is to Mecca & Medina, not to Etchmiadzin . We (Christian Armenians) have to stop Islam and their shari’a to enter our territories. Doing otherwise will help fulfill their long sought for goals. It will be like letting in the Trojan horse. It’s that simple, to become Armenian, they have to convert to Christianity first.