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Armenian Brazilians

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Armenian Brazilians
Armeno-brasileiros
Բրազիլահայեր
Total population
40,000
Regions with significant populations
Languages
Religion
Christianity (Armenian Apostolic Church, Roman Catholicism), and others
Related ethnic groups
Other White Brazilians, Armenians
Part of a series on
Armenians
Armenian culture
By country or region
Armenian diaspora
Subgroups
Religion
Languages and dialects
Armenian: Eastern (Zok) • Western (Homshetsi)
Sign languages: Armenian Sign • Caucasian Sign
Persian: Armeno-Tat
Cuman: Armeno-Kipchak
Armenian–Lom: Lomavren
Persecution

Armenian Brazilians (Armenian: Բրազիլահայեր, romanized: Brazilahayer; Portuguese: armeno-brasileiro, armênio-brasileiro) are citizens or residents of Brazil who have total or partial Armenian ancestry. It is estimated that approximately 40,000 Armenians and their descendants reside in Brazil, with the majority concentrated in the state of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. Armenian immigrants in Brazil gathered mostly in and around the city of São Paulo, where there are churches, cultural centers, and even a metro station called Armênia, named after the country.[1]

History

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Armenian immigration to Brazil began in the second half of the 19th century.[2] Until 1915, the number of Armenians in Brazil remained relatively low and not demographically significant.[3] A small community formed in Rio de Janeiro, comprising approximately 300 families,[4] many of whom had arrived seeking employment in port reconstruction projects in Rio de Janeiro and Santos.[2] These immigrants were often poorly documented and typically worked as peddlers.[2][5] Over time, some achieved economic success, founding businesses such as Lanifício Varam and Gasparian & Filleppo in the textile industry.[5] Due to their small numbers and occupational similarities with other Levantine groups, Armenians during this period were frequently assimilated into broader communities of Syrian and Lebanese immigrants and did not initially establish distinct communal institutions.[3]

The first recorded Armenian to visit Brazil was Etienne Brasil, arriving in Rio de Janeiro in 1907 for a brief stay.[6] Born in the Ottoman Empire in 1882, Brasil moved to France for his university education and was later ordained as a Catholic priest and obtained degrees in pharmacy and philosophy.[7] He was believed to be a nephew of Paul Petros XIII Terzian, Armenian Catholic Patriarch of Cilicia from 1910 to 1931.[8] After his initial visit, he relocated to Salvador, Bahia, around 1908, residing there for approximately a year before returning to Rio de Janeiro.[6] During the period of the Armenian genocide, he became a notable columnist in the Brazilian press, where he denounced the persecution of Armenians and other Christian communities in the Ottoman Empire. Following the independence of the First Republic of Armenia in 1918, Brasil served as a diplomatic representative in South America, contributing to the recognition of Armenia by several countries in the region and promoting humanitarian support for Armenian refugees. Following the Red Army invasion of Armenia, he turned his attention to his legal career and ceased public involvement in Armenian affairs until his death in 1955.[9]

A second wave of Armenian immigration occurred in the 1920s, particularly between 1924 and 1926. By 1935, the Armenian population in Brazil was estimated at around 5,000 individuals.[10] These immigrants were largely genocide survivors fleeing persecution in the Ottoman Empire.[3] The majority of these immigrants settled in the state of São Paulo, especially in cities such as São Paulo proper, Osasco, and the district of Presidente Altino,[11] while others relocated to Rio de Janeiro and additional regions.[12] Lacking financial resources, many were supported by earlier Armenian settlers and community leaders. Organizations such as the Conselho dos Quarenta ("Council of Forty") and individuals like Riskallah Jorge, owner of Casa da Boia, provided temporary accommodation and material assistance.[2]

Geographic distribution

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The Armenian population in Brazil is estimated at approximately 40,000 people. Armenians in Brazil are primarily concentrated in the southeastern region of the country, with the largest communities located in the state of São Paulo.[13][10] Other significant populations reside in Rio de Janeiro,[11][14] Brasília, and various other states.[4][11]

São Paulo is the principal center of the Armenian diaspora in Brazil.[15] The city is home to multiple Armenian churches, including the St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Catholic Church, which became the official seat of the Armenian Catholic Apostolic Exarchate of Latin America in 2015. Armenian Apostolic, Evangelical, and Armenian Brotherhood churches are also present,[16] particularly in the Bom Retiro district, a historic hub for Armenian settlers.[17]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Pereira, Liésio (24 January 2004), "Diáspora Armênia traz para São Paulo os primeiros imigrantes", Radioagência Nacional, archived from the original on 23 August 2004, retrieved 7 July 2009
  2. ^ a b c d Grün 1996, p. 116.
  3. ^ a b c Bogossian-Porto & Bogossian 2023, p. 221.
  4. ^ a b Marcarian 2016, p. 111.
  5. ^ a b Melo 2011, p. 356.
  6. ^ a b Loureiro & Scandolara 2023, pp. 267–268.
  7. ^ Loureiro & Scandolara 2023, p. 266.
  8. ^ Loureiro & Scandolara 2023, p. 267.
  9. ^ Loureiro & Scandolara 2023, p. 270.
  10. ^ a b Loureiro 2017, p. 4.
  11. ^ a b c Melyan 2023, p. 158.
  12. ^ Bogossian-Porto 2018, p. 449.
  13. ^ Bogossian-Porto & Bogossian 2023, p. 224.
  14. ^ Bogossian-Porto 2018, p. 451.
  15. ^ Melo 2011, p. 354.
  16. ^ Loureiro & Scandolara 2023, p. 278.
  17. ^ Bogossian-Porto & Bogossian 2023, p. 231.

Bibliography

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Further reading

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