Religious Change in Mardin Armenians During Ottoman Period

• Main Author: İbrahim Özcoşar
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Gaziantep University 2008-12-01
• Series: Gaziantep University Journal of Social Sciences
• Subjects: Ermeni; Mardin; Misyonerlik; Katolikleştirme; Protestanlaştırma; Armenian; Missionary; to become Catholic; to become Protestant
• Online Access: http://dergipark.gov.tr/jss/issue/24248/257109?publisher=gantep

“Nation system” of Ottoman State to govern non-Muslim citizens consisted basically of a structure which envisaged the protecting their own religious ritual and organizational structure of religious communities. Thanks to that non-Muslims protecting their own religious community structure under Ottoman domination for centuries became unprotected for missionary activities of western world when Ottoman State got weak. Mardin Armenians were one of the areas where western’s missionary activities were effective. Consisted only of Gregorian Armenians until 17the century, Mardin Armenian religious community suffered a big change after the destructive activities of missionaries. The struggle and clash lasting for approximately 200 years resulted in the definite victory of missionaries towards the middle of 19th century. In this study, the process of the completely disappearance of Gregorian Armenians in Mardin is evaluated