ARMENIANS FROM SOUTH OF BUCOVINA
Settlement, demographic situation and organization in the territory
According to credible historical evidence, Armenians settled in Moldova in the 14th century. In 1401 Suceava was the residence of an Armenian bishop, affiliated to the diocese of Lviv (today Lviv, Ukraine). Starting 1449, the Armenians here were canonically subordinated to the Orthodox Patriarchate of Constantinople. Later, Ștefan cel Mare (1457-1504) allowed the settlement of 10,000 Armenian families in Moldova.
In 1646, in Suceava there were 3000 Armenians and 4 churches. Armenians in Galicia became Roman Catholics in the 17th century. Many of them emigrated to Transylvania during the reign of Gheorghe Duca (1669-1672), who accused them of a conspiracy against him, founding the cities of Armenopolis (Gherla) and Elisabetopolis (Dumbrăveni).
Field Marshal Rumiantsov’s census of 1774 recorded the existence of 55 local Armenian families and 25 foreign Armenians in Suceava and 7 foreign Armenians in Chernivtsi. During the Austrian rule (1774-1918), several Armenian Catholic families came to Bucovina from Galicia.
In 1781, there were already 129 Armenian families in Bucovina, over a decade the Austrian authorities already recorded the existence of 900 Armenians in this province.
Of the 114 large landowners in Bucovina in 1875, 38 were Armenian Catholics and Poles and 12 were Orthodox Armenians.
In the second half of the 19th century, the Armenians owned several villages and properties (estates) in southern Bucovina: Mitoc, Zamca, Șcheia, Negostina, Iacobești, Todirești, Soloneț, Mărițeia, Stejăroaia, Brăiești, Slobozia / Milișăuți, Reuseni.
In 1900, 439 Catholic Armenians and 381 Orthodox Armenians lived in Bucovina, and in 1910, the year of the last Austrian imperial census, 657 Catholic Armenians and 341 Gregorian Armenians lived in the province.
The 1930 census recorded 234 Catholic Armenians and 139 Gregorian Armenians in Bucovina, most of whom were Armenians living in the city of Suceava (92). Most Armenian Catholics lived then in Chernivtsi (84) and in Bănila on Ceremuș.
In 2002, 35 Armenians lived in the city of Suceava (out of 36), several dozen Armenians also living in the city of Chernivtsi.
Suceava Armenians have 4 historical monuments of national importance, 3 located in the city (St. Simion Church, St. Cross Church, St. Auxentie Church – in the Zamca monastery complex) and 1 outside the city – Hagigadar Monastery (“Fulfillment of Wishes”) , located in Bulai village, Moara commune (3 km from Suceava).
According to specialists, in southern Bucovina there are a number of names with Romanian resonance, but they are of Armenian origin: Blănaru, Bocăneţ, Botoşan, Botuşan, Ciubotar, Croitor, Diacon, Găină, Hulubei, Popovici, Siretean, Tănase.
The Union of Armenians in Romania (president Varujan Vosganian), has a branch in Suceava, run by Ioan Foit, the publishing house “Ararat” and the publication of the same name. This organization has branches in Moldova, Transylvania and Dobrogea.
Customs (traditions)
Bucovinian Armenians keep two types of traditions sacred: religious and secular. Within the religious traditions, known, preserved and popularized like no other by Father Azad Mandalian, the following stand out: Christmas; Vartavar; Assumption of the Virgin Mary.
2.1. Religious traditions
Christmas
It is always celebrated in the old style, on January 6th. After a week of fasting, on Christmas Day, a number of candles equal to the number of family members are brought from the church and traditional Armenian dishes are prepared. On the same day, a special liturgy is served for the souls of those who have left us, called the Liturgy for the peace of souls.
Vartavar (Change of face)
It is usually celebrated in the 7th week after Pentecost, being preceded by a 7-day fast. Traditionally, the houses and the church are adorned with as many roses as possible (vart = rose), and the Armenians sprinkle themselves with water. In 2022, Vartavar is to be celebrated on July 24.
Assumption of the Virgin Mary
It is celebrated among Orthodox and Roman Catholics on August 15, but for Armenians it is always celebrated on the Sunday before August 15.
Bucovinian Armenians and Armenian pilgrims from Romania or the diaspora celebrate the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin at Hagigadar Monastery.
The monastery has been known since the 19th century for the tradition of kneeling on the hill on which the church is built and of surrounding the church three times on its knees by pilgrims who want to fulfill a wish.
After the liturgy in Armenian by Father Azad Mandalian, pilgrims (not necessarily Armenians) are invited to an agape called “hurban”. On this occasion, “aganciabur” is served, a kind of soup made of greens soaked in sour and dried milk, topped with dumplings stuffed with beef and pilaf with beef.
2.2. Secular traditions
Within the secular traditions, the Armenians from Bucov ina and around the world commemorate the Armenian Genocide (April 24), organized on this date on April 15, 1915 by the former Ottoman Empire, which deported and massacred most of its Armenians from its territory. 3. Proverbs and stories We still offer some samples of proverbs and an Armenian story, which were spread in Bucovina since the 19th century, circulating in Bucovina as well. 1. A wise man is like the sun; The fool is like a serpent, he always hurts man. 2. The elders said, “What good is a soap for a black man and a fool’s errand?” 3. Better a poor horse than no horse at all. 4. The tongues of the serpent bring him forth out of the pit, and the tongue of the wicked slayeth him. 5. Listen a lot, but talk a little!
Anger is not good
A hiker traveled a lot and one day he stopped at a house, where a little girl came out before him. The traveling man sat down on a chair and talked a little with the little girl about what he had seen in the world. The hiker was overwhelmed by the sweat that had filled him. The road was long and, like any long road, it was tiring. Our man, without waiting for her to get a little tired, asks the girl to give him a cup of water. “Be like a flower to my heart and give me a cup full of cold water soon, for I can no longer quench my thirst.” – He brings it to you, because that’s how old people are and that’s good. “Peace be with you, good girl!” The little girl, seeing him so thirsty and tired, took the pitcher and went to the spring with the clearest and coldest water. She arrives quickly. Then he put cold, good and clean water in a cup. But he also put some wheat straw in the cup. Then he gives the hiker a cup of cold water, but also of wheat straw. The hiker, seeing the straw, drank slowly, so that the straw would not enter his neck. And when he had drunk, he said unto him, – Why did you put straw in the water? – I put straw in the water, so you don’t drink too fast, because, coming from too far, you were tired and you got a chest disease. Your chest would have lit up. The hiker thanked him for this. Time passed again and the same hiker arrived, who was just as tired. This time he was with his wife and he was a little upset. “I beg you to bring me good, cold water from the spring.” “He’ll bring it to you right away.” – Thank you from the bottom of my heart for this. The girl went with the pitcher and brought good water. But now she does something else: she puts a two-pointer in the cup. The hiker, as he was very thirsty, drank the water, but very slowly, so that the stings would not come to his mouth. “Why did you do that?” “It’s a secret thing!” “And what’s the secret?” – Look, I put the stairs, to drink the water slowly, to get over your anger. Anger is like velvet and poison and spoils man. There is no need for anger anywhere in the world, but love and peace.