page_title: Armenians in Syria
section_title: Organizations
hierarchical_section_title: Armenians in Syria / Organizations
caption_attribution_description: English: Armenian Orphanage in Old Aleppo
context_page_description: The Armenians in Syria are Syrian citizens of either full or partial Armenian descent.
  Syria and the surrounding areas have often served as a refuge for Armenians who fled from wars and persecutions such as the Armenian Genocide. However, there has been an Armenian presence in the region since the Byzantine era.
  According to the Ministry of Diaspora of Armenia, the estimated number of Armenians in Syria is 100,000, with more than 60,000 of them centralized in Aleppo. With other estimates by Armenian foundations in Syria putting the number around 70–80,000. However, since the start of the conflict, 16,623 Syrian citizens of ethnic Armenian background have arrived in Armenia. Of these displaced persons, 13,000 remained and found protection in Armenia as of July 2015. The government is offering several protection options including simplified naturalization by Armenian descent, accelerated asylum procedures and facilitated short, mid and long-term residence permits.
context_section_description: The majority of Armenian organizations are based in the city of Aleppo, acting in the form of cultural, sport, youth or charitable associations:
  Cultural associations based in Aleppo:
  Grtasirats Cultural Association (1924)
  Kermanig-Vasbouragan Cultural Association (1928)
  Hamazkayin Cultural and Educational Association (1930)
  Armenian Youth Association (1932)
  Tekeyan Armenian Cultural Association (1955)
  National Cultural Association (1955)
  Urfa Renaissance Cultural Association (1957)
  Nor Serount Cultural Association (1958)
  Cilician Cultural Association (1964)
  Syrian Youth Association (1978)
  Charitable associations based in Aleppo:
  Armenian General Benevolent Union (1910)
  Armenian Syrian Red Cross Association (1919)
  National Orphanage (1920)
  Armenian Old Age Home (1923)
  Howard Karageozian Commemorative Corporation (1941)
  Jinishian Memorial Foundation (1966)
  Social Service Consultation of the Diocese of Beroea (1993)
  Sports associations based in Aleppo:
  Armenian Sports Union, known as Homenmen sports and scouting organization established in Aleppo in 1921
  Ararat Sports Union, founded in 1923, represented to the Syrian General Sports Federation under the name Ouroube SC
  Armenian General Athletic Union, known as Homentmen sports and scouting organization, established in Istanbul in 1918 and opened branches in Syria in 1925, represented to the Syrian General Sports Federation under the name al-Yarmouk SC
  Students associations based in Aleppo:
  Karen Jeppe College Graduates Union (1947)
  Syrian-Armenian University Students Union (Ս.Հ.Մ., est. 1968)
  Graduates Union of Higher Institutions of Armenia (1982)
  Syrian Universities' Armenian Graduates Union (Ս.Հ.Շ.Հ.Մ., est. 1985)
  Dkhrouny Students-Youth Association (1969) of the Hunchakian party
  Christapor Students Union (2001) of the Dashnak party
  Most associations have their branches in many other Syrian cities: Qamishli, Damascus, Latakia, Kessab, etc.
  The Armenians of Aleppo have also formed compatriotic unions based on their roots, named after towns and villages where their ancestors have migrated from, during the Armenian Genocide. Nowadays, there are 11 compatriotic organizations operating in Aleppo: Dikranagerd, Daron-Duruperan, Marash, Urfa women's, Urfa youth, Palu, Zeitun, Kilis, Berejik, Musa Ler and Garmouj compatriotic unions.
  Other notable community structures in Aleppo include:
  The National Cemetery, opened in 1927 on a state-owned piece of land. It became the property of the prelacy after the independence of Syria in 1946. The chapel of Surp Hripsimé stands at the centre of the cemetery since 1970.
  Avetis Aharonian theatre hall of the Armenian Prelacy, opened in 1959, renovated and renamed in 1989 (450 seats)
  Zavarian theatre hall of the Armenian Prelacy, opened in 1965, renovated in 2002 (350 seats)
  Kevork Nazarian theatre hall of AGBU, renovated and renamed in the mid-1990s (550 seats)
  Zohrab Kaprielian theatre hall of Grtasirats Cultural Association, opened in 1973, renovated and renamed in 1999 (600 seats)
  Kevork Yesayan theatre hall of the Armenian Prelacy, opened in 2005 (700 seats)
  Zarehian Treasury, opened in 1991 in the 15th-century building of the former Holy Mother of God church, near Forty Martyrs Cathedral. More than 650 valuable pieces are exhibited in the museum.
  Vergin Gulbenkian Hospital
caption: The Armenian Orphanage in Jdeydeh, Aleppo
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