Armenian Uruguayans

Armenian Uruguayans number around 15,000-19,000 of the population, making Uruguay to have one of the largest Armenian populations around the world.  The Armenian community in Uruguay is one of the oldest communities in South America, with most of them residing in the capital Montevideo.

History

One of the Armenian diaspora's smaller communities, Armenians in Uruguay are concentrated mostly in the capital city, Montevideo. Many of them are third- or even fourth-generation descendants of the first wave of immigrants coming from the Ottoman Empire between the end of the 19th century and the Armenian Genocide. The Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) established a chapter in Uruguay in 1939 and inaugurated a community center complex in 1953.
Recognition of the Armenian Genocide by various world parliaments was spearheaded by Uruguay's Parliament, when in 1965 it became the first country in the world to recognize the Genocide. The Parliament has subsequently consistently supported various resolutions in favor of the Armenians.

Community
Between 1974 and 1975, the AGBU Uruguay Chapter established an educational center which was completed in two phases: first to be completed was the Nubarian Elementary School in honor of the founder of AGBU, Boghos Nubar; then came the Alex Manoogian High School, named after the then AGBU President.

The Armenians are very active in the arts. Alvaro Hagopian is the conductor of the Montevideo Philharmonic Orchestra. Also operating is the "Gayane" Dance Group, which belongs to the Armenian National Center.

Two long-running radio programs, "Radio Armenia" and "Radio Gomidas," were founded in 1935. The former was closed in 2007 and replaced by "Radio Arax." "Radio Gomidas" continues broadcasting to this day. 

Montevideo has a public square named Armenia. The Uruguayan Government also has a minister (and former member of Parliament) of Armenian origin, Liliam Kechichian.

Religion

Most Armenians belong to the Armenian Apostolic Church. The main center is the Armenian Church of Montevideo, Uruguay (). This church has a memorial statue by sculptor Nerses Ounanian, dedicated to the victims of the Armenian Genocide.

There is also a significant presence of Armenian Catholics and Armenian Evangelicals.

The main Armenian places of worship in Montevideo are:
 St. Nerses Shnorhali Church (Armenian Apostolic)
 Cathedral of Our Lady of Bzommar (Armenian Catholic)
 Armenian Evangelical Church (Armenian Evangelical)

Notable people
 Coriún Aharonián – musicologist and composer
 Pablo Aprahamian - judoka
 Garo Arakelian – Famous Uruguayan rock star, solo musician, founder and member of La Trampa 
 Avedis Badanian – journalist
 Dora Bagdassarián – Dean of the Law School of the University of the Republic
 Nuvart Bezjián – painter
 Joaquín Boghossian – footballer for Club Plaza Colonia de Deportes
 Mauro Guevgeozián – footballer for Club Atlético Temperley
 Liliam Kechichián – government minister
 Roberto Markarián – Rector of the University of the Republic
 Sergio Markarián – football coach and retired footballer
 Vartan Matiossian – scholar of Armenian studies
 Gabriel Melconian Alvez – swimmer
 Nerses Ounanian – sculptor and artist
 Diego Rossi Marachlian – footballer for LAFC
 Adrian Sarkissian – retired footballer
 José Luis Satdjian – businessman and politician
 Asadur Vaneskahian – journalist and news anchor
 Christian Yeladian – footballer for Club Sportivo Cerrito

Gabriel Melconian — Swimmer of the Olympics Games London of 2012

  Martín Melconian — Swimmer of the 
 Olympics Games of Rio 2016

 Oriana Aharonian — Pro signer and writer of her own songs. Also plays guitar and piano

See also
 Armenian diaspora
 Armenian-Uruguayan relations

References

External links
 AGBU
 Web site for Armenians of Uruguay
 Tigran Ghanalanyan, Armenian Protestant communities in South America, http://noravank.am/eng/issues/detail.php?ELEMENT_ID=5722
 Armenian-Uruguayan cultural identity 

Uruguay
Category:Asian Uruguayan
Category:Ethnic groups in Uruguay
Category:Immigration to Uruguay
 
Category:Armenia–Uruguay relations