Armenians in Lithuania

History

In the Late Middle Ages, Armenians inhabited the cities of Kyiv, Włodzimierz, Krzemieniec and Łuck in the southern part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. First Armenians in Vilnius were noted in 1501. Armenians from Kyiv served as translators of Lithuanian envoys to the Tatar khans in the 16th century. After the main centers of Armenians in Lithuania passed to Poland within the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, the settlement of Armenians in Lithuania was of an episodic nature and was due mainly to the needs of trade, although from the historical sources it is known, that Armenian school was established in 16th century Vilnius, Armenian guild in the 16th to 18th centuries Vilnius. One of the most prominent painter of the 19th century in Lithuania was Jan Rustem (Armenian: Յան Ռուստամ).

Demographics

The roots of the Armenian community now living in Lithuania traces back to migration occurring in the 20th century.

Community members estimated their count at 2500 in 2001.

Recent developments

An Armenian community center was opened in year 2000.

A Khachkar was erected in the Hill of crosses in 2001 and in the center of Kaunas in 2004.

An Armenian church, St. Vardan, was opened in Vilnius in 2006.

In 2011, the Armenian Embassy in Lithuania was opened. Updates on Armenian cultural events in Lithuania can be found on the twitter page of the Armenian Ambassador to Lithuania.

Famous Lithuanian Armenians

• Seržas Gandžumianas, a famous designer
• Marat Sargsyan, a TV host and film-maker

References

Bibliography

References

1. "Population by ethnicity (2001 Census)". Department of Statistics to the Government of the Republic of Lithuania (Statistics Lithuania), 2005.
2. "2011 Census Results". Department of Statistics to the Government of the Republic of Lithuania (Statistics Lithuania), 2012.
3. [http://www.armeniadiaspora.com/population.html ArmenianDiaspora website] {{webarchive. link. (May 11, 2013)
4. [https://demoscope.ru/weekly/ssp/sng_nac_89.php?reg=8 Демоскоп Weekly - Всесоюзная перепись населения 1989 года.Национальный состав населения по республикам СССР]
5. lt
6. "THE ARMENIANS OF LITHUANIA: THE CHALLENGE OF LIFE IN THE NEW DIASPORA".
7. [http://www.tm.lt/rel_static/rel_zinynas/1k_aab.html] {{Webarchive. link. (2012-11-14 {{in lang). lt
8. davkstudio. (2017-02-01). "St. Vardan's Armenian apostolic church in Vilnius 2017".
9. "The Armenian Embassy was opened in Vilnius - Press Releases - Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia".
10. "Tigran Mkrtchyan (@TMkrtchyan) {{!}} Twitter".
11. "Embassy of Armenia in Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia (@armemblit) {{!}} Twitter".