# Armenian Press in France

The Armenian press in France (in Armenian Ֆրանսահայ մամուլ) or Armenian-language press in France includes periodicals such as newspapers and literary magazines published by members of the Armenian diaspora in France.

## History

To date, more than 200 Armenian-language periodicals have been published in France, mostly in Western Armenian.

### 19th century

The first journal was Maciats Aghavni [fr] (Մասեաց աղաւնի, "The Dove of Mount Ararat," 1855–1858 in Paris, then until 1865 in Theodosia) by Father Gabriel Aïvazian (1812-1880, brother of Ivan Aivazovsky), which aimed to promote the cultural, scientific, and moral education of the people. Shortly thereafter, Pariz (Փարիզ, "Paris", 1860–1864) was published. At the same time, Arevelk [fr] (Արեւելք, "Orient," 1855-1856) and Arevmoudk [fr] (Արեւմուտք, "Occident, " 1859 and 1864–1865) by Stepan Voskan [fr] (1825-1901), which espoused a militant and nationalist vision inspired by the Risorgimento. Voskan sought to spread ideas of economic and social progress and ideals of freedom inspired by French political struggles.
With the rise to power of Sultan Abdul Hamid II in 1876 and the Hamidian massacres (1894-1896), which severely affected Armenians in the Ottoman Empire, France received many refugees, especially political ones. Among them were writers such as Minas Tchéraz [fr], who published the monthly magazine L'Arménie [fr] (1889-1906, mainly in French), and Mekertich Portukalian, founder of the Armenagan Party, who published the newspaper Armenia [fr] (Արմենիա, 1885-1923) in Marseille.
At the end of the century, literary magazines like Anahit [fr] (Անահիտ) by Arshag Chobanian began to appear. Its first series (1898–1911) presented the literary works of writers such as Daniel Varoujan, Siamanto and even Komitas. A year after Anahit, the quarterly Panaser (Բանասեր, "The Philologist", 1899–1907) was launched.
| French Title (Phonetic) | Armenian Title | Title Translation | Type | Publication Dates | Publication Location |
| Maciats Aghavni [fr] (by Gabriel Aïvazovski) | Մասեաց աղաւնի | "The Dove of Mount Ararat" | Monthly magazine | 1855–1858 | Paris |
| Arevelk [fr] (by Stepan Voskan [fr]) | Արեւելք | "Orient" | Bi-monthly magazine | 1855–1856 | Paris |
| Pariz | Փարիզ | "Paris" | Magazine | 1860–1864 | Paris |
| Arevmoudk [fr](by Stepan Voskan [fr]) | Արեւմուտք | "Occident" | Bi-monthly magazine | 1859 and 1864–1865 | Paris |
| L'Arménie [fr] (by Minas Tchéraz [fr]) | — | — | Political and literary newspaper | 1889–1906 | Paris |
| Armenia [fr] (by Mekertich Portukalian) | Արմէնիա | — | Organ of the Armenagan Party | 1885–1923 | Marseille |
| Anahit [fr] (by Arshag Chobanian) | Անահիտ | — | Literary magazine | 1898–1949 | Paris |
| Panaser (by Garabed Basmadjian) | Բանասեր | "The Philologist" | Magazine | 1899–1907 | Paris |
| Hamalsaran (by Missak Baghdassarian and Hovhannes Chavarch) | Համալսարան | "University" | Scientific and literary magazine, monthly/bimonthly | 1899–1902 | Paris |

### First half of the 20th century

By 1920, some 30 periodicals were published. Most were based in Paris, where a small and disorganized Armenian colony of fewer than 1,500 people existed.
Several periodicals appeared in the 1910s, including Haï-Guiank (Հայ-կեանք, "Armenian Life," 1913-1914), Khetan (Խթան, "Stimulus," 1915-1931, by Aram Turabian), Artzakank Parisi [fr] (Արձագանգ Փարիզի, "Echoes of Paris," 1916-1925), Veradzenount [fr] (Վերածնունդ, "Renaissance," 1917-1921), and Ayk (Այգ, "Dawn," 1919). These newspapers covered topics such as the Armenian genocide and the establishment of the First Republic of Armenia.
The 1920s marked a significant increase in Armenian press activity in France, as refugees fleeing the genocide arrived in large numbers in 1922-1923. About 60 writers, intellectuals, journalists, and poets settled in Paris, along with many young people educated in Armenian schools, especially in Constantinople. These intellectuals established small independent printing presses, such as Araxes, Elekian, Bezazian, du Globe, de Navarre, Nersessian, Turabian, Der-Hagopian, and Le Soleil. About half a dozen of them operated continuously. They also opened bookstores, the most famous being Hrant Samuelian's bookstore, which opened in the Latin Quarter in 1930 after acquiring the inventory of an Armenian bookstore in Constantinople. During this period, described by Anahide Ter Minassian as a "cultural renaissance", 87 Armenian periodicals and thousands of books were published.
| French Title (Phonetic) | Armenian | Title Translation | Type | Publication Dates | Publication Location |
| Coutan [fr] | Գութան | "Plow" | Agricultural, science, and arts magazine | 1901-1905 | Paris |
| Joghovourtine hamar | Ժողովուրդին համար | "For the People" | Periodical | 1901 | Paris |
| Jamanak | ժամանակ | "Time" | Literary magazine | 1901-1902 (2 numéros) | Paris |
| Groung (by Kricor Proff-Kalfaïan) | Կռունկ | "Crane" | Artistic magazine | 1904-1905 (2 numéros) | Paris |
| Haï-Guiank | Հայ-կեանք | "Armenian Life" | Weekly | 1913-1914 | Paris |
| Khetan (Aiguillon in French) (by Aram Turabian) | Խթան | "Stimulus" | Organ of Armenian volunteers under the French flag | 1915-1931 | Marseille |
| Artzakank Parisi [fr] | Արձագանգ Փարիզի | "Echoes of Paris" | Periodical | 1916-1925 | Paris |
| Veradzenount [fr] (by Léon Hampartzoumian) | Վերածնունդ | "Renaissance" | Political and cultural magazine, platform of the Armenianophile movement | 1917-1921 | Paris |
| Ayk (by Krikor Balakian) | Այգ | "Dawn" | Periodical | 1919 | Paris |
| Ochacan | Օշական | "Oshakan" | Bi-monthly magazine | 1920 | Paris |
| Zeïtoun | Զէյթուն | "Zeïtoun" | Literary magazine | 1920 (2 issues) | Paris |
| Abaka [fr] | Ապագայ | "Future" | General newspaper of the Ramgavar Party | 1921-1950 | Paris |
| Hayastani dzain (by Dr. Nevrouz) | Հայաստանի ձայն | "Voice of Armenia" | Newspaper | 1922-1923 | Paris |
| Darakir | Տարագիր | "Exile" | Periodical | 1923-1924 | Marseille |
| Norachên | Նորաշէն | "New Construction" | Periodical | 1923 | Paris |
| Hay Panvor | Հայ բանուոր | "Armenian Worker" | Communist newspaper | 1924 | Paris |
| Nor Havadk [fr] (by Bedros Zaroyan [fr] and Zareh Vorpuni) | Նոր հաւատք | "New Faith" | Literary magazine | 1924 (1 issue) | Marseille |
| Panvor-Pariz | Բանուոր-Փարիզ | "Worker-Paris" | Communist-affiliated newspaper | 1924-1925 | Paris |
| Haratch (by Chavarche Missakian) | Յառաջ | "Forward" | General newspaper close to the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) | 1925-2009 | Paris |
| Erevan [fr] (by Zabel Yesayan, with French HOG aid) | Երեւան | "Yerevan" | Newspaper | 1925-1930 | Paris |
| Hai Sirt | Հայ Սիրտ | "Armenian Heart" | Newspaper | 1925-1938 | Marseille |
| Nor yerguir | Նոր երկիր | "New Country" | Organ of the French branch of the Social Democrat Hunchakian Party | 1926-1937 puis 1954-1955 | Paris |
| Verelk | Վերելք | "Ascent" | Organ of the Armenian section of the French Communist Party | 1926-1927 | Paris |
| Poujank [fr] | Բուժանք | "Healing" | Medical magazine | 1926-1930 | Paris |
| Arakadz (by Hovhannès Boghossian) | Արագած | "Aragats" | Bi-monthly literary magazine | 1926 | Paris |
| Khardots | Խարտոց | "File" | Satirical weekly | 1926-1927 | Paris |
| Gavroche [fr] (by Yervant Tolayan [fr]) | Կավռօշ | "Gavroche" | Satirical newspaper | 1908-1936 | Constantinople (1908-1925) Paris (1926-1936) |
| Ararat | Արարատ | "Ararat" | Bi-monthly | 1927 | |
| Tzolk [fr] (notably by Vahram Gakavian [fr]) | Ցոլք | "Reflection" | Literary magazine | 1928 | Paris |
| Artzakank Djechmardouthian (by Berdj Armenakian) | Արձագանգ ճշմարտութեան | "Echo of Truth" | Monthly religious magazine | 1928-1933 | Paris |
| Paris | | | Monthly | 1928 | |
| Azatamart (by Shahan Natalie) | Ազատամարտ | "Free Struggle" | Weekly | 1928-1929 | Paris |
| Hay Kir | Հայ Գիր | "Armenian Letter" | Literary magazine of the Armenian Bibliophiles Union | 1928-1929 | Marseille |
| Panvor | Բանուոր | "Worker" | Weekly dedicated to workers' defense | 1928-1929 | Paris |
| Le Foyer (by Levon Pashalian) | | "The Hearth" | Bilingual French-Armenian periodical | 1928-1932 | Paris |
| Yergounk (by Chavarch Nartouni [fr]) | Երկունք | "Birth Pangs" | Literary magazine, organ of the Association of Adult Orphans | 1929-1936 | Paris |
| Hentchakian mamoul | Հնչակեան մամուլ | "Hentchakian Press" | Newspaper linked to the Social Democrat Hunchakian Party | 1929-1931 | Paris |
| Zvartnots [fr] (by Hrant Palouyan [fr]) | Զուարթնոց | "House of Watchers" | Literary magazine supporting the ARF | 1929-1964 | Paris |
| Tchank [fr] (by Kégham Atmadjian and Missak Manouchian) | Ջանք | "Effort" | Literary magazine | 1930-1931 | Paris |
| Aroghtch guiank | Առողջ կեանք | "Healthy Life" | Medical magazine | 1931-1932 | Paris |
| Menk [fr; hy] (by multiple writers) | Մենք | "We" | Literary magazine | 1931-1932 | Paris |
| Guiank yev Arvesd [fr] (by the Barsamian brothers) | Կեանք եւ Արուեստ, | "Life and Art" | Literary magazine | 1931-1940 | Paris |
| Mer Oughine [fr] | Մեր ուղին | "Our Path" | Communist periodical | 1931-1932 | Paris |
| Haï Guiank (by D. Nichanian) | Հայ կեանք | "Armenian Life" | Bi-monthly magazine | 1931 | Paris |
| Nairi Achkharh | Նաիրի Աշխարհ | "World of Nairi" | Monthly periodical | 1931-1933 | Paris |
| Mardgotz [fr] | Մարտկոց | "Battery" | Periodical | 1932-1933 | Paris |
| Archav | Արշավ | "March" | Communist periodical | 1932 | Paris |
| Tarpnots | Դարբնոց | "Forge" | Magazine | 1932 | Paris |
| Arec [fr] | Արեգ | "Sun" | Weekly newspaper | 1932-1933 | Marseille |
| Vêm [fr] (by Simon Vratsian) | Վէմ | "Rock" | Literary and cultural magazine, cultural organ of the ARF | 1933-1940 | Paris |
| Hog [fr] | Հօկ | "HOG" | Magazine of the French branch of the Armenian Relief Committee | 1933-1935 | Paris |
| Zank | Զանգ | "Bell" | Newspaper linked to the Social Democrat Hunchakian Party | 1933-1934 | Marseille |
| Gaïdzer | Կայծեր | "Sparks" | Leftist newspaper | 1933-1935 | Lyon |
| Amrots | Ամրոց | "Fortress" | Newspaper | 1934 | Paris |
| Hay Pouj (by Chavarch Nartouni [fr]) | Հայ Բոյժ | "Armenian Doctor" | Medical magazine | 1934-1967 | Paris |
| Razmig | Ռազմիկ | "Fighter" | Bi-monthly organ of the Armenian Volunteers and Combatants Union | 1934-1943 | Paris |
| Mechagouyt [fr] (by Kégham Atmadjian and Bedros Zaroyan) | Մշակույթ | "Culture" | Literary magazine | 1935-1937 | Paris |
| Zangou [fr] (by Missak Manouchian and HOG) | Զանգու | "Zangou" (river of Yerevan) | Communist newspaper of the French Section of the Armenian Relief Committee | 1935-1937 | Paris |
| Joghovourti Tzain | Ժողովուրդի Ձայն | "Voice of the People" | Economic and literary newspaper | 1935-1937 | Marseille |
| Norachène | Նորաշէն | "New Construction" | Magazine | 1936 | Lyon |
| Nor Gavroche (by Krikor-Vahan) | Նոր Կավռօշ | "The New Gavroche" | Periodical | 1937 | Paris |
| Loussapats [fr] (by Bedros Zaroyan and Zareh Vorpouni) | Լուսաբաց | "Dawn" | Literary magazine | 1938-1939 | Paris |
| Haïastan [fr; hy] | Հայաստան | "Armenia" | Newspaper of Nor Séround [fr] | 1939- | Paris |

### Second half of the 20th century

During World War II, most newspapers and magazines ceased publication as their staffs were mobilized, joined the resistance, or chose silence to avoid German censorship. Chavarche Missakian, for example, decided not to publish Haratch during the conflict. The publications resumed after the liberation.
| French Title (Phonetic) | Armenian | Title Translation | Type | Publication Dates | Publication Location |
| Haygachên (by Chavarche Missakian) | Հայկաշէն | "Founded by Hayk" | Underground magazine | Possibly 1942–1943 (2 issues) | Paris |
| Joghovourt | ժողովուրդ | "People" | Underground newspaper, communist Armenian resistance organ | 1943-1948 | Paris |
| Aradzani (by Chavarche Missakian) | Արածանի | "A Confluence" | Underground literary periodical | c. 1944–1945 | Paris |
| Arevmoudk [fr] | Արեւմուտք | "Occident" | Literary magazine | 1945-1952 | Paris |
| Gues gadag gues chidag | Կես կատակ կես շիտակ | "Half-joking, Half-serious" | Satirical magazine | 1945-1950 | Paris |
| Hai guine | Հայ կին | "The Armenian Woman" | Monthly organ of the Armenian Women's Union | 1947-1949 | Paris |
| Abdag | Ապտակ | "Slap" | Satirical magazine | 1948-1950 | Paris |
| Nerga (by Lévon Tchormissian) | Ներկայ | "Present" | Magazine | 1949-1950 | Paris |
| Azat khosk [fr] | Ազատ խոսք | "Free Speech" | Communist newspaper | 1949-1951 | Paris |
| Aïssor Abaka | Այսօր Ապագայ | "Today's Future" | Newspaper | 1951-1954 | Paris |
| Loussaghpiour | Լուսաղբիւր | "Clear Fountain" | Literary magazine | 1952-1956, 1959, 1970-1971 | Paris |
| Andastan [fr] (by Puzant Topalian [fr]) | Անդաստան | "Field" | Literary magazine | 1952-1969 | Paris |
| Araxe [fr] (by N. Hovhanessian) | Արաքս | | Illustrated periodical | 1952-1955 | Paris |
| Artsakank | Արձագանգ | "Echo" | Newspaper | 1954-1955 | Paris |
| Hay Midk (by Bedros Zaroyan [fr]) | Հայ Միտք | "Armenian Thought" | Literary magazine | 1954-1955 (12 numéros) | Paris |
| Khetan (by Levon Hampartsoumian) | Խթան | "Impulse" | Weekly newspaper | 1955-1970 | Paris |
| Louys Parizi | Լույս Փարիզի | "Light of Paris" | Newspaper | 1957-1959 | Paris |
| Amsoryag (by Zareh Vorpuni) | Ամսօրեակ | "Monthly" | Literary magazine | 1958 (9 numéros) | Paris |
| Achkharh | Աշխարհ | "World" | Monthly literary magazine | 1960- | Paris |
| Burakn | Բիւրակն | "A Thousand Sources" | Periodical | 1961-1966 | Paris |
| Kragan Amsatert (by Zareh Vorpouni) | Գրական Ամսաթերթ | "Literary Monthly" | Literary journal, monthly supplement to Andastan | 1961-1962 (8 numéros) | Paris |
| Nor Abaka | Նոր Ապագայ | "New Future" | Periodical | 1966-1967 | Paris |
| Haghtanag | Յաղթանակ | "Victory" | Periodical | 1971-1990 | Paris |
| Arahéd | Արահետ | "Path" | Periodical | 1975-1986 | Paris |
| Gam | Կամ | "I Exist" | Magazine | 1980-1985 | Paris |
| Gamk | Կամք | "Will" | Bilingual newspaper, FRA organ | 1985-2002 | Paris |
| Gayk | Կայք | "Place" | Periodical | 1989-1993 | Paris |

### Nowadays

By the 21st century, Armenian-language periodicals in France had all but disappeared. The last major daily, Haratch, closed in 2009 and was replaced by Nor Haratch in the same year.
This decline is largely attributed to the fact that the Armenian diaspora in France is mainly composed of second and third-generation Armenians who, for the most part, no longer speak Armenian, especially Western Armenian.
Currently, the main press of the Armenian diaspora in France is predominantly in French, with Nouvelles d'Arménie Magazine [fr] (1995-) and France Arménie [fr] (1982-) being the most notable publications. The few remaining Armenian-language publications are mostly church bulletins.
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