page_title: Armenians in Syria
section_title: Apostolic Armenians
hierarchical_section_title: Armenians in Syria / Religion / Apostolic Armenians
caption_attribution_description: English: Holy Mother of God church in 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 Armenians of the Armenian Apostolic (also known as Oriental Orthodox Armenian) faith are under the jurisdiction of the Holy See of Cilicia (based in Antelias, Lebanon) of the Armenian Apostolic Church. However, the Diocese of Damascus pledges allegiance to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.
  The Apostolic Armenian population in Syria belongs to one of the 3 following prelacies:
  Diocese of Beroea (in Aleppo), was founded in 1432 by the Great House of Cilicia. Hovakim of Beroea became the first bishop of Aleppo between 1432 and 1442. The estimated population of the diocese all over Syria is about 70,000 Armenians. The prelacy has the following church buildings under its jurisdiction in Syria:
  Forty Martyrs Cathedral of Aleppo (1491)
  Surp Krikor Lusavorich (Saint Gregory the Illuminator) Church of Aleppo
  Surp Hagop Church of Aleppo (1943)
  Surp Kevork Church of Aleppo (1965)
  Church of the Holy Mother of God of Aleppo (1983)
  Surp Hripsime Church of Yacoubiyah village
  Surp Anna Church of Yacoubiyah village
  Holy Mother of God Church of Latakia
  Holy Mother of God Church of Kessab
  Holy Mother of God Church of Karadouran, Kessab
  Surp Stepanos Church of Karadouran, Kessab
  Surp Kevork Armenian Church of Ghnemiyeh village
  Surp Stepanos Church of Aramo village
  Holy Cross Church of Tell Abyad
  Armenian Genocide Martyrs' Memorial Church-Complex of Deir ez-Zor
  Holy Resurrection Chapel of Margadeh village
  Diocese of Jezireh (in Qamishli) under the jurisdiction of the Great House of Cilicia. The prelacy has the following church buildings under its jurisdiction in Syria:
  Surp Hagop Cathedral in Qamishli
  Surp Hovhannu Garabed Church in Al-Hasakah
  Holy Mother of God Church in Al-Malikiyah (formerly Dayrik)
  Holy Mother of God Church in Ras al-Ayn
  Diocese of Damascus under the jurisdiction of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. The prelacy has the following church buildings under its jurisdiction in Syria:
  Surp Sarkis Cathedral of Damascus
  Surp Mesrob Mashdots Church of Homs
caption: Church of the Holy Mother of God in Aleppo
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