Head of “Noravank” Scientific Educational Foundation Gagik Harutyunyan moderated the first and second sessions of April 26 of the scientific workshop on “Preservation of Features of Armenian Identity in Mixed Marriages” organized by the RA Ministry of Diaspora. Attending the scientific workshop were RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan, leader of the Gegharkunik Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Bishop Markos Hovhannisyan, employees of the RA Ministry of Diaspora and guests.

Bishop Markos Hovhannisyan gave a speech on “Formation of the Armenian Church’s canonical position on mixed marriages”. Hovhannisyan presented details on the formation of the canonical law of the Armenian Church on mixed marriages throughout the centuries and mentioned that being a follower of the faith was the most important condition for mixed marriages in medieval Armenia. The Armenian Church fulfilled the order of weddings of Armenian Church followers and non-conformists only by the consent of the follower. The bishop also touched upon the need for increasing the number of churches and clergymen at the Dioceses of the Armenian Apostolic Church in the Diaspora which is a very important precondition for conducting wedding ceremonies in Armenian churches, especially mixed marriages.

Participating in the workshop was Georgia-based Armenian journalist Marina Hovhannisyan who presented her studies on “Mixed marriages among Georgian Armenians”. Based on her study, there are not many Georgian Armenians in mixed marriages and there are almost no mixed marriages registered in the highly Armenian-populated regions of Akhalkalak, Ninotsminda, Tsalka and Marneul. There is an issue of mixed marriages in Tbilisi to a certain extent. The journalist also touched upon the issue of identity of Armenians living in Tbilisi and separated them into two groups-Armenians of origin and Armenians who have preserved their identity and are living with national traditions.

Dean of the Faculty of Sociology at Yerevan State University, Doctor of Philosophical Sciences Artur Mkrtichyan gave a speech on “Policy on national identity in the Armenian community of Berlin”. He presented details on the Armenian community of Berlin and noted the cultural differences between Armenians who immigrated to Germany from different countries after WWII, including Armenians from the former Constantinople, Lebanon, Iran, Armenia, etc. Mkrtichyan also informed about Armenian community events aimed at preserving the national identity. According to Mkrtichyan, “it is necessary to show a pan-Armenian approach to solving the issue of preserving features of Armenian identity and view mixed marriages from the angle of social networking.”

Professor of the Faculty of Sociology at YSU, candidate of psychological sciences Anahit Sahakyan touched upon the topic of “Particularities of ethno-similarization of children of mixed marriages”. According to the psychologist, children who have parents of different origins find themselves in a difficult socio-psychological state due to absence of ethno-similarization. Mentioning the three stages of ethno-similarization that children undergo, the speaker considered the influence on children in that period as necessary. Presenting the impact of mono-ethnic and poly-ethnic environments on the process of ethno-similarization, Mrs. Sahakyan mentioned that children belonging to the minority in the poly-ethnic environment have a tendency to similarize themselves with the predominant group.

Artist Edward Sasun gave a speech on “Gene pool of Armenian and mixed marriages”. Being married to an Indian woman himself and personally aware of the issue, Sasun talked about the most important role that women play in forming identity among children of mixed marriages.

The second session of the second day began with a speech on “Mixed and inner marriages among Armenians of Turkey” by candidate of philological sciences, Vice-dean of the Faculty of Eastern Studies at Yerevan State University, Head of “Armenology Center” of “Noravank” Scientific Educational Foundation Ruben Melkonyan. Touching upon Turkey’s faith in missionaries and statistics on mixed marriages of “incognito Armenians”, he recorded the growth of mixed marriages, especially among Armenians of Istanbul which, according to different studies, ranges from 10 to 15% up to 40%. According to the report, in the first half of the 20th century, Armenians had a negative attitude toward mixed marriages, but unfortunately, that attitude changed. According to the speaker, mixed marriages are more widespread among Armenian youth. Melkonyan talked about the high percentage of inner marriages among “incognito Armenians” which, according to him, is due to the instinct of ethnic self-preservation.

Candidate of historical sciences, staff member of the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography at the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia Svetlana Poghosyan summed up the section of speeches with her speech on “The role of Armenian women in preservation of Armenian identity”. She attached importance to women’s role in ensuring the communication between generations and informed that there have been more Armenian women getting married to foreigners after Armenia’s independence due to economic hardships.
The speakers responded to questions and started a discussion.

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