ACERO has today launched its ‘Armenia Appeal’; one of our largest campaigns to date with all funds raised to support important projects for the Assyrian community of Armenia.
Armenia Appeal Project – Phase 1
Phase 1 of ACERO’s Armenia Appeal will support the renovation of a two-floor building into an Assyrian kindergarten in the village of Verin Dvin.
The completion of this project will provide capacity for 120 children aged 2-6 years old to receive child care, educational, spiritual and national activities from 9am-5pm on a daily basis.
Later phases, including works at the 189-year-old Assyrian church of Mart Mariam (in the village of Arzni), works at the 191-year-old Assyrian church of Mar Thoma (in the village of Verin Dvin) along with the construction of two community halls will follow.
Assyrians in Armenia
The Assyrian community was formed in Armenia in 1828 and since then Assyrians have preserved their language, culture, identity and faith.
During the Soviet period, Assyrians faced considerable oppression with their churches turned into warehouses, their clergy exiled or killed and every effort made to extinguish the national spirit of the Assyrians.
Since Armenia’s independence and an interval of almost 80 years, the Assyrian community and Assyrian Church of the East is once again thriving in Armenia.
Today, around 5000 Assyrians live in Armenia, mainly in villages working in farming with a others residing in the Armenian capital, Yerevan.
Project Partner
The Assyrian Church of the East Relief Organisation will work with the Assyrian Church of the East in Armenia and The Rev’d Fr Nikademus Yukhanaev (parish priest) on the implementation of these projects.