URFA
The Armenians of Urfa have been one of the most rooted, culturally and economically dynamic communities in the region known as Edessa (Urfa) throughout history.
In the early 20th century, there were many Armenian villages in the areas of Suruç and Siverek, which were under the jurisdiction of the Urfa Sanjak.
The Armenians of Urfa held the economy of the city in their hands in the branches of craftsmanship such as carpentry, goldsmithing, weaving, and stonecraft.
Their education levels were very high. According to the data from the 1901 census, there were 1,140 Armenian students in the Armenian College located in the neighborhood.
In the 18th century, architects such as Stepanos, who lived in the city, built numerous monumental stone buildings, mansions, and lodges. Today, many of these historical buildings are preserved and preserved through restoration.
Surp Asdvazazin (Meryem Ana) Cathedral: Located in the center of the Armenian neighborhood, this massive cathedral, which was restored in 1849, was the center of the diocese. Today, it serves as the Selahaddin Eyyubi Mosque.
St. John Chrysostom Church: Another important historical structure located within the cathedral complex, which also served as a place of religious education.
According to official Ottoman statistics, there were 16,718 Armenians living in the Urfa Sanjak just before the First World War. The Muslim population in the same area was recorded as 149,384.
Armenian Patriarchate Records: The Armenian population in the entire Sanjak, including the districts of Suruç, Birecik, and Siverek, was estimated to be around 32,600 in the records from 1913-1914.
A large proportion of the Armenians were concentrated in the city center, particularly in the Armenian neighborhood (Telfutur), rather than in the countryside. About a third of the population was Christian (Armenian and Syriac) communities.
District-by-district Armenian population distribution (before 1914)
The Armenian population in the Urfa Sanjak was not evenly distributed. The population was concentrated in the city center due to their occupation of craftsmanship instead of agriculture: Urfa
Central (Kaza): The Armenian population in the Sanjak was the most concentrated in the area. According to the 19th-century census, there were between 8,300 and 10,500 Orthodox Armenians, approximately 1,000 Catholic Armenians, and around 500 Protestant Armenians living in the city center.
Birecik Incident: After the center, it was the second dense region. Due to its location on the Euphrates, it had a commercial life and had a population of around 1,500-2,000 Armenians.
Siverek Incident: In this district and some rural villages connected to it, the Armenian population was around 1,000-1,200.
Suruç Incident: Generally, this district, which had a tribal structure, had a very low Armenian population (a few hundred people) and was mostly composed of families from trades such as blacksmithing and carpentry.
Harran and Rumkale: While there were a few Armenian villages around Rumkale, Harran was almost entirely made up of nomadic and settled Muslim tribes at that time; the Armenian population was negligible.
Important Armenian villages connected to Halfeti.
1. Cibin Village (Today’s Name: Saylakkaya) Importance: It is the largest and most symbolic Armenian village in the region. After the exodus, a large number of people from there went to Austria.
2. Belesor / Bilesur Village (Today’s Name: Savaşan) Importance: The famous Savaşan Village, which is now known for its minarets symbolizing the waters under the boat in boat tours, was one of the most populous non-Muslim settlements in Rumkale during the Ottoman period. Its population: According to the 16th-century Ottoman records, the village’s population was even greater than the central population of Rumkale. It was built on the slopes facing the Euphrates River, which contained some of the most beautiful examples of stone craftsmanship.
3. Keferberk / Keferhab Village (Today’s Name: Çekem) Importance: It is an ancient settlement located right on the edge of the Halfeti. Its uniqueness: It is known that throughout history, the Armenian Christian and Syriac populations lived together, and they engaged in agriculture and river transportation (salt transportation). The lower parts of the village are completely under the dam waters.
4. Erah / Arah Village (Today’s Name: Ortayol) Importance: It is among the most populous villages of the Rumkale region in the 16th century records. The village, which housed a large Armenian population, underwent demographic changes in subsequent periods.
5. Ehneş Village (Gümüşgün) and Aram (Durak) Ehneş (Gümüşgün): This historical village located on the opposite bank of the Euphrates, near the Merzimen Stream, had a large Armenian church registered there, and the congregation here was directly affiliated with the Meryem Ana Cathedral in Urfa. Aram (Durak): This village, whose name is directly of Armenian origin, was also recorded in old sources as one of the wintering and settlement areas of the artisan Armenian families in the region.
1927 Census (Republic Period): According to the 1927 data, which was the first census of the Republic of Turkey, the remaining non-Muslim population in Urfa was almost completely wiped out, leaving only a very small minority group throughout the city. The majority of the community had to migrate to Aleppo, Beirut, and European countries.
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