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New Julfa

Նոր Ջուղա
New Julfa Նոր Ջուղա
	Courtyard of the Holy Savior Cathedral, and the Museum of Khachatur Kesaratsi
	Coordinates: 32°38′10.79″N 51°39′20.55″E / 32.6363306°N 51.6557083°E
Country	Iran
Province	Isfahan Province
Counties	Isfahan County
City	Isfahan
District	District 5 (Isfahan)
Settled	early 17th century

New Julfa (Persian: نو جلفا, Now Jolfā, or جلفای نو, Jolfâ-ye Now; Armenian: Նոր Ջուղա, Nor Jugha) is the Armenian quarter of Isfahan, Iran, located along the south bank of the Zayanderud.

Established and named after the older city of Julfa in the early 17th century (now divided as Jolfa, Iran and Julfa, Azerbaijan), it is still one of the oldest and largest Armenian quarters in the world (hy).

History

New Julfa was established in 1606 as an Armenian quarter by the mandate of Abbas the Great, sultan of Safavid Iran. Over 150,000 Armenians were forcibly moved there from Julfa (also known as Jugha or Juła, and now as Old Julfa) (hy). Iranian sources state that the Armenians came to Iran fleeing the Ottoman Empire's persecution. Nevertheless, historical records indicate that the residents of Julfa were treated well by Shah Abbas in the hopes that their resettlement in Isfahan would benefit Iran due to their knowledge of the silk trade.^[1]^[2]

The New Julfa dialect is a distinct form of Eastern Armenian spoken largely in Iran and Southern California. "This variety or lect is called “Persian Armenian” [pɒɻskɒhɒjeɻen] or “Iranian Armenian” [iɻɒnɒhɒjeɻen] by members of the community."^[3]

New Julfa is still an Armenian-populated area with an Armenian school and sixteen churches, including Vank Cathedral. Armenians in New Julfa observe Iranian law concerning clothing, but retain a distinct Armenian language, identity, cuisine, and culture, which the Iranian government protects.^[4]

Origins and Trade

Since its foundation, New Julfa was administered by the Armenian noble house of Lazaryan, which relocated to Imperial Russia after Nader Shah's death in 1747.^[5] One of its members, Ivan Lazarevich Lazarev, became a court banker to Catherine the Great and was made an Imperial Count in 1788. His brother established the Lazarev Institute of Oriental Languages in Moscow.

In 1947, the historian Fernand Braudel wrote that the Armenians had a trade network that stretched from Amsterdam to Manila in the Philippines. Many scholars in Armenia have done pioneering work on this network in the 1960s, 70s, and 80s. Levon Khachikyan and Sushanik Khachikyan have edited and published several New Julfan account books. Over the next few centuries, New Julfa became the hub of "one of the greatest trade networks of the early modern era,"^[6] and as far west as Cádiz, London, and Amsterdam, with a few merchants traveling across the Atlantic or Pacific to Acapulco or Mexico City.

A significant majority of Armenian trading families were based in New Julfa. Due to their dispersal, many families that were originally from the older city of Julfa^[2]^[1]^[7] created a main settlement in Bengal expanding the trade network based in New Julfa.^[1] However, Some scholars argue that Surat, Bengal, and Hooghly were independent nodes and that the central control of New Julfa was not as important to their thriving Indian Ocean trade.^[8] Many New Julfan Armenians later settled in Manila, Hong Kong, and also in Australia. Their networks have been studied based on Armenian sources.^[1]^[2] Some also settled in Singapore, where Armenians from New Julfa became the mainstay of the Armenian community in the country. Most were traders, but perhaps better known were the Sarkies Brothers, who founded Singapore's Raffles Hotel in 1887.

According to David Petrosyan of the Central Asia-Caucasus Institute, New Julfa had 10,000–12,000 Armenian inhabitants in 1998.^[9] As of today, it is still one of the world's largest ethnic Armenian quarters.

Sites

Churches

Armenian Apostolic

Holy Savior Cathedral (Surp Amenaprgich, commonly known as the Vank) – 1655
Saint Jacob Church (Surp Hakop Mdzbena Hayrapet) – 1607
Saint George Church (Surp Gevork) – 1611
Holy Mother of God Church (Surp Asdvadzadzin) – 1613
Saint Stephen Church (Surp Stepanos Nakhavga) – 1614
Saint John the Baptist Church (Surp Hovannes Mgrditch) – 1621
Saint Catherine Convent (Surp Katarine) – 1623
Holy Bethlehem Church (Surp Betłehem) – 1628
Saint Nicholas Church (Surp Nikołayos Hayrapet) – 1630
Saint Gregory the Illuminator Church (Surp Grigor Lusavoritch) – 1633
Saint Sarkis Church (Surp Sarkis) – 1659
Saint Minas Church (Surp Minas) – 1659
Saint Nerses Church (Surp Nerses Medz) – 1666

Roman Catholic

Cathedral of Our Lady of the Rosary (Dominicans) – 1681/1705

Protestant

Museums

The museum of Khachatur Kesaratsi, in the compound of the Holy Savior Cathedral

Schools

Samian (1831–1853) (hy)
Katarinyan (1858–now) (hy)
Azgayin Kntronakan (1880–now) (hy)
Gevorg Kananyan (1905–now) (hy)

Notable people

The statues at the entrance of the Museum of Khachatur Kesaratsi

Statue of Khachatur Kesaratsi, founder of the first publishing house in Iran

Statue of Mesrop Mashtots, the inventor of the Armenian alphabet

Apcar family – merchant family
Sceriman family – merchant family
De l'Estoile family – merchant family
Lazarian family (ru) – noble family
Sarkies Brothers – businessmen
Khwaja Safar (d. 1618) – mayor of Julfa
Martin the Armenian (hy) (d. 1619) – first Armenian-American / Iranian-American
Azaria Jughayetsi (hy) (16th century) – notary
Petik and Sanos (ru) (16th century) – merchants
Mesrop of Khizan (c. 1560 – c. 1652) – manuscript illuminator
Stepanos Dzik Jughayetsi (hy) (1583–1647) – writer
Khachatur Kesaratsi (1590–1646) – archbishop and publisher (hy)
Khvajeh Petros Velijanian (fa) (d. 1649) – merchant
Simeon Jughayetsi (ru) (d. 1657) – scholar
Hakob IV of Julfa (hy) (1598–1680) – Catholicos (1655–80)
Mirman Mirimanidze (17th century) – mayor of New Julfa
Otar Beg (1583–1663) – mayor of New Julfa
Hakop Jughayetsi (ru) (17th century) – manuscript illuminator
Siet Khachikian (hy) (17th century) – diplomat
Grigor Usta (hy) (17th century) – architect
Hovhannes Jughayetsi Ktreshents (hy) (17th century) – printer
Kostand Jughayetsi (hy) (17th century) – scholar
Marcara Avanchintz (17th century) – merchant
Minas (hy) (17th century) – painter
Hovhannes Jughayetsi Ktreshents (hy) (c.1610–c.1660) – publisher
Minas Jughayetsi (hy) (1610–1670) – painter
Mohammad Beg (d. 1671) – mayor of New Julfa
Voskan Yerevantsi (1614–1674) – publisher
Hajji Piri (d. 1694) – mayor of New Julfa
Bogdan Saltanov (1630–1703) – painter
Hovhannes Mrkouz (1643–1715) – philosopher
Egaz Norjughayetsi (hy) (1650–1734) – musician
Ghul Arzuni (hy) (1650–1750) – musician
Arzuni Jughayetsi (hy) (1650–1750) – musician
Arapiet di Martin (hy) (1650–1760) – musician
Stepanos Dashtetsi (ru) (1653–1720) – writer
Abgar Ali Akbar Armani (d. 1708) – merchant
Alexander I of Julfa (d. 1714) – Catholicos (1706–14)
Petros di Sargis Gilanents (ru) (d. 1724) – merchant
Hagopdjan de Deritchan (d. 1726) – diplomat
Coja Petrus Uscan (1680–1751) – merchant
Aghazar di Khachik (hy) (1690–1750) – military man
Grigor Harutiunian (hy) (d. 1763) – political leader
Aghazar Lazarian (hy) (1700–1782) – merchant
Zaccaria Seriman (it) (1709–1784) – writer
Tovmas Khojamalian (hy) (c.1720–1780) – historian
Shahamir Shahamirian (1723–1798) – political activist
Stefano Domenico Sceriman (it) (1729–1806) – writer
Ivan Lazarevich Lazarev (1735–1801) – jeweller
Petros Kalantarian (hy) (1735–1???) – physician
Minas Lazarian (hy) (1737–1809) – politician
Astvadsatour Babikian (hy) (1738–1825) – writer
Khachatour Lazarian (hy) (1741–1774) – politician
Hovakim Lazarian (hy) (1743–1826) – political activist
Nikoghayos Aghababaian (hy) (1750–1809) – merchant
Khachatur Jughayetsi (hy) (18th century) – historian
Movses Baghramian (18th century) – political activist
Tadevos Soginian (hy) (18th century) – political activist
Ivan Karapet (hy) (18th century) – political activist
George Manook (1763–1827) – merchant
Hakob Hovnatanyan (1806–1871) – painter
Tadevos Avetoumian (hy) (1811–1863) – writer
Zerouni Masehian (fa) (1811–18??) – goldsmith
Megrtich Emin (ru) (1815–1890) – scholar
Minus Megerdich Zorab (1833–1896) – painter
Tiruhi Ter-Nahapetian (hy) (19th century) – artist
Mirza Malkam Khan (1834–1908) – politician
Martiros Khan Davidkhanian (1843–1905) – general
Sarkis Khan Davidkhanian (1846-?) – general
Eskandar Khan Davidkhanian – professor and general
Markar Khan Davidkhanian (19th century) – minister of finance
Tiruhi Ter-Nahapetian (hy) (19th century) – artist
Vittoria Aganoor (1855–1910) – poet
Minas Manook Basil (Barseghian) (hy) (1857–1922) – physician
Diana Abgar (1859–1937) – diplomat
Matevos Aghakhan Karakhanian (fa) (1860–1946) – photographer
Arathoon Stephen (1861–1927) – businessman
Hovsep Mirzayan (hy) (1868–1935) – politician
Mesrovb Jacob Seth (1871–1939) – scholar
Hovhannes Abkarian (fa) (1875–1931) – musician
Freydoun Malkom (1875–1954) – the first Iranian participated in the Olympic Games in 1900
Tigran Abgarian (hy) (1877–1950) – philologist
Petros Abkar (fa) (1884–19??) – politician
Megrdich Abgar (hy) (1884–1967) – archbishop
Mkrtich Hakobian (hy) (1885–1971) – photographer
Minas Patkerhanian (hy) (1885–1972) – photographer
Markar Galstiants (fa) (1888–1985) – architect
Yeghia Velijanian (hy) (1889–1976) – artist
Guregh Israelian (1894–1949) – Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem (1944–49)
Zabel Stepanian-Bartev (fa) (1894–1982) – telegraph technician
Karo Minassian (hy) (1897–1973) – physician
Meguertitch Khan Davidkhanian (1902–1983) – general and politician
Haykush Ter-Martirosian (hy) (1905–1987) – actress
Bersabe Hovsepian (hy) (1906–1999) – public figure
Rafael Atayan (hy) (1907–1990) – writer
Poghos Petrosian (hy) (1907–19??) – bishop
Abraham Gurgenian (hy) (1908–1991) – painter
Annik Shefrazian (1909–1996) – actress
Aramais Aghamalian (1910–1985) – film director
Johny Baghdasarian (fa) (1913–1979) – film director
Sumbat Der Kiureghian (1913–1999) – painter
Yervand Nahapetian (fa) (1916–2006) – painter
Emma Abrahamian (fa) (b. 1919) – sculptor
Alain John (1920–1943) – sculptor
Alenush Terian (1920–2011) – astronomer and physicist
Levon Minassian (fa) (1920–2013) – scholar
Sevak Saginian (fa) (1921–2003) – politician
Clara Abkar (hy) (1922–1996) – painter
Hrand Ghoukasian (fa) (1927–1996) – physician and translator
Arsham Yesayi (fa) (b. 1931) – tennis player
Neshan Sarkissian (Karekin I) (1932–1999) – Prelate of the Diocese of New Julfa (1971–75), Catholicos of Cilicia (1983–94) and Catholicos of All Armenians (1994–99)
Nechan Karakéhéyan (b. 1932) – Catholic bishop of New Julfa (2000–05)
Krzysztof Penderecki (b. 1933) – "Poland's greatest living composer"
Nikol Faridani (1935–2008) – photographer
Grish Davtian (hy) (b. 1935) – poet
Alek Ter-Khachatourian (fa) (b. 1935) – translator
Grigor Nazarian (hy) (b. 1937) – architect
Varouj Karapetian (fa) (b. 1938) – film technician
Arbi Hovhannisian (hy) (b. 1942) – film director
Sako Ghoukasian (fa) (1943–2015) – opera singer
George Bournoutian (b. 1943) – scholar
Megerdich Toumanian (hy) (b. 1943) – mathematician
Vartan Vartanian (fa) (b. 1943) – politician
Nelson Shirvanian (hy) (1944–2018) – sculptor
Tigran Toumanian (fa) (b. 1946) – film technician
Armen Der Kiureghian (b. 1947) – scholar
Herach Khachatourian (fa) (b. 1948) – politician
Caro Lucas (1949–2010) – scholar
Zaven Ghoukasian (fa) (1950–2015) – film director
Masis Hambarsounian (b. 1950) – boxer
Georgik Abrahamian (fa) (b. 1952) – politician
Artavazd Baghoumian (fa) (b. 1953) – politician
Jirayr Kocharian (hy) (b. 1955) – cartographer
Hrant Markarian (b. 1958) – politician and chairman of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation
Robert Beglarian (b. 1961) – politician
Vahik Trossian (fa) (b. 1967) – football player
Nairy Baghramian (b. 1971) – visual artist
Aren Davoudi (b. 1986) – basketball player
Oshin Sahakian (b. 1986) – basketball player
Kajayr Hakopian (hy) (b. 1989) – actor
Armen Tahmazyan (b. 1990) – football player

Friendly cities

New Julfa has friendly relations with:^[10]

Issy-les-Moulineaux, France

Gallery

Entrance of the Vank Cathedral.
Inside the Vank Cathedral.
Inside the Surp Bethłehem Church.
Vank Cathedral.
Surp Nikołayos Hayrapet Church.

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Sushil Chaudhuri and Kéram Kévonian eds., Les Arméniens dans le commerce asiatique au début de l’ere moderne [Armenians in Asian trade in the Early Modern Era], (Paris, 2007).
^ ^a ^b ^c McCabe, Ina Baghdiantz (1999). The Shah's Silk for Europe's Silver: The Eurasian Trade of the Julfa Armenians in Safavid Iran and India (1530-1750). Scholars Press. ISBN 978-0-7885-0571-3.
^ Dolatian, Hossep; Sharifzadeh, Afsheen; Vaux, Bert (2023). A grammar of Iranian Armenian: Parskahayeren or Iranahayeren. Berlin: Language Science Press. p. 1.
^ Vasgen Ghougassian The Emergence of the Diocese of New Julfa in the Seventeenth Century, Atlanta, University of Pennsylvania Series), 1998.
^ "ЛАЗАРЕВЫ • Большая российская энциклопедия - электронная версия".
^ Aslanian, Sebouh (2008). ""The Salt in a Merchant's Letter": The Culture of Julfan Correspondence in the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean". Journal of World History (OPEN ACCESS). 19 (2): 127–188. doi:10.1353/jwh.0.0014.
^ Mesrob Jacob Seth, an Armenian historian
^ Bhattacharya, Bhaswatti “Making Money at the Blessed Place of Manilla: Armenians in the Madras- Manila Trade in the Eighteenth Century.” Journal of Global History, (2008),3, 1-20.
^ Petrosyan, David (1998). Армянская община в Иране (in Russian). Institute for Central Asian and Caucasian Studies. ...еще 10-12 тысяч - в Исфагане (армяне называют его Новой Джугой)...
^ "Ispahan/Quartier de la Nouvelle-Jolfâ (Iran)". Retrieved 17 February 2021.

Sources

Yves Bomati and Houchang Nahavandi,Shah Abbas, Emperor of Persia,1587-1629, 2017, ed. Ketab Corporation, Los Angeles, ISBN 978-1595845672, English translation by Azizeh Azodi.
Gregorian, Vartan. “Minorities of Isphahan: The Armenian Community of Isphahan, 1587-1722.” Iranian Studies 7, no. 2 (1974), pp. 652–81.
Aslanian, Sebouh (2011). From the Indian Ocean to the Mediterranean: The Global Trade Networks of Armenian Merchants from New Julfa. California: University of California Press. pp. 1–392. ISBN 978-0520947573.