Ethiopia’s Armenians: Long history, small numbers

In this Sunday June 1, 2014 photo, Armen Madatyan and his 1 year-old daughter Stella light a candle at the church in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. There is a small handful of people keeping the Armenian community in Ethiopia alive. Despite a fall in numbers from a peak of 1,200 in the 1960s to less than 100 people today, the Armenian school, church and social club still open their doors. (AP Photo/Elias Asmare) In this Sunday June 1, 2014 photo, Armen Madatyan and his 1 year-old daughter Stella light a candle at the church in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. There is a small handful of people keeping the Armenian community in Ethiopia alive. Despite a fall in numbers from a peak of 1,200 in the 1960s to less than 100 people today, the Armenian school, church and social club still open their doors. (AP Photo/Elias Asmare)

By Associated Press August 2, 2014 4 min read

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP) – The numbers at the St. George Armenian Apostolic Church in Addis Ababa are not adding up. Church records show an average of two funerals a year, but a wedding only every three years and a baptism every five.

“Some people don’t come to church vertically. Only horizontally,” Vartkes Nalbandian said with a laugh.

Vartkes is among a small handful of people keeping Ethiopia’s Armenian community alive. Despite a fall in numbers from a peak of 1,200 in the 1960s to less than 100 people today, the Armenian school, church and social club still open their doors.

“There is more to a community than just statistics. We are proud of the Armenian contribution to Ethiopia. It’s worth fighting for,” said 64-year old Vartkes, the church’s fulltime acting archdeacon since the last priest left in 2002.

But given the shrinking numbers, the fight can feel daunting.