'Handbook of Mesopotamia. Vol. I. 1918' [‎131] (140/568)

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RELIGIONS 231
M^uJ are French, and apparently include a considerable number
ot Alsatians. As a result of their work, a fair number of Chaldaean
priests can speak Trench.
Protestants. These are mostly Armenians, but there are also a few
converts from the Chaldaean, Jacobite, and Nestorian Churches.
Protestantism is the result of American mission-work, and Oriental
Protestants can often speak some English, which they have learnt in
American mission schools. On the whole the Oriental Protestants
ot Mesopotamia seem to have made an unfavourable impression on
travellers; but it must be remembered that the judgements of the
latter nave usually been based on superficial observations.
nu 0 f^ ce Sects— (a) The Oregorian Church is the national
Ohurch ot Armenia, and represents and fosters Armenian national
aspirations.^ To it belong the great majority of Armenians in
Mesopotamia. Before the present war the total number of its
members was perhaps 3-3J millions, of whom nearly 2 millions were
in Kussian and Turkish Armenia, and the remainder scattered over the
rest of the Russian and Turkish Empires, Persia, India, and other
countries. The Church constitutes a millet in the Turkish Empire.
Of the four patriarchates the chief is that of Echmiadsin, about
10 miles west of Envan, in Russian territory. The Chief Patriarch
was selected by the Tsar from two candidates chosen by the General
Assembly of the Church. The Patriarch of Constantinople ranks
" 'J" 0 . C'hief Patriarch. A college education is obligatory on
the Gregorian monks, some of whom have the title of Vardapet •
irom these bishops are selected. The parish priests, who are allowed
to marry, are elected and supported by their congregations. The
deacons are also allowed to marry. The General Assembly is com
posed of bishops, vardapets, and one layman and one priest from
each see. The Gregorian Church is Monophysite and not in com-
munion with Rome.
'7A^AAA"^ me ^ an ^ n ^ es are _ a much smaller community (perhaps
70,000 in all), and are found in western Kurdistan and in the south
eastern corner of Anatolia Peninsula that forms most of modern-day Turkey. . As their name implies, they are in
communion with Rome. They have an archbishop at Mardln in
upper Jezireh and bishops elsewhere. There are some Armenian
Umates at Baghdad. The Church is recognized as a millet.
(c) Armenian Protestants (perhaps some 45,000 in all; a few
thousands in Mesopotamia) are found mostly in the Armenian high-
Aimenian Protestantism is the result of the proselytizing
work of the American missionaries—mostly Presbyterians. Many
Armenian Protestants have been educated at American mission
schools and can speak English. It may further be noted that a con-
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