First Report on the Diocese of Nicomedia, 1870

Boghos Vartabed Natanian

translated from Armenian by Ara Stepan Melkonian
London: Gomidas Institute, 2019,
44 pages, illustration.
ISBN 978-1-909382-50-3, paperback,
Price: UK£10.00 / US$12.00
To order please contact books@gomidas.org

This book is one of several Armenian language accounts from the 1870s and 1880s concerning Armenian communities of the Ottoman Empire. These were part of a broader process of national introspection, rejuvenation and good governance within the context of the Armenian National Constitution of 1863. Natanian’s report was on the Nicomedia diocese of the Armenian Apostolic church, in north-western Asia Minor, in 1870. This was an area with a significant Armenian population with at least 28 settlements. His report could be compared to later accounts, such as Minas Kasabian’s The Armenians in the Province of Nicomedia (Gomidas Institute, 2019) and Krikor Mkhalian’s Bardizag and Its People (Gomidas Institute, 2014), both translated into English by Ara Stepan Melkonian.

Translator’s Note 7

Acknowledgements   11
Preface     13
Bibliography    44

Part 1 The Main Part of the Diocese of Nicomedia

Nicomedia 15
Dagh Kiugh 17

Armash 17

Khasgal 17
Almali 18

Fendekli 18

Ferizli 19

Tamlekh 19

Nor Kiugh 20

Adabazar 20

Geyve’s Michakiugh 22

Kourdbelen 23

Kendjelar 23

Sabandja or Heghinoupolis 24

Aslan Bey [Arslan Beg] 25

Ovadjek 26

Deongel 26

Bardizag 26

Part 2 The Second Part of the Diocese of Nicomedia Consisting of the Armenian Villages in the Yalova Province

Shakhshakh 29

Kheledj Kiugh 29

Choukhour Kiugh 30

Kartsi Kiugh 30

Chengiler 31

Bazar’s Medz Nor Kiugh 32

Bazar’s Michakiugh 33

Bazar’s Keremet 34

Yalakh Dere 35

Merdigeoz 36

Part 3 Description of wedding celebrations in the Armenian-inhabited-villages of the Yalova region

Betrothal 39

Inter-family Relationships 40

Marriage 41

« Back to books listing