The Council on International Relations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Denmark

Church News from Denmark
August 2005

Armenian Christians in Denmark

The Ministry of Ecclesiastical Affairs has just recognised The Armenian
Apostolic Church in Denmark as a congregation with juridical rights to
administer marriage ceremonies and with certain privileges as regards
taxation. There are in Denmark almost 1200 Armenian refugees from Iran
and Iraq. A priest from the Armenians in Sweden has until now served
them but they are looking for a priest to be their own pastor. Divine
Services are held in Danish churches in Copenhagen, Aarhus, and Odense.

There are strong bonds between the Armenian Church and The Evangelical
Lutheran Church in Denmark. Danish missionary societies and friends
of Armenia supported relief actions for the people during the great
massacres by the Turks, and during World War I the missionaries
Karen Jeppe and Maria Jacobsen took care of children who had lost
their parents.