Armenian Church in Egypt one of the richest on the globe
23.12.2009 11:37 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Being the only in entire Africa, the Egyptian
Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church is rather Patriarchate than
Diocese. `Presently, some 3 thousand Armenians live in Cairo and
Alexandria. There are also Armenians in Sudan, Ethiopia and Republic
of South Africa.

The history of the Armenian community of Ethiopia is amusing.
Ethiopian King Haile Selassie once heard a chorus of Armenian orphans
in Turkey. He brought them to Addis Ababa and gave them dwelling and
education. These orphans based the Armenian community which now
numbers some 100 people,’ head of the AAC Egyptian Diocese, His Grace
Bishop Ashot Mnatsakanyan told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter on Cairo.

His Grace said the Armenian community is the only registered as
national minority in Egypt and the Armenian Church in Egypt is one of
the richest on the globe.

He also reminded that Nubar Nubaryan Pasha, the first prime minister
and foreign minister of Egypt, was of Armenian descent and was buried
at the Armenian cemetery in Heliopolis. His son, Boghos Nubar Pasha
was the founder of Armenian General Benevolent Union.