NAGORNO-KARABAKH: IS ANOTHER ARMENIAN ETHNIC CLEANSING UNDERWAY?

Armenian Christians in Crisis: Pray for Peace in Armenia

Thousands of Armenian Christians in crisis live and work in Iraq and surrounding countries, and many are part of Indigenous Ministries’ network. Although their families are not originally from Iraq, their spiritual heritage stretches back to the disciples Bartholomew and Thaddeus (Jude), who first brought the gospel to Armenia. These early efforts sparked a long legacy of faith, worship, and Christian witness—one that has endured through centuries of hardship.

A Legacy of Faith—and Suffering

The Armenian Church, a part of the historic “Eastern Church,” has persevered through persecution for generations. One of the most painful chapters came during the Armenian Genocide from 1915 to 1916, where an estimated 600,000 to 1.8 million Armenians were killed by the Ottoman Empire. Many others were deported, and countless Armenian children were forcibly removed from their families and converted to Islam.

September 2023: The Crisis Deepens

In September 2023, over 100,000 Armenians—nearly the entire population of Nagorno-Karabakh—were forced to flee their homes, farms, and churches due to an Azerbaijani blockade that had lasted for nine months. Cut off from food and supplies, and facing minimal international support, families fled under threat of further violence.

Tragically, Armenian churches, grave markers, and cultural sites are now at risk of erasure. Azerbaijan has already indicated it plans to “restore” Christian heritage sites as part of a fabricated “ancient Caucasian Albanian culture.” This mirrors the erasure of Christian and Yazidi history in Iraq and Syria by groups like ISIS.

Read more about this conflict and stay informed.

Growing Threat of Invasion

Earlier this year, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned that Azerbaijan may soon launch a full-scale invasion into Armenia using the Nagorno-Karabakh corridor. This potential escalation puts Armenian Christians in crisis again—exposing them to another wave of displacement, violence, and religious persecution.

How You Can Help

This is not just a political issue—it’s a spiritual crisis. Now is the time to pray for peace, to advocate for the vulnerable, and to speak out before another genocide unfolds.

Please join Indigenous Ministries in lifting up the Armenian Church in prayer. Let us intercede for protection, wisdom for leaders, and strength for believers.

You can also learn more about our Middle East outreach and support efforts to help persecuted Christians.

— Dee A. Cook, CEO