RAS-EL-AIN ON THE ROAD OF EXILE
Ras-el-Ain is a Syrian town located by the Turkish border on the slope of Armenian Taurus Mountains. The town was founded nearby full-flowing springs and received a name that means "spring". This town has direct relation with the fate of a part of the Armenian people. In late-May hot days of 1915 a dense caravan of Armenians was displaced from Tigranakert and Derik regions and was forced into flat Ras-el-Ain and its surrounding villages. Tortured and tired of the long road, people quenched their thirst in the Arabian springs and took some rest. Leaving part of the displaced to the mercy of fate, Turkish askyars (soldiers) forced others into deserts of Der-el-Zor…
The Armenian that stayed in Ras-el-Ain faced violence from the hands of Turks, Kurds, Chechens and Turkmens inhabiting this area. Before Der-el-Zor a big massacre of Armenians happened there. Every inch of earth here is blood-soaked. People were being killed to snatch their jewelry and gold or for pleasure as moving targets. Despite great difficulties 200 Armenian families Ras-el-Ain managed to survive. Getting rid of Turkish yoke Armenians together Syrian breathed freely. Armenians earned their living working as craftsmen and farmers. They peacefully co-existed with the Arab people enjoying their respect.
French armenologist Dulorie wrote: "Wherever Armenians go, they first of all found their school, church and newspaper." It has been 70 years that an Armenian school functions in Ras-el-Ain, an Apostolic church was founded earlier. Though there are very few Armenians in Ras-el-Ain today, they have a school with 16 pupils, a restored church and a memorial to the victims of Armenian Genocide where remnants of the perished are kept. Local Armenians have applied to the head of Armenian diocese in Aleppo asking to grant Ras-el-Ain status of a pilgrimage site as it is with Der-el-Zor. But the proposal remains unanswered so far.
Native of Ras-el-Ain, Mr. Vrezh, told me once a sad story. His father told him that in the caves near Ras-el-Ain’s springs many Armenians were tortured to death. The caves were long ago filled with stones and got buried. Mr. Vrezh is fearful that one day the authorities will take this area to build something thus the graves will be profaned. He has turned to Syria’s Armenian community and party leaders with a suggestion to build a memorial on this site. This plea also remains unanswered but he is still hopeful that his voice will be heard one day.
The small Armenian community of Ras-el-Ain has many problems. The church has no priest as this position is poorly paid. A priest arrives here from Kamishli town 160 km away only for major religious celebrations. People here perform patriotic songs very beautifully. Headmistress of the school, Ani Sargsian, who is also a graduate of the school, spares no effort to educate the children with Armenian spirit. Parents and benefactors help the school. She dreams of visiting Armenian and participating in retraining courses for teachers. Perhaps the Ministry of Education of Armenia can help her achieve her dream.
There are major problems hamper the survival of this small community. There is less work for the Armenian craftsmen as the other nationalities have learned their crafts and now they provide their services to a vaster clientele. Armenian children leave for Aleppo, Damask, Lebanon or other countries to continue their education or to find a job. If it goes like this there will soon be no Armenian in Ras-el-Ain. Only those will remain who are married with Christian Arabs or Assyrians.
Currently, there are 50.000 Armenians in Syria. They live in good-neighborly relations with the Syrian people but still cherish a dream of returning to their ancestors’ land.
- By Derenik Movsisian in Ras-el-Ain
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