ARMENIANS: Seek Refuge In Italy

Questo articolo in inglese apparve sul giornale Goulburn Evening Penny Post in data mercoledì 5 ottobre 1938. 

Il suo titolo è ARMENIANS: Seek Refuge In Italy ovvero ARMENI: Cercano rifugio in Italia.

Feeling for their lives as a consequence of the Greco-Turkish war of 1922, about 40 Armenians sought refuge in Italy the following year. 

Their homes destroyed and most of their relatives and friends dead; they found a new spot to start life anew. They arrived in Italy empty-handed with only tattered rags to cover their backs. Many of them still limped from the wounds inflicted by their irreconcilable Turkish masters.

To-day, they have realised their dream. Theirs is a modern little town of Nor Arax and their number has augmented to more than 100.

CARPET WEAVING

They are relatively prosperous and the harrowing experiences of 16 years ago are nothing more  than an unpleasant dream. They ply the trade of their forefathers - carpet weaving - and have constructed several mills with up-to-date looms and equipment.

The Italian authorities have granted them relative freedom in conduct ing their own affairs. They have their own school, their own church and they are permitted to apply their own local laws.

In return for these concessions they have certain obligations toward the country which granted them hospitality. They have engaged themselves

hobby the national law, to teach Italian in their school, to send their youths to do their period of military service and to respect the political ideology of the nation.

CUSTOMS PREVAIL

Their former homes may be thousands of miles away, but the character of the Near East has been definitely imprinted on Nor Arax. Their children may speak Italian with the local Bari accent, but the customs, habits, and even the language of old Armenia strongly prevails. A tiny new Armenia has been raised in the heart of the Apuglie region.

The spirit of the material leader of thees people is tall, lean, white-haired Hrand Nazariantz. Poet, philosopher, writer, preacher, and agitator, he is looked upon with awe and reverence by his followers. He is their prophet and they call him the "Magi".

It was this Christ-like figure who led the original band here 16 years ago. It was his will and faith that carried them through the first trying experiences in an unknown land.

NO CLOTHING

Their first winter in Italy was a difficult one. They were without clothing and shelter and food came with great irregularity. Nazariantz made impassioned pleas first to the people of Bari, and later to the nation as a whole for aid to his countrymen.

Newspapers and social workers became interested in the Armenians.

His pleas were answered, and food, clothing and material soon began to pour in from everywhere. The government furnished six large pavilions which it built on strong cement bases for them.

Municipalities, individuals, and other public and private enterprises sent furniture, clothing, building material, medicine, house utensils, seeds and poultry. A church was constructed for them. Bari supplied the new neighbours with running water and electricity. Even the silk to weave an Armenian flag was supplied by an Italian women,

EXPLAINS BIBLE

Although he has greatly aged from his sustained efforts. Nazariantz is still as active as ever.

To-day the "Magi" concentrates all his energies upon the young. He teaches them the language and literature of Armenia. He tells them tales of an Armenia which they have never seen, of their forefathers and of the exploits of the national heroes.

He carefully explains the Bible and in moments to recreation even reads his own poems to his young admiring audience, who will one day carry on the labours of that original band of 40.