Abstract

Beginning from the time of Tsar Alexander III who ascended the throne in 1881, the policy of “one state (Tsardom), one nation (the Russians) and the only faith (Orthodoxy)” began to be active in Russia. This policy was adhered to during the period of Tsar Nikola II who was replaced with Alexander III in 1894. This policy, which attempted to “Russificate” Armenians together with the other Russian dominated nations, would cause an increase in general unrest in the region. For the enforcement of these policies, Tsar appointed Prince Golitsin to the General Governorship of the Caucasus. Prince Golitsin has became a symbol of the Russification policy in the Caucasus, hardening the attitudes of Armenians. This policy took shape more clearly in 1903. In June of 1903, on the advice of the Governor General of Caucasus Prince Golitsin, Tsar Nikola II ordered the confiscation of the properties belonging to the Armenian Church and the transference of Armenian schools to Russian authority. Golitsin aimed at speeding up the policy of Russification to break the power of the Armenian revolutionaries. In fact, by interfering with the church, Golitsin was confronting not only the committee members but also the entire Armenian community. At that time Malachia Ormanian was serving as the Armenian Patriarchate of Istanbul and Mkrtich Khrimian, who had previously served as the Armenian Patriarchate of Istanbul, was Etchimiadzin Catholicos. Khrimian, in the face of above mentioned Russian policies, chose to get closer with the Ottoman State, with which he had previously experienced many problems. He wanted help from the Armenian Patriarch of Istanbul Ormanian in this area. However, the Patriarch Malachia Ormanian, who had good relations with Abdulhamid II, refrained from being in close contact with catholicos. In this paper, the influence of these policies which had applied until the revolution of 1905 in Russia, greatly impacting relations between the Ottoman State and the Armenians and the role of the Armenian leaders in these relations, will be examined.