THE RELATIONS OF “MURAD-RAPHAELIAN STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION OF CONSTANTINOPLE” WITH FREEMASONRY

Abstract

In the Ottoman Empire before the reforms implemented at the first stage of Tanzimat, the
non-Muslim population didn’t have any access to educational colleges. The Armenians of
Constantinople got education mainly in national colleges, which didn’t give comprehensive

and secular academic education. In order to fill up the gap a group of eminent Armenian
figures sent smart and diligent Armenian learners to some European colleges at their own
expense. At first the students got education in Italy, mainly in Murad-Rapaelian colleges
established with the efforts of the Mechitarist Unity. By the end of 1940s the centre of
education for the Armenian youth of Constantinople became Paris. A group of young
intellectuals inspired by the ideas of European enlightenment, progress and French Revolution
of 1848 returned to Constantinople and set about the education of their own nation. They
established a great number of non-governmental, educational and cultural associations, which
promoted patriotic activity throughout the city. On January 7, 1859, “The Murad-Rapaelian
Students’ Association” was established in Constantinople, the founders of which were
members of “All-Armenian Association”. The members of that Association made contacts with
the masonry during their study in Europe, some of them were affiliated to the free masons’
lodges. The Association foundation was quite similar to the masonic lodge gatherings. Some
members of the Association became active public figures and constitutional movement
participants. Some of them were members of European masonic lodges working in Constanti-
nople. At the beginning of the 1860s some members of the Association became members of the
Armenian “Tigran” and “Ser” Lodges. At the foundation of these lodges “The Murad-
Rapaelyan Association” stopped its activity in 1871.