On Tuesday, April 14, Dr. Anna Aleksanyan, Kazan Visiting Professor in Armenian Studies, presented the third lecture in her series on women and the Armenian Genocide. This lecture focused on the extraordinary humanitarian work of Karen Jeppe, a Danish missionary who became known among Armenians as a maternal figure and rescuer of genocide survivors. The lecture, commemorating the 150th anniversary of Jeppe’s life, talked about her life, her experiences during the Armenian Genocide, and her postwar efforts to rebuild Armenian lives, particularly those of women and children.
Jeppe’s journey began in 1902 when, as a young woman, she attended lectures by Aage Meyer Benedictsen, who spoke about the massacres of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire. Deeply moved, she joined the Danish Friends of Armenia and traveled to Urfa. There, she quickly adapted to her surroundings, learning Armenian and Arabic and working alongside missionaries like Corinna Shattuck. Her early work focused on orphan care, but she soon realized that “relief isn’t enough by itself.” Instead, she believed in equipping survivors with practical skills that would allow them to become self-sufficient.
One of Jeppe’s most impactful initiatives was her support of Armenian women through embroidery work. By introducing new ideas from Denmark and connecting local artisans to broader markets, she helped women generate income and regain independence. She viewed this as transformative, arguing that despite the tragedy, “widows and single women had become heads of households,” and that this shift allowed them to “learn to work and generally attain a different role.” While this perspective reflected her outsider assumptions about gender roles, it also demonstrated her commitment to empowering survivors economically and socially.
Jeppe’s experiences during the Armenian Genocide profoundly shaped her life and work. Karen Jeppe described the deportations, writing that “all the highways in Asia Minor were crowded with these unearthly bands of exiles… they scarcely knew whither, except that every road led to death.” Despite operating under constant surveillance, she risked her life to help Armenians. She hid refugees in her home, constructing secret spaces in her basement, and arranged for their escape by disguising them. These efforts placed her in danger, as Ottoman authorities often searched her home. The emotional and mental strain was overwhelming, leading her to moments of despair in which she believed she might need to “sacrifice herself for the Armenians.”
After World War I, Jeppe moved to Aleppo in 1921, where she became involved in postwar rescue operations. At this point, most surviving Armenians were women and children who had been forced to assimilate into Muslim households. Jeppe worked with Armenian rescuers such as Levon Yotnakhparian and Rouben Herian, who worked to locate and recover people from the Syrian deserts. One example of the individuals impacted by this work was Misak Melkonian, an Armenian orphan who survived the Genocide after losing his family and spending time in multiple orphanages. Jeppe supported him by helping with his education and teaching him a trade so he could eventually become independent. Over time, he developed a close bond with her and came to see her as a maternal figure in his life, reflecting the deeper personal impact of her rescue efforts. As Levon stated, they “had to save them today, otherwise they would be late,” showing the importance of these missions.
In Aleppo, Jeppe established shelters, workshops, and kitchens to support survivors. She revived embroidery production, using her connections to sell goods and fund her programs. She also purchased homes to provide stability, believing that Armenians needed more than temporary aid. Her work gained international recognition, and she was appointed by the League of Nations to lead the Commission for the Protection of Women and Children in the Near East. In this role, she organized rescue missions, documented survivors’ identities, and advocated for continued funding. She carefully recorded the names, origins, and life stories of those she rescued, preserving their histories in official archives. Because she preserved these records, she was able to maintain support from the League of Nations.
Jeppe also focused on rebuilding Armenian society in a broader sense. Jeppe called for the League of Nations to support Armenian agricultural colonies within Syria, arguing that “the future of Syria depends upon an intense cultivation of her fertile soil.” Recognizing that Armenians could not return to their original homelands, she wanted to create sustainable communities where they could rebuild their lives. Education was another priority, she established schools that welcomed both Armenian and Arab students, demonstrating her eventual recognition of the need for cooperation with local populations.
However, Dr. Aleksanyan also spoke about the limitations and biases in Jeppe’s work. She was described as “an Armenian nationalist” who struggled to trust certain survivors, particularly those who had lived in Turkish or Arab households. She sometimes refused to rescue children of mixed heritage, preferring what she considered “full Armenian” orphans. These views, while shaped by the trauma she witnessed, showed a limited view. In contrast, the Armenian Apostolic Church had a more inclusive approach, accepting all Armenians regardless of background.
Despite this, Jeppe’s dedication to the Armenian people remained strong. She eventually converted from Protestantism to the Armenian Apostolic Church, showing her deep identification with the community she served. She continued her work until her death in Aleppo in 1935, after which her programs struggled to continue due to financial challenges. She was buried in the Armenian cemetery in Aleppo, where she is still remembered with deep reverence.
As what was written in her obituary, “Sweet is the word mother, such sweeter when applied to an unmarried lady by hundreds and thousands in love and reverence.” This sentiment captures how Armenians came to view Karen Jeppe, not only as a rescuer, but as a maternal figure who devoted her life to their survival and recovery. Ultimately, the lecture and Dr. Aleksanyan demonstrated that while the Armenian Genocide represents immense human suffering, individuals like Jeppe reveal the profound impact of humanitarian action, showing how compassion and commitment can help rebuild lives even in the aftermath of unimaginable tragedy.
A quote by K. Garabedian sums up the feelings of the Armenians for Karen Jeppe – “Miss Jeppe is one such lady who was called mother by whole community.”