According to official statistics there are 33 Genocide
survivors living in Armenia today. They are, of course, very old and memory
mostly fails them, but they remain beautiful and strong at heart. Most of them
have children, grand children and even great grandchildren and live with their
families, who owe their lives to these elders’ struggle and ultimate survival.
In the fall of 2014 renowned photographers Diana Markosian and Karen Mirzoyan have
had the honor and privilege of being allowed into their homes to photograph the
lives the survivors and their families lead today especially for the 100 LIVES
initiative. On the eve of the Genocide’s 100th anniversary we bring you ten
poignant photo essays about the strength and courage it takes to survive.
1. MOVSES HANESHYAN
One hundred and four-year-old Movses Haneshyan was born
in the Kebussieh village in the region of Musа Dagh (present-day Turkey). In
1915 his family was deported to Syria.
2. HRIPSIME HAJI SARGSYAN
Genocide survivor Hripsime Haji Sargsyan was born in the
Tavshanli Village in the Kyutahia Region of Western Anatolia. Hripsime recalled
that it was early in the morning when Turks, armed with rifles, came knocking on
their door.
3. OVSANNA GEVORGYAN - MIRKHOYAN
Ovsanna Gevorgyan - Mirkhoyan was born in 1915, although
the exact day and place of her birth is unknown. The only thing she remembers
is that her family used to live in a village near Istanbul.
4. KNYAZ SHIRINYAN
One hundred and three-year-old Knyaz Shirinyan is from
the Alashkert district (now Eleshkirt in North-Eastern Turkey). He is the
firstborn of his parents: Abraham and Khanum. The family escaped from Zrchi and
crossed the Arax River in 1918.
5. YEPRAKSIA BARSEGHYAN-GEVORGYAN
Yepraksia Barseghyan-Gevorgyan was born on April 23, 1914
in the Laloyi Mavrak village, Kars Province. Yepraksia fled the Genocide with
her mother and two brothers. Her father was killed by the Turks.
6. MARIAM SAHAKYAN
Mariam Sahakyan turned 100 in January 2015. She was born
in Sasun, a district in the Batman Province of modern-day Turkey. She survived
thanks to the Kurds, who helped her family.
7. NVARD SUDJYAN
Nvard Sudjyan is from Van (modern day Turkey). According
to her documents, she was born in 1915, but she insists that she was in fact
born two years earlier, in 1913.
8. MARGARITA MKHITARYAN
Margarita Mkhitaryan was born in 1915 in Kars. She
escaped the massacres with her mother and brother in 1917-1918.
9. ZARUHI GHAZARYAN
Zaruhi Ghazaryan was born in 1911 in Sasun. She passed
away on December 16, 2014.
10. AHARON MANUKYAN
Aharon Manukyan was born on March 20, 1914 in the
Kendananc village in Van. Aharon was only one year old when his family had to
leave home. He has no memories of those days, but his mother Mariam told him
that she had managed to escape with her three sons: Aharon, Meliqset and
Vahram.
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