Topic outline

  •  

    AGBU Armenian Virtual College commemorated 

    the 108th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide

    by reviving personal untold stories of survival and hope.

  • Story 2. Karine Armen' grandmother's survival

    • Karine Armen [Kurkjian] is a photographer and elementary school teacher.
      Karine changed her last name for artistic reasons.

      Karine's father side is Kurkjian and mother side is Giragosian.
      Both Kurkjian and Giragosian families are from Garin (Erzroum), Turkey.
      They are survivors of the Armenian genocide and settled in Iran.

      Hagop Kurkjian was the weight-lifting champion in Iran.
      He received Gold Medal from Shah (the King of Iran)in 1950.

      Berjik Kurkjian [Giragosian] has written several self-help articles in Farsi.
      Her work was published in a Los Angeles magazine called Fogholadeh in 1987-88.

      Varand Kurkjian is a famous Armenian poet.
      He has received Honorary PhD from University of Edjmiazin in Armenia.
      Karine and Varand are siblings.

    • Andranik, Varvareh, Lucia, Soukias, Hagop, Levon (on floor)
      Photo taken in Kharkov, Ukraine circa 1931.
      Varvareh was Greek from Ukraine who married Soukias.
      Soukias's first wife was killed during the Armenian genocide.

      Alexander, Hambarsoum, Tigran, Victoria, Berjik, Knar, Njdeh
      Photo taken in Kermanshah, Iran in 1942.