Within the framework of the events dedicated to the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide, the Hayern Aysor electronic newspaper of the RA Ministry of Diaspora is working on a project that presents the horror of the Armenian Genocide through symbolic photos. Among the “heroes” of the photos are renowned individuals, and among them is our beloved artist, Varduhi Varderesyan.

…We were going to take a photo of Varduhi Varderesyan at the Tsitsernakaberd Armenian Genocide Memorial Complex. According to our agreement, we were waiting for her in the patio of her house on a day in autumn, and we were thrilled. Varduhi came, dressed neatly, with her hair done, and with a smile on her face, as always…

As soon as she reached Tsitsernakaberd, she immediately got to work. Showing signs of sorrow, wrath and claims, she urged the photographer to focus on every detail. She was very excited and kept expressing gratitude…

As Varduhi was bidding everyone farewell, she started generously handing out the lilies that we had given her to take photos with. When she approached me to give me a lily, she said: “Take it, my friend, you’ll give this to the girl you love…”

A year has passed since that day…The exhibition of those photos will be held soon and was supposed to be honored with Varduhi Varderesyan’s presence, but…

…There will be people who will come, express their heartfelt words and view the photos, and you? You won’t be with us, you won’t be wearing the black dress that you had decided to wear and had been keeping for that day, and you won’t be reciting the poems that you had rehearsed and had promised to recite.

I am certain that you will smile at us from a photo as console and a last memory-a photo, the story of which will always be in our hearts.

Gevorg Chichyan

Photo by Inna Mkhitaryan