“Hayern Aysor”’s correspondent sat down for an interview with Sossi Ghazarian-Gevonian, who recently presented her book “Carnages of Kesaria” at the RA Ministry of Diaspora.

“Hayern Aysor”: Mrs. Gevonian, I congratulate you on the release of your book and the presentation. I believe you will continue your pro-national efforts for many years and hope the next book won’t be about the horrible carnages, but the Armenian who has stood up for his Historic Homeland.

Sossi Ghazarian-Gevonian: Thank you for your congratulatory remarks and your optimism. There is a lot to write about, and I still have a lot to do.

“Hayern Aysor”: When did you repatriate?

S. G. G.: I repatriated 10 years ago. I had visited Armenia eight times before 2004, but that year I decided to settle in the Homeland.

“Hayern Aysor”: What made you decide to repatriate?

S. G. G.: I started getting to know the different layers of Armenian society better. I was a social worker in the USA. Whenever I visited Armenia as a tourist, I would see how my compatriots were living, what they needed, and I decided to help the socially disadvantaged. I thought as long as I have the energy, it would be better for me to go and help my compatriots in Armenia than have foreigners do that.

“Hayern Aysor”: Mrs. Gevonian, which layers and groups of society have you helped?

S. G. G.: I have helped the vulnerable and socially disadvantaged people, including children with a single parent and orphans, the families of deceased freedom fighters, people with mental disorders and people suffering from other heavy illnesses…

“Hayern Aysor”: How is it that you are so kind? Who were your parents?

S. G. G. I was born in Damascus. Later, my family and I migrated to Beirut. My father, Trdat Ghazarian and mother, Meline Halajian, were from Kesaria. I have seen kindness since childhood, and that’s how our family was. In Beirut I continued my studies at the French College, received my diploma as a French language teacher and started teaching at the French language school in Lebanon. When the war broke out in Beirut, we moved to the United States of America. At the time, I was married to Nazareth Gevonian and had two children, and my third child was born in America.

“Hayern Aysor”: Mrs. Gevonian, did your husband help you become a writer and public figure? Hasn’t he ever created obstacles?

S. G. G.: Of course, he has. I was busy with our business, but after our divorce, I discovered myself and started getting involved in community service. I really wanted to visit the Homeland after Armenia’s independence, but wanting was not enough. I had a family, three little children and a husband…During my years in America, I was involved in community service at schools and churches and was a member of the Women’s Union, but I was always under pressure…Later, I discovered my identity, and since I have always strived to help my nation and the community, I started doing that.

“Hayern Aysor”: You said you had visited Armenia eight times before repatriating. Were you here as a tourist, or were you here to do some research on preconditions for your future activities?

S. G. G.: I would visit because I loved Armenia. I felt good here, especially in Tsakhkadzor where I would stay at the summer camp for children of socially disadvantaged families and would work with the children during my 3-4-week stay. I didn’t feel too good in Yerevan and preferred to be in the villages and the provinces.

“Hayern Aysor”: Let’s talk about the books that you have written and published.

S. G. G.: They’re all like my children and are an important part of my life. The first book is Armen Tonoyan’s Spirit of Liberation, followed by the book History of Artsakh by Professor of Stepanakert University of the NKR, historian Vahram Balayan and the book Before the Auction of Souls, which was released in English in 2008 and in Armenian in 2011. I was the illustrator.

The other books are Armenian Women in History and Carnages of Kesaria, and you attended the presentation. I have authored books and have helped publish books. For my next book, I’ll be traveling to Lebanon and Istanbul to search for my grandfather’s articles and materials in the archives. The Carnages of Kesaria, which was published by the Institute of History of the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia, includes episodes from the Genocide and the migration between the years of 1915 and 1922. The book includes stories from the diary of my grandfather, Haig Ghazarian. Before reading the diary, I had heard stories from my father about my grandfather’s sufferings, the massacres and the deportations. My grandfather kept a diary in 1937, and I integrated it by referring to Arshak Alboyadjian’s extensive book History of the Armenians of Kesaria.

Is the book dedicated to the memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide and your grandfather, or is there another purpose?

S. G. G.: Of course, there are three factors. Now that the survivors are no longer with us, it will be easier for Turkey to make the future generations forget about the genocide. Thus, we have to be focused on the past and struggle since memory needs to be refreshed so that the future generations never forget that monstrous carnage.

“Hayern Aysor”: Who was your grandfather, Haig Ghazarian? What has he done?

S. G. G.: First, he decided to become a doctor, but he changed his mind after an incident. He published the newspapers entitled “Love” (Ser), “Trumpet” (Shepor) and “Apostle” (Arakyal), was the director of journalist Mersim’s orphanage and was a great patriot.

“Hayern Aysor”: Wasn’t it hard for you to read your grandfather’s diary? It seems as though you become the eyewitness of his sufferings and the massacres in Kesaria.

S. G. G.: Of course, it wasn’t easy, but I had set a goal to introduce people to that great person. It took me two years to write the book, and of course, it was a great pain for me.

“Hayern Aysor”: Who are your readers? Whom is the book designed for?

S. G. G.: The book is designed for the public at large, students, people conducting research on that period in history, my grandchildren and the future generations.

“Hayern Aysor”: I know that you also carry out charity acts and have given a part of your three-story house to socially disadvantaged students. Could you tell us a little about that?

S. G. G.: I have done everything without asking for help for a decade. I host socially disadvantaged students at my house. They can’t afford to pay rent. They are very close to my heart. We love and respect each other and are honest to each other.

“Hayern Aysor”: Have you been awarded for your pro-national activities?

S. G. G.: Yes, I have. I was awarded for the first time today when I was granted the Nubar Pasha Medal by the Minister of Diaspora. It is very binding for me.

“Hayern Aysor”: Have you ever regretted doing what you do and repatriating?

S. G. G.: Not at all. In America I feel like Armenia’s special defender. To those who complain, I tell them not to compare Armenia with America. Let them compare Armenia with Lebanon and Syria, speak out in Armenia and, most importantly, take action.

“Hayern Aysor”: When did you start collaborating with the RA Ministry of Diaspora?

S. G. G.: I started collaborating with the ministry after the second year of its establishment.

“Hayern Aysor”: What does the Homeland mean to you?

S. G. G.: For me, the homeland is sacred.

“Hayern Aysor”: Do you believe there will come a day when Armenians having lost the Historic Homeland will stand up for the land of their ancestors?

S. G. G.: I do believe in that. This millennium is the millennium of the Armenians. Armenia will become strong, life will change and the world will change. I won’t see it, but the future generations will. If we believe in the rebirth of the spirit, I might also see it.

“Hayern Aysor”: Thank you for this very interesting conversation. I wish you continue your patriotic and pro-national activities by the blessing of God.

Interview by Karine Avagyan