Armenian Family History Tour (Genealogy tour)

…experience the trail your ancestors have passed

This Genealogy Tour is a unique opportunity to explore your family history and start the journey to your origins.

I remember when I was a kid, my grandma used to gather all her grandchildren and tell us stories about our homeland and about the destiny and path they have passed with my grandpa until they reached to US, Virginia where I was actually born and grown.

At that time it was hard for me to understand why grandma was going over and over telling these stories and why each time even when telling happy parts of her life, her eyes were filled with tears…

When I grew up and had my own family I have started to understand my grandma and why she was repeating her stories to us all the time. I understood that now I want to go, see and experience through all that places they have passed. I understood that I want my children to visit the country of their ancestors and see the places where their roots are coming from…

I have taken out the diary of my grandma, which she was keeping very carefully. Then I've found an organization in Armenia which helped me clarify the information I had and find much more.

They helped me to draw a map of my journey to my roots. After all this was organized, we flied to Armenia, and this was just the beginning of my story…

1^st day

On 19th of May 2010 I, my wife Elis and my two sons Gevork and Sooren arrived to Yerevan. At the Zvartnots airport we were greeted by Gagik Sargsyan (guide from Armenian Family Tree project), who gave us the map of our family history tour.

After having rest in the hotel we were ready for the exciting ride. We have found out that descendants of my great aunt are currently living in Yerevan. It was really great meeting our lost relatives.

2^nd and 3^rd days

Earlier next day we took the road to Stepanavan. This is where my great grandfather Muguch was from.

After that he had settled in a village where he was earning his living working in the Carpenter's shop. Of course the carpenters shop was not there anymore but all the people remember the carpenter and his little helper.

4^th day

When Muguch grew-up he married a girl from the neighbor village. We visited the village of my great grandmother Satenig as well. And on the way back we visited one of the places we all were excited to see: the church where they got married.

When we entered the church we could almost build the scene which happened 102 years before in the same place.

5^th and 6^th days

As one carpenter was enough for a village, my great grandfather had to leave to another place to make his living for his new family. He took his tools, put my great grandma Satenig on a donkey and they moved to find a village and a new place to settle. We followed the road they have passed and then visited their graves there.

Muguch and Satenig have lived happy and long life. They had 5 children: 2 boys and 3 girls. Among them my grandpa Boghos whose name I have now. He left the village with his younger brother with the expectation of good future when he was 13.

7^th day

As the life was hard at those years my great grandparents sent Boghos to Satenig's brother's family who were living in Igdir. Boghos grew up there. He was helping his uncle's family in agricultural works.

This was our next point. We flied to Igdir (today's territory of Turkey). Though we were not able to find the exact place of the house where Boghos lived, it was great just to see the city where they were living, and try to guess if he had walked the street we are walking now.

8^th day

When in 1920 Igdir passed to Turkish government, Boghos decided to leave the city. We don't know the real reason of his shift and how he reached Cyprus.

It's clear that we are in Cyprus now. Here we had lot of things to see. I met the man who remembered Boghos very well. Boghos was friends with his father. They actually went to same collage together. It was a great day with Sarkis (the name of that man). He was 85 but he could remember many stories connected to his father and my grandfather. We had a lovely Armenian dinner with Sarkis's family spiced with great memories.

9^th day

The next day after visiting Sarkis we went in the wake of his stories. First place we went was the collage where Boghos studied. Now there was a public school.

Boghos met my grandma Araks in Cyprus. Araks was a survivor of genocide. On the way she lost her family. They got married there and the same year left Cyprus on a ship to US.

10^th day

We visited St. Karapet church and had a meeting with local Armenian community. We had lunch with them and again stories and memories which were so alike of ours. After the lunch we went to the port. This was the last point of our journey. Yes that's crazy but for the next day we had cruise tickets to US!

11^th day

The last morning was filled with a much excitement and sadness together. All that we have experienced was fabulous. I looked at my children and saw the same feelings in their eyes. We came to the conclusion of a great journey to past. It seemed like we had a trip to our own history. It's hard to describe in words…

NOTE: ALL names and places have been changed for privacy.

Rosalie
I am looking for my relatives from America and in Armenia.
Carlos Luis
Hassassian mer enda-
nike Hin Bayaziden kaghtaz Assassian-neru Yevtokia (Tokat)-i djughen e. Gan ourish djiugher Marashum yev Nor Bayazidum. Har-
kanok, Garabed Levon (Carlos Luis) Hassassian.
Nora
my grand mother was elizabeth zakazryan maybe we are relatives
Larisa
I am looking for ZAKARYANS.
Chris
Looking for relatives of Rose Nagjar(ian). She had one brother named Hanna (Ohanes). She was probably from Diyabakir region. She lived in a monastery and was raised by her mother's sister who died when Rose was two.
Jose
I am searching for any information regarding my grandmother's family. Her name was Josephine Schamier, born July 1899.
Lily
Actually I know my family tree - but anyway - anyone who is my relative... send me a note... thank you!!!!
Anahit
Looking for info about Seroj Evoyan. The last we heard about him was that he was a prisoner of war at WWII in Germany. Originally from Dsegh, Armenia, had 2 brothers and 2 sisters.
Suren
The only thing I know is that my father and his sister were born in Arapkir-Turky during the Armenian genocide. They managed to come to Eritrea-East Africa on the 1940s during the Italian colonialism.
Alex
I am looking for some incite into my family's genocide story. Family names: *Arkilanian *Arkiletian *Tchalekian *Leylekian *Bedrossian
Mari
Looking for relatives - I'm born in Sofia, Bulgaria, but my family spans a few countries. Surnames in my family are: Garabedian (father), Hashimian (mother), Ovanivic (grandma), Papuchian (grandma).
Stephan
I am looking to my parents that from old Ourfa of Antolia and second names is Kebabjian...My grandma finished the Central college of Aintap in 1905 or 1908. her name is Rebeca and husband name is Ohannes.

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Nov
21
2024

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