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SARKIS SEROPYAN: HE CAME, HE TOLD US HIS STORIES, HE DEPARTED...
03.30.2015 15:53 NEWS
"He remained loyal to two principles throughout his life; protecting
the dignity of his ancestors, and never succumbing to injustice." His
family remembers Sarkis Seropyan, who passed away on Saturday.
A founder and pillar of Agos, editor of the Armenian section of the
newspaper, his family has told the story of Sarkis Seropyan, and his
life lived to the full:
"He was born in Istanbul, eighty years ago, as the first child of a
family from Sıvas. He tasted the bitterness of becoming an orphan
when he was only two years old. First at Arti Gırtaran in Dolapdere,
then at the Esayan School, he became a student of the alphabet created
by Mesrob Mashdots, the great Saint from MuÅ~_. As an orphan, he could
not go onto study at high school or university, or study fine arts. He
began work. He became a humble worker in the refrigeration industry.
He remained a disciple of Saint Mesrob till the end. He was an
insatiable reader. Saint Movses, the father of Armenian historiography,
and the immortal novelist Raffi became his most beloved friends. It
was through their mediation that he remained attached throughout his
entire life to the lands of his ancestors.
His ties to these lands were consolidated during his military service.
By divine coincidence he was assigned to Sıvas, the birthplace of
his ancestors.
He became the 'head' of his family at a very young age. He took care
of both his grandmother and his mother.
He got married; he had two children, and two grandchildren.
The lands of his ancestors always called him. Berc Kamparosyan was
his dearest companion in all the trips to Anatolia he organized with
small groups of 4-5 people. The remains of a far away village church
or monastery would be his sole destinations. On his pilgrimage to the
Surp Garabed Monastery in MuÅ~_, he whispered words from Garacyan's
immortal work: "Cangli, make my wish come true..."
The trips he went on and the books he read over the years eventually
bore fruit. The pages of the Armenian press in Istanbul became his
new field of work. From "Jamanak" to "Marmara", and from "Kulis" to
"Surp Pırgic" he wrote travel notes, memoirs and research pieces for
every newspaper and magazine. He translated fairy tales and books. He
believed that Turks, Kurds, Alevis and all other communities living
on these lands had to know Armenian literature. He dedicated his
remaining years to this belief.
Years later, he declared himself retired. And then, divine coincidence
intervened once again. His paths crossed with Hrant Dink. Following an
exchange of ideas, and the support of other friends, they produced the
first issue of the weekly Agos newspaper. Thus, Agos had two Barons;
Baron Hrant and Baron Seropyan.
He became the editor of the Armenian pages of the newspaper. Visitors
that constantly surrounded it always livened up his small desk at
the office. These visitors would always come with questions about
who knows which village, city, monastery of Anatolia, or about their
family roots, or about Armenian traditions.
He received one of the heaviest blows of his life when he lost his
beloved friend Hrant Dink. He remained the most senior member of the
Agos family until his final days.
As the "unofficial president" of the HAYCAR Association of Armenian
Architects and Engineers community, he led the annual trips to
Anatolia. Despite his advancing age, each of these visits of pilgrimage
became an invigorating source for him.
He remained loyal to two principles throughout his life;
protecting the dignity of his ancestors, and never succumbing to
injustice.
And today, on 28 March 2015, Saturday, in the evening hours, my
husband, our father, our grandfather, our kin
SARKÄ°S SEROPYAN
following a brief and relentless illness, surrendered his pure soul
at his home, surrounded by his family and loved ones.
'Baron Seropyan's funeral ceremony will be held on 31 March 2015,
Tuesday, at 1 PM at the Feriköy Surp Vartanants Church. Burial will
follow at the family grave at the Å~^iÅ~_li Armenian Cemetery where he
will be laid to rest beside his beloved grandmother, father and mother.
Announced with sorrow to all who loved and cherished him."
http://www.agos.com.tr/en/article/11060/sarkis-seropyan-he-came-he-told-us-his-stories-he-departed
03.30.2015 15:53 NEWS
"He remained loyal to two principles throughout his life; protecting
the dignity of his ancestors, and never succumbing to injustice." His
family remembers Sarkis Seropyan, who passed away on Saturday.
A founder and pillar of Agos, editor of the Armenian section of the
newspaper, his family has told the story of Sarkis Seropyan, and his
life lived to the full:
"He was born in Istanbul, eighty years ago, as the first child of a
family from Sıvas. He tasted the bitterness of becoming an orphan
when he was only two years old. First at Arti Gırtaran in Dolapdere,
then at the Esayan School, he became a student of the alphabet created
by Mesrob Mashdots, the great Saint from MuÅ~_. As an orphan, he could
not go onto study at high school or university, or study fine arts. He
began work. He became a humble worker in the refrigeration industry.
He remained a disciple of Saint Mesrob till the end. He was an
insatiable reader. Saint Movses, the father of Armenian historiography,
and the immortal novelist Raffi became his most beloved friends. It
was through their mediation that he remained attached throughout his
entire life to the lands of his ancestors.
His ties to these lands were consolidated during his military service.
By divine coincidence he was assigned to Sıvas, the birthplace of
his ancestors.
He became the 'head' of his family at a very young age. He took care
of both his grandmother and his mother.
He got married; he had two children, and two grandchildren.
The lands of his ancestors always called him. Berc Kamparosyan was
his dearest companion in all the trips to Anatolia he organized with
small groups of 4-5 people. The remains of a far away village church
or monastery would be his sole destinations. On his pilgrimage to the
Surp Garabed Monastery in MuÅ~_, he whispered words from Garacyan's
immortal work: "Cangli, make my wish come true..."
The trips he went on and the books he read over the years eventually
bore fruit. The pages of the Armenian press in Istanbul became his
new field of work. From "Jamanak" to "Marmara", and from "Kulis" to
"Surp Pırgic" he wrote travel notes, memoirs and research pieces for
every newspaper and magazine. He translated fairy tales and books. He
believed that Turks, Kurds, Alevis and all other communities living
on these lands had to know Armenian literature. He dedicated his
remaining years to this belief.
Years later, he declared himself retired. And then, divine coincidence
intervened once again. His paths crossed with Hrant Dink. Following an
exchange of ideas, and the support of other friends, they produced the
first issue of the weekly Agos newspaper. Thus, Agos had two Barons;
Baron Hrant and Baron Seropyan.
He became the editor of the Armenian pages of the newspaper. Visitors
that constantly surrounded it always livened up his small desk at
the office. These visitors would always come with questions about
who knows which village, city, monastery of Anatolia, or about their
family roots, or about Armenian traditions.
He received one of the heaviest blows of his life when he lost his
beloved friend Hrant Dink. He remained the most senior member of the
Agos family until his final days.
As the "unofficial president" of the HAYCAR Association of Armenian
Architects and Engineers community, he led the annual trips to
Anatolia. Despite his advancing age, each of these visits of pilgrimage
became an invigorating source for him.
He remained loyal to two principles throughout his life;
protecting the dignity of his ancestors, and never succumbing to
injustice.
And today, on 28 March 2015, Saturday, in the evening hours, my
husband, our father, our grandfather, our kin
SARKÄ°S SEROPYAN
following a brief and relentless illness, surrendered his pure soul
at his home, surrounded by his family and loved ones.
'Baron Seropyan's funeral ceremony will be held on 31 March 2015,
Tuesday, at 1 PM at the Feriköy Surp Vartanants Church. Burial will
follow at the family grave at the Å~^iÅ~_li Armenian Cemetery where he
will be laid to rest beside his beloved grandmother, father and mother.
Announced with sorrow to all who loved and cherished him."
http://www.agos.com.tr/en/article/11060/sarkis-seropyan-he-came-he-told-us-his-stories-he-departed