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KHOSROV FRANGYAN: 100 YEARS OF EXPECTING REPENTANCE (PHOTOS)
11:00, 02.03.2015
By Ani Afyan
"Survivors" is a new project launched by Armenian News-NEWS.am ahead
of the centennial of the Armenian Genocide perpetrated in the Ottoman
Turkey in 1915-23.
"Survivors" is the stories of common people who lost their childhood
and homeland.
"Survivors" is a hundred years of memories and pain, hundred years
of expecting retribution.
"Survivors" are a diminishing group of people who won't lose their
hope for acknowledgement of their pain.
"Survivors" is 105-year-old Khosrov Frangyan.
Allons enfants de la Patrie,
Le jour de gloire est arrive !
Contre nous de la tyrannie,
L'etendard sanglant est leve...
105-year-old Khosrov is singing Marseillaise, the French anthem,
making a smooth transition through the Arab motifs to the song of
Musaler Armenians.
Despite his hard 105-year-long life that was full of hardships, he
managed to preserve flow of spirits and subtle sense of humor (PHOTOS).
Khosrov Frangyan was born in the summer of 1910 in Kebusie village
at the coast of Mediterranean Sea. His parents, Aristakes and Sima
Frangyans, had three children - Khosrov, Hakob and Iskuhi, the latter
fell ill and died when she was eight.
"In 1938 the Turks came to collect taxes. They claimed to be one of
us. But I said that Turks don't change. Today they say "yes", and
tomorrow they would say "no". This is how the Turks usually act. They
can easily go back on their words. We had no money to give them. We
were breeding cattle and cultivating land - this is how we lived. 'If
you have no money, we will take the cattle,' they told us and took
away the only cow we had," Khosrov grandpa says.
In 1938 residents of seven Armenian villagers located near Musa
mountain locked the doors and went down to the coast, cherishing
hopes that we would all come back one day.
"Come back?.. no way, we lost it. The French handed our village over
to the Turks and sent ships to take us away," he continues.
The ship took them to Syria and dropped them in Ras al-Bassit, near
Kessab. They lived in tents for some time, later the villagers were
granted territory where today's Anjar was founded in 1939.
"I left my family in Anjar and went to Beirut where I earned my living
by washing dishes or working at the construction. Then I left for
Damascus, where I worked for an Englishman."
By that time, Khosrov was engaged and was thinking about a wedding.
Nektar, his wife-to-be, was waiting for him in Anjar. One of the days
he took a day off to go home for his own wedding.
"We got married on May 9, 1945. The sounds of zurna [Armenian musical
instrument - ed.] were heard in the village for three days. So much
joy and happiness - all this is gone!" he waved his hand in sorrow.
"How did you get acquainted?"
"They lived in a neighboring house. I had eyes for her. She was skinny
when we got married, just 40 kilos. She grew fat when we got married,"
he laughed.
In 1946 their daughter Sonya was born, and in a year the couple
decided to move to Soviet Armenia. In 1947 the Frangyans were already
in Etchmiadzin where their son Boris was born. In two years Khosrov
was labeled as "nationalist dashnak" - member of Dashnaktsutyun -
and he was deported to Siberia.
"They gave me a paper and said: 'Sign that you are a dashnak'. But I
have never been. 'Sign, do it!' they ordered. I was forced to sign. If
they decided something, you could do nothing".
Khosrov and Nektar were sent to Altay region of Russia. He was offered
to become a tractor driver.
"I told them I knew no word in Russian. But they said there were no
men in the village. 'You will learn'. And I did it, I wrote Russian
words in Armenian letters in my notebook. When the day of exam came, I
offered to be the first to answer. My Russian was poor, but I was good
at mechanics. 'Well done, Khosrov", they told me and gave a license."
In Siberia Nektar gave birth to Khachatur and Varduhi. Khachatur is
a priest now and lives in the Netherlands. He has named his first son
after Khosrov. In 2000s the grandpa visited them, but refused to stay
there, he said it is better at home.
In 1956 the Frangyans came back to Etchmiadzin. Khosrov started
working at a food processing factory.
"He is still good at counting. He calculates the bill quicker than
the inspector from the gas company does with her calculator," his
daughter Varduhi said, showing a family album.
"You were handsome," I noticed.
"Yes, I was", he said proudly.
"Dad, tell her how many lovers had" his daughter asks ccunningly.
"Ooo, they were many" he said, but his immediately turned sad when
looking at a photo of his wife.
Nektar died in 1995 on the eve of the 50th anniversary of their
wedding.
"We lived side by side for 50 years. We built our house together. She
really supported me."
Twenty years ago Khosrov grandpa suffered a stroke. He is paralyzed
almost on the whole right part of his body. Nevertheless, he lives
an active life.
Khosrov grandpa is happy. He lived a hard but long life that was full
of troubles and joys. And the only thing that darkens his live is
the pain unshared by those whose ancestors deprived him of homeland
so cruelly.
Photos by Arsen Sargsyan/NEWS.am http://news.am/eng/news/254881.html
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
11:00, 02.03.2015
By Ani Afyan
"Survivors" is a new project launched by Armenian News-NEWS.am ahead
of the centennial of the Armenian Genocide perpetrated in the Ottoman
Turkey in 1915-23.
"Survivors" is the stories of common people who lost their childhood
and homeland.
"Survivors" is a hundred years of memories and pain, hundred years
of expecting retribution.
"Survivors" are a diminishing group of people who won't lose their
hope for acknowledgement of their pain.
"Survivors" is 105-year-old Khosrov Frangyan.
Allons enfants de la Patrie,
Le jour de gloire est arrive !
Contre nous de la tyrannie,
L'etendard sanglant est leve...
105-year-old Khosrov is singing Marseillaise, the French anthem,
making a smooth transition through the Arab motifs to the song of
Musaler Armenians.
Despite his hard 105-year-long life that was full of hardships, he
managed to preserve flow of spirits and subtle sense of humor (PHOTOS).
Khosrov Frangyan was born in the summer of 1910 in Kebusie village
at the coast of Mediterranean Sea. His parents, Aristakes and Sima
Frangyans, had three children - Khosrov, Hakob and Iskuhi, the latter
fell ill and died when she was eight.
"In 1938 the Turks came to collect taxes. They claimed to be one of
us. But I said that Turks don't change. Today they say "yes", and
tomorrow they would say "no". This is how the Turks usually act. They
can easily go back on their words. We had no money to give them. We
were breeding cattle and cultivating land - this is how we lived. 'If
you have no money, we will take the cattle,' they told us and took
away the only cow we had," Khosrov grandpa says.
In 1938 residents of seven Armenian villagers located near Musa
mountain locked the doors and went down to the coast, cherishing
hopes that we would all come back one day.
"Come back?.. no way, we lost it. The French handed our village over
to the Turks and sent ships to take us away," he continues.
The ship took them to Syria and dropped them in Ras al-Bassit, near
Kessab. They lived in tents for some time, later the villagers were
granted territory where today's Anjar was founded in 1939.
"I left my family in Anjar and went to Beirut where I earned my living
by washing dishes or working at the construction. Then I left for
Damascus, where I worked for an Englishman."
By that time, Khosrov was engaged and was thinking about a wedding.
Nektar, his wife-to-be, was waiting for him in Anjar. One of the days
he took a day off to go home for his own wedding.
"We got married on May 9, 1945. The sounds of zurna [Armenian musical
instrument - ed.] were heard in the village for three days. So much
joy and happiness - all this is gone!" he waved his hand in sorrow.
"How did you get acquainted?"
"They lived in a neighboring house. I had eyes for her. She was skinny
when we got married, just 40 kilos. She grew fat when we got married,"
he laughed.
In 1946 their daughter Sonya was born, and in a year the couple
decided to move to Soviet Armenia. In 1947 the Frangyans were already
in Etchmiadzin where their son Boris was born. In two years Khosrov
was labeled as "nationalist dashnak" - member of Dashnaktsutyun -
and he was deported to Siberia.
"They gave me a paper and said: 'Sign that you are a dashnak'. But I
have never been. 'Sign, do it!' they ordered. I was forced to sign. If
they decided something, you could do nothing".
Khosrov and Nektar were sent to Altay region of Russia. He was offered
to become a tractor driver.
"I told them I knew no word in Russian. But they said there were no
men in the village. 'You will learn'. And I did it, I wrote Russian
words in Armenian letters in my notebook. When the day of exam came, I
offered to be the first to answer. My Russian was poor, but I was good
at mechanics. 'Well done, Khosrov", they told me and gave a license."
In Siberia Nektar gave birth to Khachatur and Varduhi. Khachatur is
a priest now and lives in the Netherlands. He has named his first son
after Khosrov. In 2000s the grandpa visited them, but refused to stay
there, he said it is better at home.
In 1956 the Frangyans came back to Etchmiadzin. Khosrov started
working at a food processing factory.
"He is still good at counting. He calculates the bill quicker than
the inspector from the gas company does with her calculator," his
daughter Varduhi said, showing a family album.
"You were handsome," I noticed.
"Yes, I was", he said proudly.
"Dad, tell her how many lovers had" his daughter asks ccunningly.
"Ooo, they were many" he said, but his immediately turned sad when
looking at a photo of his wife.
Nektar died in 1995 on the eve of the 50th anniversary of their
wedding.
"We lived side by side for 50 years. We built our house together. She
really supported me."
Twenty years ago Khosrov grandpa suffered a stroke. He is paralyzed
almost on the whole right part of his body. Nevertheless, he lives
an active life.
Khosrov grandpa is happy. He lived a hard but long life that was full
of troubles and joys. And the only thing that darkens his live is
the pain unshared by those whose ancestors deprived him of homeland
so cruelly.
Photos by Arsen Sargsyan/NEWS.am http://news.am/eng/news/254881.html
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress