"The Eyewitness": 102-year old Hripsime Haji tells about Armenian Genocide
The Armenian Genocide initiated in the Ottoman Empire during the World War I in the beginning of the previous century is one of the biggest crimes against humanity. Advancing the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide the new project introduced by "Armenpress" news agency is dedicated to the story of the eyewitnesses and survivors of the calamity to prove the world one more time that our demand for the recognition of the Armenian Genocide is fair and justified.
YEREVAN, APRIL 30, ARMENPRESS. Hripsime Haji Sargsyan is among those eyewitnesses, whose memories are not limited with what they heard alone. In the beginning of the current year Hripsime Haji Sargsyan celebrated her 102nd anniversary. She was born in Tavshanli village of the Kyutahia region in the Western Armenia.
Hripsime Haji managed to survive with a few members of her family and move to Greece. She stated: "The Turks, armed with the rifles, came and knocked at our door. They called out my grandfather and murdered him. My grandmother was also assassinated, when she heart that noise and went out of the house. Two corpses appeared in our yard in few seconds."
The scenery of dying people, man losing their conscious, the sight of tormented young girls left a deep trace on Hripsime Haji's memories. She also recalled: "I, my mother and my aunt with her daughters migrated and reached Bulgaria, but some time later we received news from my father that he escaped to Greece. And we moved to Greece and found him there."
She managed to bring a relic from the Church of St. Stephan the Protomartyr. According to the family tradition it has a miraculous power. (THE FULL VERSION OF THE ARTICLE IS AVAILABLE IN ARMENIAN)
Article by Tatevik Grigoryan
Photos by Samvel Berkibekyan
- “Witness” Aregnaz Grigoryan survived from being burnt in barn by cost of uncle’s life
100 year old Aregnaz Grigoryan passed her life’s happy and sad years ashore Aras River, in Bagaran village, bordering Turkey. - "The Eyewitness": 102-year-old Armenian Genocide survivor doesn’t want to leave
homeland
Margarita Chlingaryan was born in 1913. - "The Eyewitness": Turk has no soul, 103-year old Armenian Genocide survivor claims
Lusik’s 5-year old sister couldn't survive hunger and thirst any longer and died. - "The Eyewitness": Unfulfilled desire of seeing Igdir again
The eyewitness of the crime, unfortunately, passed away on 23 March of this year, a month before the hundredth anniversary. - "The Eyewitness": Armenian Genocide survivor hopes to see his birthplace again
The oldest resident of the village is 103-year-old Knyaz Shirinyan. He was born in Zrchi village of Alashkert.