Imagined Conversation With Rev. Aharon Shirajian, Armenian Orphanage Founder
In conversation with ‘Hayrig,’ father to Armenian orphans
A novelist preparing to write about her grandfather, an Armenian genocide survivor, reflects on Rev. Aharon Shirajian, the Armenian Evangelical priest who founded and directed the Armenian Orphanage of Aleppo. Between 1915 and 1924, the orphanage sheltered thousands of Armenian children rescued from deportation caravans, disease, and starvation during the genocide.
The article presents an imagined dialogue between the author and Shirajian, exploring how he maintained hope while caring for dying and traumatized children. Shirajian believed that accepting each child was an act of resistance against erasure. He prioritized preserving Armenian identity alongside physical survival, insisting children learn Armenian language, Christian faith, and practical trades.
The piece notes that some orphans, including artist Haroutiun Galentz, went on to make significant cultural contributions. Shirajian raised seven children of his own while directing the orphanage.
