Antranig Granian

I was a youth. The repatriation movement got everyone excited. ‘Let’s go to our native Armenia’, they exclaimed. Committees were formed all over the place. Conversations in the homes were all about the repatriation. No one opposed it.

The war had just ended. Armenia was emptied of people and had sacrificed many, and our homeland wished to repopulate Armenia. It was feared that Stalin would grab this or that section of Armenia and give it to another. We all got enthusiastic – let’s go and save Armenia. Let’s go and populate it and seize our land, otherwise it will be given to another. At that time, we still held out hope that our ancestral lands in Western Armenia would also be returned to us.

I ascended the Zmar Monastery to dedicate my life to the church. When I ascended to the monastery another image appeared for me. In the first place, my patriarch, Aghajanian, was opposed to the repatriation, saying, ‘Go to Armenia, but not now, because there’s communism there. There is no freedom or religion or clergy. Wait, don’t go’.

My parents, who lived in Bourj Hammoud, were also excited about going to Armenia. When people started to leave, at the time of the next convoys, my father also got up and said – I’m going as well. Wife, get moving. My mother responded – I won’t go to Armenia. My boy is here and I won’t set off without him.

They came to convince me. Having already heard the exhortation of Cardinal Aghajanian, I said that I wouldn’t go to a country where there was no freedom of religion. My mother turned to my father and said, “Since my son won’t go neither will I.” That’s how we wound up staying in Lebanon.

The sea appears from the heights of that monastery. When they saw the ship that had arrived, what was its name…yes the Pobeda, we yelled ‘lucky are those going to Armenia, lucky are their eyes that will see Armenia’.

Our relatives moved to Armenia. Later, tragically, news started to come, in code, telling us not to come, that it wasn’t as we expected. We all froze and remained. When such news arrived, Aghajanian’s reservation against going was justified.

One segment of the Armenians in Lebanon continued to work in support of Armenia and communism. The other segment was opposed not towards Armenia, but to communist Armenia.

Villagers who went had an easier time of it, and were better prepared to live in villages, as opposed to Beirut residents. All the rural centers, Anjar, this or that one, were emptied.

But, many of the repatriates to Armenia were disillusioned. Those who relocated from France returned to France. Those from other places returned as well. Some, not many returned to Lebanon. Armenia didn’t satisfy them. And it couldn’t have because we were searching for a fantasy Armenia. For me, Armenia is the place of my birth, the cradle of history. It is Vartanants, the place of Mesrop Mashtots, etc. We think like this because we live a life of longing.

And until today, people in Armenia have reservations about us. There are fabulous guys in Armenia, fabulous grandmas in the villages, but they are standoffish regarding us. I don’t know why.

A diaspora ministry was created, I’m happy and proud. We are very close to Mrs. Hakobyan, the minister. We are friends, we like each other. But please, give us a serious person from Armenia so that we can speak seriously. A serious person, a sincere person, and not a numbers cruncher. ‘We don’t need you. Money, send your money’. Such words offend us.