The Tcharatanyan Family

THE TCHARATANYAN FAMILY

The head of the Tcharatanyan family, Vahan Hambardzoum Tcharatanyan, was born in 1903 in Cilician Hadjin. Following the downfall of Cilicia, like many Armenians, their family embarked on a journey to find a new homeland. Upon reaching the River Euphrates, a tragic mishap occurred when numerous Armenians drank the river water, resulting in their demise. However, Vahan’s father wisely offered small sips of water to his family, ultimately preserving their lives. Eventually, the family reached Greece. Before his death, Hambardzoum commanded his family to settle down in their homeland, Armenia. Initially, Vahan resided in an orphanage, but he later found employment on olive plantations owned by a wealthy Greek farmer. Recognizing Vahan’s hard work and integrity, the farmer expressed a desire for him to marry his daughter, while Vahan’s uncle wanted him to immigrate to the United States. However, both options were declined due to the promise given to his father. Eventually, in 1926, Vahan arrived in Armenia and settled in Arazdayan (now Yeraskh), renting accommodation from a fellow migrant from Erzrum, and later marrying his daughter, Siranuysh. His son, Sisak was born in 1929. In 1932, Vahan relocated to Yerevan and found a job at the construction site of the Opera and Ballet Theater. When the construction was over, the Tcharatanyan family was among the regular spectators of theatrical performances. The opera “Anush” held a special place in their hearts, and its melodies were often heard during their familial get-togethers, fostering their shared passion for music. These gatherings typically concluded with the father’s longing to hear his cherished tune “When the Doors of Hope are Opened (“Cilicia.”) Recognizing the importance of education Vahan and his wife made every effort to ensure that all their sons Sisak, Hambardzoum, Karapet, and their daughters, Asya, Anahit, Manush, and Elizabeth, would receive higher education and develop into individuals with high moral values. Vahan conveyed his affection for his historical homeland through songs, narratives about daily life, cultural traditions, and vivid descriptions օf landscapes and natural scenery thus instilling in his children a sense of loyalty and a sense of duty towards their homeland. Vahan Tcharatanyan passed away in 1976. Sisak Vahan Tcharatanyan was a photographer, painter, videographer, and a member of the Hadjin Compatriotic Union. His works had frequently been presented in the Hadjin periodical in Argentina. His son, Suren Sisak Tcharatanyan, was a true polymath, proficient in the disciplines of geology, ballet dance, construction, the military, and serving as the Secretary of the Hadjin Compatriotic Union. Being knowledgeable in Armenia’s geology, nature, and mines, he was living his life based on Garegin Nzhdeh’s wise message, which proclaimed that “by believing in God one must also accept their obligation to the outmost truth: Nation, Fatherland, and State.” He performed in the “Spartacus” ballet, in the very structure his grandfather had built. He died a heroic death during the military escalation in Artsakh, in 2016, and is buried at the Yerablur Military Memorial Pantheon. Hovhannes Grigoryan-Djarpikyan, the Chairman of the Hadjin Compatriotic Union, started filming “The Nation’s Devotee,” a documentary movie about Suren’s life, while he was still alive. It was only produced after Suren’s passing. Susanna Sisak Tcharatanyan is a Sports Master and an internationally certified triathlon coach. Susanna’s athletes have repeatedly brought honor and recognition to Armenia and raised the Armenian flag on the international sports stages. Hasmik Torosyan, Vahan’s granddaughter and Elizabeth’s youngest daughter, is a renowned opera singer soprano. She is the Laureate of the Gold Prize Medal at the Republican Competition after G. Gasparyan (2008), the First Prize winner in the Bella Voce 16th International Music Competition in Moscow (2010), the finalist of the 6th Seoul International Music Competition (2010), the First Prize holder in the “Musica Sacra” International Music Competition (Rome, 2011). In 2009, Hasmik Torosyan received the RA President’s Prize for Young Singers of Armenia. She has performed in Armenia, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Australia, Finland, France, USA, Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, South Korea, the Czech Republic, Russia, Ukraine, the UAE, Lebanon, Turkey and elsewhere. She has solo soprano performances including Bizet’s “Pearl Fishers” opera in Colón Theatre in Buenos Aires in 2022, and in 2023 Gilda’s role in Verdi’s Rigoletto in Tokyo. She continues her collaboration with the Colón Theatre (Buenos Aires, Argentina) and the Bologna Municipal Theater (Italy). She enjoys the audience’s admiration and gets cherished feedback from the critics of the field. Vahan Hambardzoum Tcharatanyan from Hadjin had remained loyal to his father’s pledge. He settled in Armenia with his seven children and their own extended families in the house he had built by himself. All members of the extended family are highly proud to be the descendants of their Hadjentsi grandfather and each of them participates in the efforts of rebuilding and making their homeland a better place to live. Sisak and Kima Tcharatanyan have two children, Suren and Susanna. Suren is married to Anoush and has three children: Anna (chemist-pharmacist), Diana (teacher), and Kima (geologist-ecologist), and seven grandchildren: Kristina (architect), Norayr (Sports Master), Robert, Liliana (painter) and Hamlet, Anna (dancer), Sargis (sportsman), and Suren. Susanna Sisak Tcharatanyan-Rafayelyan (coach, teacher, and lecturer) has two sons, Varazdat, a photography senior trainer, and Sisak (painter), and two grandchildren, Artem and Anri. Vahan Tcharatanyan (construction worker) and Yevgine Tcharatanyan have two sons, Vahan (mechanic) and Armen. Vahan has two children: Hambardzoum (dentist) and Tatevik (economist). Armen also has two children: David and Yevgine. Karapet Vahan Tcharatanyan (construction worker) and Marlena Simonyan (philologist) have one son, Arsen (artisan), and one grandchild. Manoush Vahan Tcharatanyan (chemist, lecturer) has two sons: Hayk (mechanical engineer), and Arayik (technician, mechanic), and two grandchildren: Vahan (participant of the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War) and Harutyun (expert in Data Science). Anahit Vahan Tcharatanyan (physicist) has one son, Grigor (architect), and one grandson, Rafayel. Asya Vahan Tcharatanyan (accountant) has two child ren: Arthur (teacher) and Arpine (lecturer). She has two granddaughters: Mariam (dancer) and Asya (pianist). Elizabeth Vahan Tcharatanyan (singer) and Gagik Torosyan (artisan) have two daughters: Sona (singer) and Hasmik (opera singer). Sona’s children are Ani (lawyer) and Hakob (saxophone player).