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Knarik O. Meneshian

Knarik O. Meneshian

Knarik O. Meneshian was born in Austria. Her father was Armenian and her mother was Austrian. She received her degree in literature and secondary education in Chicago, Ill. In 1988, she served on the Selection Committee of the McDougal, Littell “Young Writers” Collection—Grades 1–8, an anthology of exemplary writing by students across the country.” In 1991, Knarik taught English in the earthquake devastated village of Jrashen (Spitak Region), Armenia. In 2002–2003, she and her late husband (Murad A. Meneshian), lived and worked as volunteers in Armenia for a year teaching English and computer courses in Gyumri and Tsaghgadzor. Meneshian’s works have been published in "Teachers As Writers, American Poetry Anthology" and other American publications, as well as Armenian publications in the U.S. and Armenia. Knarik is the author of A Place Called Gyumri: Life in the Armenian Mountains. She has also authored a book of poems titled Reflections, and translated from Armenian to English Reverend D. Antreassian’s book titled "The Banishment of Zeitoun" and "Suedia’s Revolt" She began writing at the age of 12 and has contributed pieces to The Armenian Weekly since her early teens.
Knarik O. Meneshian

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7 Comments

  1. A very moving yet uplifting story. We can always count on these wonderful Armenian sisters to carry the burden of the Armenian nation in their own spiritual way.

    May god bless them.

    Pls let us know how we can donote funds towards this worthy cuase.

    annie

  2. It took me a few tries to read this article. I attended a boarding school administered by these nuns. It was terrible and there was not much love going around. I can tell you that much.

    Just in case you decide to canonize them I thought you should know….

  3. My mother had attended the Immaculate Conception school right after arriving in Aleppo at the age of 5 by foot from Aintab, Turkey around 1920’s with her extended family! She always talked favorably about the school and the Catholic Armenian nuns. At that period, the nuns did a lot of good work with the orphans, but, of course, their education system was based totally on religion, and matrimonial values for girls to bring them up as wives and mothers only. We cannot compare the education system to our current education values and standards.

    • No, Betty I am not comparing the education system of the 20’s to current education values and standards. I am talking about physical abuse. My cousin and I still talk about how much they hurt us and the awful things they used to do. Once they beat me so hard, because I asked them what immaculate conception meant. I was only 7 for Christ’s sake!!!

  4. my sisters also went to IC in Aleppo and they did have horror stories to tell. The one in Aleppo was shut down and no one shed a tear. But I am assuming these sisters in Armenia are compassionate and caring. At least from what the author says.
    annie

  5. In response to a reader’s request, donations to the Armenian Sisters in Armenia and Javakhk may be sent to:

    The Armenian Sisters of the Immaculate Conception Order
    C/O Ms. Therese Sajonian
    213 Bramber Drive
    Broomall, Pennsylvania 19008-3702
    U.S.A.

    Please indicate ARMENIA ACCOUNT, and specify the location–Gyumri or Dashir in Armenia, or Heshtia in Javakhk, Georgia, or all three.

    Dear Readers,

    I thought you might like to know a little about the “behind the scenes” story of the little boy being held so lovingly by Sister Haguintha (Dashir, Armenia) in the photo above. The child’s father is in the background. The little boy is the youngest of five children. Before receiving aid from the Sisters, and also a place to live, the mother and father and their five children were homeless. In return for the help they received from the Sisters (when no one else would), the father and mother help the Sisters with whatever needs to be done around the Center. Unfortunately, because the Sisters in Dashir don’t have the means to pay the father a regular salary, the father will soon be leaving for Russia in search of work so that he can support his family. When he announced his plans to Sisters Haguintha and Srpouhi, he said, “Sisters, I leave my family in your hands.”

    In addition, the little boy in the photo, who recently recovered from a lengthy bout of pneumonia, has a large tumor on his leg. Because of the efforts of the Sisters, a kind-hearted doctor in Yerevan has offered to perform the surgery at no charge once the child is strong enough.

    There are other such stories, numerous stories, of the work of the Armenian Sisters in Armenia and Javakhk, Sisters that my husband and I got to know quite well during our year-long volunteer work in Armenia some years ago. The work of the Armenian Sisters is not easy, just like being a parent is not easy. I’ll never forget how the Sisters in Javakhk regularly would go to the home of an elderly dadik (grandmother) to bathe her because no one else wanted to do it. And in Gyumri, I’ll not forget how a young girl was brought to the Center one day. She had been sold by her father to a man, who “bought” the girl to save her, and then brought her to the Sisters. The young girl thrived at the Center, and received a good education. These are merely a few examples of what I witnessed, but as I look at the larger picture of what the Armenian Sisters do on a daily basis from early morning until late at night, all week long, all year long, I cannot help but marvel at what they have accomplished, and what they continue to accomplish for their Nation.

    Knarik O. Meneshian

  6. Hi Annie,

    I think we are related. Try to send me an e-mail. I will really appreciate it since one of our cousins has prepared an extensive family tree. My e-mail is: bettyh@yorku.ca

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