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1. George, some really good work. The photo of Nevart and Khachig Garabedian was taken in Reading, Mass. in the early 1950s. Nevart was Khachig’s second wife. They ran a small grocery store.

2. Bravo, George!

3. The story of lost family members, some of whom were taken by muslims and whose destiny remains unknown to this day, also pervades my family. My maternal grandmother was also born in Burungush (as I recall her pronounce it), in Yozgat.

4. The story of lost family pervades our history. Now, finding family lost after so many years is almost miraculous. My late grandmother was also born in Burungush (as she pronounced it), in Yozgat.

5. Additionally, It is my understanding that Khoren and Angel were the connection between Nevart and Khachig.

   • Harb, I remember both deegeen Angel and Khoren from the camp they shared with Suren and Mary Krikorian. deegeen Nevart and Khachicg visited and stayed at the Druid Hill, Methuen, MA camp. Forgot to mention my parents, John and Zevart Kasparian, owned the camp next to Angel and Khoren.

6. Harb, how do you know the family, are you related?

   George

   • Yes, we can discuss offline.

7. This IS truly miraculous. I am hoping that someone in the Greek community has the determination to use the same tools you did to uncover lost relatives in Turkey as well.
   I know of at least one Pontic Greek family who HAS a “Turkish” Muslim branch now living outside of Trebizond. Their last names are the same, except they are Turkish and Greek versions of the same original Greek name. Tragic.
   You George, are doing the BEST work possible to restore these people to their original Armenian Christian identity. Godspeed George, and continued success!!!

8. This is absolutely fascinating! I am going to sign up my dad to do DNA testing now. Also George, thank you for posting the Tomarza church’s baptism records. Our family is from Tomarza and the name Sahag is a family name, which I think is the name of the priest from the early 20th century who performed the baptisms.

   • My family is from there too! Where can I find the link to the baptism records?

9. “While I was interested in my ancient DNA and the migration of man out of Africa…”

   Sorry George, this is what I call mixing scientific data with pseudo-scientific philosophy, and why I am viewing the ‘Armenian DNA project’ with suspicion. After listening to the lecture at the Library of Congress about Armenian DNA (where the same above claim was made), I must say I was NOT impressed. The contradictory conclusions and claims by the journalist-presenter spoke for itself, it seems “western politics” has a prominent place in this project.

   • And what exactly is western about genetics today Hagop? What is the issue with the out-of-Africa migration?

     I assume you have a background in science and specifically biology and genetics.

   • “While I was interested in my ancient DNA and the migration of man out of Africa…”

     Sorry George, this is what I call mixing scientific data with pseudo-scientific philosophy, ”

     What does this mean? What exactly is the pseudo-science you’re referring to?

   • Wasn’t it clear that I don’t believe the “everything came from Africa” theory? I don’t believe that all humans “started out in Africa” because in the first place there is no evidence of it, not scientifically, not culturally, not technologically and not anything else. Next, being an Armenian, I am convinced that at least we as Armenians originated in Ancient Armenia. Why am I convinced? Because, besides that the Bible makes clear the re-birth of humanity started in Ancient Armenia, all present-day traces of advanced Human culture and civilization points in that general direction.

     In regards to “science” I don’t give much weight to claims of what happened “a million years ago” as if those making such claims were there and made a personal observation as to what transpired. To me that is more speculation than science, and this “everything came out of Africa” business is in that same category. That’s the reason it is more political and/or philosophical than “scientific”. The mentality is, “here is a scientific school of thought” and if you do not conform to it, then you must be an unscientific, crazy person. Same thing if you don’t believe in evolution. This is the same technique used by the “mainstream media”. If you don’t gulp down everything they feed you, “you must be some kind of conspiracy theorist nutcase”.

     Even though I don’t necessarily take this following story as “fact” either, here is one piece for you to ponder, and it is only to present/support as an example of what I said above…

     http://www.ancient-origins.net/human-origins-science/human-skull-challenges-out-africa-theory-001283

     The point is, in real science, nothing is cast in stone. Did Humans originate in Africa? Maybe, maybe not. Did Human Civilization originate in Armenia with proto-Armenians? My opinion, YES.

   • Yes there is scientific evidence. Why do you think scientists around the world subscribe to it.

     And if you’re going bring the Bible into a science topic then there is nothing else to discuss.

     ps. you can’t believe everything you read on the internet. sorry to see someone fall for such new age stuff.

   • “yes there is scientific evidence”

     No, there isn’t. There is scientific philosophy and theory mixed with politics.

     You have obviously failed to understand my post. There is nothing “new age” about that article and Greek researcher. It is all about politics. And if you know anything about science at all, you would accept that in science there is no proof of anything, only verification until other evidence is uncovered. And if you are an Atheist, that’s your business, but don’t go around telling your own new-age tales about “everything in the Bible is false” as if you are the bearer of truth. Some of the greatest, maybe most, scientists in history have been religious. The Bible, was and remains the most important book in Human history. Deal with it.

   • “Why do you think scientists around the world subscribe to it.”

     If that is true, it is because as in other fields, “most scientists” are the sheeple that follow the master, and the money. Challenging the status-quo could mean getting cut off from funding. As a ‘scientist’, you should know this shouldn’t you?

   • Please Hagop, don’t talk about this complicated field of science of which you don’t know anything about.

     You’re the one mixing religion and science here. The Bible stories are just that, stories. There are religious biologists who subscribe to evolution and out of Africa theory without feeling their faith threatened.

     And what exactly is the politics that’s mixed in here with out of Africa theory? Why do scientists subscribe to it?

     I’m sorry but you’re flat out wrong in your understanding of how science works. One can piece together quite a lot with evidence found in the ground and there is evidence for it which you can find any science textbook on the subject.

     The word games you’re playing here is the same that other’s with strong opinions play when they feel threatened by science. They attack science as political, dogmatic and unwilling to accept their ideas. But such people do not truly understand how scientists came to the conclusions they came to.

     “If that is true, it is because as in other fields, “most scientists” are the sheeple that follow the master, and the money. Challenging the status-quo could mean getting cut off from funding. As a ‘scientist’, you should know this shouldn’t you?”

     As a person who has a science background, that is not true. That’s a cheap and cynical argument based on your ignorance of the subject. Scientists are skeptical people who are open to new ideas as new evidence builds up over time. History of science is full of examples where theories have been changed or even some ideas discarded because accumulation of evidence points in a different direction.

     “Some of the greatest, maybe most, scientists in history have been religious.”
     Yes, but they have not mixed religion with their science. That’s the hallmark of a good scientists. Heck, there are even Vatican priests who are involved in astronomical research and publishing papers. And they are welcomed by other Astronomers as fellow scientists. Whether what science has shown us about the universe thus far, reinforces their faith or questions it is a deeply personal issue and not the concern of science.

     “The Bible, was and remains the most important book in Human history.”

     Not in the scientific sense.

     So, did humans and dinosaurs live at the same time ;)

   • {[…]all present-day traces of advanced Human culture and civilization points in that general direction [Armenia].}

     Right on, Hagop. Most recent evidence of it is offered in “Göbekli Tepe: Genesis of the Gods. The Temple of Watchers and the Discovery of Eden”, a 2014 account on archeological excavations in Göbekli Tepe (Arm. Portasar), in Turkey, in which the author, British archeologist and writer Andrew Collins, presents convincing argumentation for his hypothesis that the Armenian Highlands were the cradle of human civilization and the Garden of Eden was in the Mush Plain of the historical Armenian province of Taron.

   • {So, did humans and dinosaurs live at the same time ;)}

     So, has the so-called “missing link” between man and the apes found? ;)

10. DNA Ancestry Test Kits can be ordered, on the Internet, from Ancestry.com or 23andMe for $99, available at the same price from either company. In my opinion, the best way is to order kits from both companies, provided that there isn’t any budget constraint issues. Our genetic information is obtained from our saliva sample, quite conveniently from spitting into the test tube, which arrives by express mail. After spitting into the test tube, simply ceil it closed, repackage it in the package they provide, and mail it to them, for testing. No blood test is required — only a saliva sample for the DNA ancestry test.

    • I see that the Armenian DNA Project has made it a mission to give Armenian ancestral origins a top priority. It provides DNA Tests that are custom designed, either for direct paternal line testing, or direct maternal line testing. Anyone is welcome to join the Armenian DNA Project, provided that there are grounds to make a claim for direct Paternal Armenian Ancestry, Maternal Armenian Ancestry, or Both Paternal and Maternal Armenian Ancestry.

      I too will join the Armenian DNA Project, as a half blooded Armenian, because my maternal ancestry is 100% Armenian.

      George Aghajyan, the author of the article, unveiled wonderful discoveries about his hidden ancestral links to blood relatives, from his diligent research, as well as by joining the Armenian DNA Project. It demonstrates how Armenian Diaspora ancestral links to Armenian ancestry, in Turkey, can be investigated that way.

    • Laurence, the Armenian DNA Project is hosted at Family Tree DNA (FTDNA). You cannot join it if you get tested at Ancestry or 23andme.

      You need to join FTDNA at http://www.familytreedna.com

11. Hello George,
    I believe you found another relative in me. My father’s side is from Yozgat, Boghazkoy as well. We recently found another relative from my mom’s side and planning to have DNA test. Please, get in touch.

12. There seems to be some confusion over the Armenian DNA project and the DNA tests themselves. A few things to note. First, you can take the DNA test without signing up for the Armenian DNA project. The Armenian DNA project is concerned with the haplogroup origins of Armenians. So, that is limited to the Y-DNA and mtDNA tests.

    If you are solely interested in locating family, then you only need take the Family Finder test ($99 on Family Tree DNA). There are other companies you can take the test with and I assume there are pluses and minuses to each, but the major limitation is that the companies do not share their data. So, you would only find family that submitted their DNA to that company’s database. There are third party places to upload data from all the companies (e.g. gedmatch), but again people would have to do it. Since the Armenian DNA project exists on Family Tree DNA, that would seem to make the most sense that the majority of Armenians are submitting through them and thus finding family would be the most likely.

    Finally, once your DNA is in the system, you can always choose to order more tests without having to resubmit. So, you can start by ordering the Family Finder test and order other tests later if you decide that is something you want to do.

    George Aghjayan

    • “There are other companies you can take the test with and I assume there are pluses and minuses to each”

      What is the level of quality and reliability of companies in this field? Are there errors in such genetic tests? And are there differences in quality between companies offering these services?

13. George, Just read this article. excellent as always. I had chills during certain parts. Job well done as always.

14. FTDNA accepts tranfers of the DNA autosomal DNA from other companies under certain conditions. Then upload the raw data into another free application called GEDMATCH, which can compare data from various testing companies & widen your search!!

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16. George, Great Story. I enjoy your Lecture at the St. Sarkis Armenian Church; located in Dearborn, Michigan. I love reading stories on the Hidden Armenian.

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