In his talk for the “Ancestral Journeys” series on November 27, 2025, Paul Vartan Sookiasian shared the story of his lifelong search for his family’s past and his efforts to reconstruct the lost world of his ancestors from pre-1915 Arapgir. What began with an old family tree and his grandmother’s memories gradually grew into an extensive research journey, as the internet made it possible to access archival records, rare transcriptions, and connections with distant relatives. Drawing on this accumulated knowledge, Sookiasian traveld back to Arapgir- becoming the first in his family to do so in a century- to encounter the place he had known only through stories, and to follow the traces of a church founded by his priestly ancestor. His talk reflected on memory, research, and return, and on what it means to piece together a fragmented family history across time and place.
After the talk, which attracted great interest from many Arapgirli audience members from Türkiye and around the world, listeners had the opportunity to get to know one another.

You can watch the complete talk from the video above.

We Welcome Your Stories

This conversation series is part of a broader dialogue about ancestral journeys and the profound connections between past and present. If you are an Armenian living abroad who has undertaken or is planning an ancestral journey, we would be honored to hear your reflections and experiences. Your stories of discovery, reunion, and belonging contribute to the collective memory that Hrant Dink spoke of - each narrative adding depth to our shared understanding of heritage and home.
We invite you to share your own journey with us. Please reach out through This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to connect and explore how your story might enrich this ongoing conversation.