A World Uprooted
In the early 20th century, Turkey saw one of the darkest periods in Christian history, with the Armenian Genocide marking a time of extreme persecution and suffering. Among those who survived this horrific era was Mannig Dobajian Kouyoumjian, a young girl from Adapazar, near Istanbul. At just six years old, her life was uprooted as the Turkish police ordered her family to leave their beloved home. "I remember twirling in our parlor in my favorite yellow dress while my mother played the violin," Mannig recalled, a stark contrast to the chaos that soon followed.
Mannig's Harrowing Journey
The journey was harrowing, spanning three years across the Anatolian Plateau and into the Mesopotamian Desert. Mannig witnessed the massacre of her family, yet she and her older sister were rescued by Bedouin Arabs, a moment she believed was an act of divine intervention. They found refuge in an orphanage in Mosul and eventually made their way to the United States, where Mannig became a citizen.
Vartoughy's Story
Another survivor, Vartoughy, was only 12 when her world changed. A neighbor's words, "How would you feel if someone pushed you out of your home?" haunted her as she and her brother were deported. Their 600-mile trek to Deir Ezzor in the Syrian desert tested their faith and resilience. Yet, she eventually reunited with her father in the United States, attributing their survival to God's protection.
Faith Transformed by Suffering
These stories of survival are marked by a deep struggle with the question of God's presence during such suffering. Many Armenians wrestled with their faith, questioning why a good God would allow such atrocities. Yet, instances of kindness, such as the Bedouin rescue, offered glimpses of hope and divine intervention.
Through these trials, the faith of the Armenian survivors was not extinguished. Instead, it was transformed into a source of resilience and strength. They found ways to forgive, reconcile, and remember, ensuring the legacy of those lost was never forgotten. In their stories, Jesus is credited as the source of their enduring hope.
