Saint Garabed Monastery (Gesaria)
Surp Garabed Monastery of Gesaria was located in the village of Efkere. Efkere is located approximately 18 kilometers northeast of Kayseri (Gesaria), Turkey, at 38.78o latitude and 35.67o longitude (38o46'60N, 35o40'0E), at an altitude of 4311 feet. The region is now referred to as the Bahcelli district of the town of Gesi, which is a part of the greater Kocasinan district of Kayseri.
It is known that the monastery located in this village, Surp Garabed, dates from at least the 12th century, and some Armenians hold that the monastery was founded by St. Thaddeus in the 1st century. Others believe that the village was founded by St. Gregory the Illuminator, who is said to have rested here when traveling from Caesarea to Armenia at the beginning of the fourth century.
Graduates
The following list of graduates of Surp Garabed Vank is taken from Arshak Alboyadjian's book, Badmootiun Hye Gesaria. I am indebted to Denis Der Sarkisian of France for kindly translating most of these names. Also included next to many of the names of the students is the village or town that they were from. Note that "Gesaria" is the Armenian term for Kayseri. Some brief notes made by Alboyajian in the 1930s are also included. Alboyajian noted that "Hmayag Oughourlian and Garabed Aprahamian have carried out a study in the 1928 Almanac of the National Hospital (pgs 221-262) entitled St. Garabed's Monastery and College of Gesaria and Bishop Drtad Balian, where they have published a list of graduates (pgs 254-259), which I have used. But I find it necessary to mention that having been compiled based on memory, it is full of mistakes. Using notes in the accounts of Bishop Drtad Balian, and information obtained from the press, I have corrected them to the best of my ability."
1892-1893 Vahan Garabed S. Kiurkjian, from Nirze(Gesi-Şimdiki İsmi Güzelköy Olan Nize'mi Acaba?) Hmayag Meldon A. Oughourlian, from Evereg Karekin Mardiros Nahabedian, from Evereg Nerses Zakaria D. Sdepanian, from Nirze Khoren Garabed M. Keolian, from Talas Mihran Y. Yenovkian
1893-1894 Parsegh K. Terzian, from Gesaria (later emigrated to America) Israel Kh. Arslanian, from Moonjoosoon (later, an architect in Buenos Aires)
1894-1895 Kaspar B. Kasparian, from Talas (later, a trader) Levon K. Malkhasian, from Gesaria Smpad Ohan G. Ohanian, from Gesaria (later, a certified mechanic in France) Mgrdich H. Keheian, from Gesaria (trader) Aram A Saghrian, from Gesaria (died early) Haig Jamouzian, from Gesaria (trader in Constantinople) Vahan H. Ohanian, from Gesaria (trader in Gesaria) Per Alboyajian, H. Oughourlian and G. Aprahamian also had the following names from this class: G. Ohanian, Hohannes Kouyoumjian, Dikran G. Ghazerian, Bedros Gnkababian, Dikran Manougian
1895-1896 Garabed D. P. Elibeoyikian, from Gesaria Mikael H. Yemenjian, from Gesaria (later, in America) Garabed V. Berberian from Bünyan-i Hamid (trader in his hometown) Mgrditch D. Inayetian from Germir (teacher)
Sarkis H. Arzoumanian, from Gemereg (teacher)Sanırım Gemerek Sarkis N. Toshigian, from Gesaria (teacher) Garabed S. Sezposian, from Talas (trader in Adana) Hagop Tabibian, from Germir (died early) Siragan N. Khoubeserian, from Talas (trader in Izmir) Apel P. Gulbenkian (doctor), from Talas Haroutiun M. Kzaprahamian, from Kyuchyukeo (later in Engyuru)
1899-1900 Mamas H. Zarkarian, from Fenes (later, Father Drtad) Garabed K. Miaserian (doctor), from Efkere
1900-1901 Mgrditchian Kechian (doctor), from Germir Sdepan P. Tabibian (doctor), from Germir Souren H. Nshanian (doctor), from Germir Haig S. Seghposian, from Talas (first a teacher, then a trader in Adana) Garabed Morlian, from Talas (died at a very young age) Yervant H. Kazazian, from Gesaria (later, a trader in Alexandria) Sarkis G. Hinklian, from Talas (a teacher in Talas after 1902) Sahag M. Malkhasian, from Talas (later, a trader in Aksaria) Nazareth B. Beylerian, from Gesaria (teacher) Khachadour G. Lordigian, from Gesaria (later, a trader in Gesaria)
1901-1902 Nazareth Bedros M. Khachigian (or Beylerian), from Gesaria (later, a teacher at Gesaria's Gyumshian College) Sdepan K. Hinklian, from Talas Sinan G. Sinanian, from Efkere Garabed M Hajinlian, from Gesaria Hagop S. Hanjlnian, from Talas
Per Alboyajian: Bishop Drtad lists 10 graduates in two sets. Besides the first five who received first-division literary and science certificates, the following five are mentioned, who have received third-division certificates: Garabed S. Bakalian (from Sebastia), Yeghia S. Sivazlian (from Gesaria), Sdepan T. Giragosian (from Gesaria), Nazareth A. A. Arslanian (from Broun Kshla), Garabed H. Keheian (from Gesaria).
1902-1903
Krikor H. Eorjian, from Hajin (teacher)
Nshanig Zelgeian, from Mersin (later, a trader in Mersin)
Sahag M. Malkhasian, from Talas
Sarkis B. Boghosian (Bdligian), from Gesaria (teacher, later in Paris)
Khachadour G. Lordigian, from Gesaria
Haroutiun G. Kasarjian, from Gesaria (later, a trader in Romani)
Garabed K. Tashjian from Gesaria (teacher at Gesaria's St. Sarkis Church College in 1907)
Kevork H. Mndigian, from Gesaria (money-changer in Gesaria)
Krikor Der Aprahamian, from Giurin (returned to Giurin)
Vartavar D. Jzlian, from Giurin (returned to Giurin)
Khachadour H. Minoian, from Derende (returned to Derende)Darende
Serovpe H. Ylanjian, from Giurin (later, teacher at the College of Germir)
1903-1904 Armenag Khakhamian (doctor) Hovhannes B. Boghosian Armenag H. Kyahyaian Nshan H. Mgrian Vahan H. Poladian Krikor N. Pamboukian Yeghia S. Svazlian
1904-1905 Vahan B. Isbetcherdzian Setrak Harzovartian Haroutiun Abadjian Garabed Khatchigian Mgrditch Tavtian
1905-1906 Garabed T. Aprahamian Aram M. Sashagian Garabed Koyoundjian Hmayiag Karageozian Mgrditch H. Childjian Khoren Avakian Sarkis Basmadjian Haroutiun D. Daderian Hampartzoum Delibashian
1906-1907 Kourken H. Toursakisian, from Hajin Haroutiun Yaylaian
1907-1908 Vagharshag Pazoumian, from Talas Garabed Toukhdarian Yervant Yesayian, from Engyur Aram H. Keheian Sarkis Terzian, from Efkere Aram Dadourian Manuel Mardirosian, from Aleppo Levon Der Hagop Ayvazian Parsegh Der Hmayag Parseghian Misag B. Balian Bedros Tanielian, from Engyur Haroutiun Reyisian, from Gasma Garabed Koyounjian, from Samson
1908-1909 Kevork Hoviuian Loutfig Yaghedjian Serovpe Sahagian Hovhaness Haroutiunian
1909-1910 Aram Karamanasian Parsegh Minasian Yervant Yesayan Yesayi Keheian Garbis Selian Haroutiun Kechichian Hovagim Ovayian Per Alboyajian, the source of these names is Byzantium, No. 418. H. Oughourlian and G. Aprahamian only mention Yervant Yesaian from this list, and the following completely uinknown names:
Ardashes Charklian Kevork Kopoulian Zakeos Ayvadian Krikor Chakjian Loutfig Chakmajian Taniel Devletian Hovhannes Doumanian Hagop Khdrian Krikor Koltoukian Garabed Znnozian Sarkis Jazmadarian Adour Kabakian Parsegh Khanlian, from Talas Hovhannes Tellian Aram Ouzounboghosian
1910-1911 Hmayian Hagopian Hrand K. Nshanian Garabed Avakian Kevork Avakian (Garabed's brother) Ghazaros Hintlian Diran Terzian Armenag Dadreian Levon Ayvazian
1911-1912 Piuzant H. Allahverdian Mnag Tcherkezian Tatoul Ihmayian Hagop H. Nshanian
1912-1913 Onnig K. Miaserian Manoug S. Avedian Yesayi Sdepanian Nazaret H. Salbashian
1913-1914 Antranig K. Nshanian Arakel H. Giurinlian Apkar H. Manougian Kevork Tekeian Kevork K. Berberian Tavit Tadjirian Mayag Dokt. Hagop Bey Dadrian Levon Nishanian Garabed (unknown surname) Karnig Djrdjian Boghos Boghosian Hovhaness Torosian Garabed Knadjian Haig Balekdjian Haroutiun Haleblian Haroutiun Melegian Reteos DerNersesian Roupen DerHagopian Simon L. Tekirian Sarkis Yardemian Onig P. Tabibian
1914-1915 Apraham Arabian Armenag Melegian Yeghia Melegian Aram Kaplanian Yeghia Bodigian Levon Dedian Khatchig Oknaian Garabed Kalaydjian Manoug Nshanian Magar Tiutiundjian Miridjan Simavonian Hagop Tchergerian Hagop Tanielian Siragan M. Doukhterian Sarkis Tatoulian Smpad Tarpinian Sarkis Yimidian Sdepan Bahadrian Vrtanes Seropian