My Way Home
25.12.2024
6 min read
Repat Story
So you don’t end up looking for yourself among strangers in foreign lands…
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At the Blue Mosque in Yerevan, a venue that regularly brings together fans of Iranian culture, another gathering took place. The focus of the evening was George Abrahamyan, a poet, translator and journalist who has become one of Armenia’s most enthusiastic advocates for Iranian culture.
George’s life story is impossible to tell without pulling you into his remarkable journey – one filled with a deep love for both Armenia and Iranian culture.
A First Encounter with the Homeland
Born in Tehran, George worked for Iranian Public Television, covering the cultural lives of Armenians in Iran. But his connection to Armenia began long before that.
"I was lucky to be introduced to Armenian culture early on," George recalls. "By 13, I was already in love with Komitas’ songs, knew them by heart and even performed them in concerts. My brother had introduced me to Komitas after attending the Armenian ‘Sipan’ Union in Tehran, and soon enough, I joined him there.
In Iran, Armenian unions are essential to the community – no union, no church, no school means no Armenian community. My first link to Armenia came through the Sipan Union. Armenia was in my heart – it lived inside me."
When George first visited Armenia in 1987, it was love at first sight. "Armenia embraced me so tightly that it never let me go," he says. That first visit, the challenging journey, and the solace he found in his homeland created an unbreakable bond.
First Visit to Armenia and Return to Iran
“After completing my military service, I applied for a Soviet visa in Iran. In 1987, I traveled to Turkey, planning to cross into Armenia, since there was no direct route between the two countries.”
In Kars, I wandered with a map, making notes, until local police, suspicious of my actions, raided my hotel. They interrogated me harshly and searched my things. But I made it to Armenia. On the train from Kars to Gyumri, I couldn’t believe how close I was. Overcome with emotion, I dropped to my knees. Being back in my homeland and feeling that sense of salvation was an indescribable happiness," George confesses.
Once in Armenia, George enrolled at the Faculty of Armenian Philology at Yerevan State University, connected with people he’d dreamed of meeting and built friendships that last to this day. "Hearing everyone speak such fluent, beautiful Armenian was mesmerizing. The language, the culture – they were so rich," he recalls.
But when it was time to return to Iran, George felt uprooted. "As the train pulled away, I lost consciousness – I felt like my roots had been torn from the ground. Yet, I knew I would come back."
Back in Tehran, George taught Armenian language and literature in three schools, led a choir and worked as a journalist, translator and radio host. Years later, when he moved back to Armenia, he devoted himself to sharing his homeland’s culture with millions of Iranian viewers.
Settling in Armenia and Life in the Village
Although George frequently visited Armenia after his return to Iran, he officially made the move in 2004 when his eldest son enrolled in a music institution in Yerevan.
"Armenia had changed. People seemed distant, burdened by poverty and many talked about leaving. I felt lost, but I never thought about going back to Tehran. Instead, I decided I’d put down roots here," he says.

When I moved to Armenia, I made a promise to myself: I wouldn’t go back, and I wouldn’t move to another country. I remarried an Armenian woman, and my second son was born. I thought, if I’ve come this far, I need to settle down and contribute to the country. Waiting for Armenia to flourish just wasn’t an option for me—I wanted to be part of its revival. In the city, I felt like just another consumer, so I started looking for a house in a village, which had always been my dream. I bought a house in Dvin, a village in the Ararat region, settled there with my family, and finally felt like a real Armenian. With the help of friends, I renovated the village’s House of Culture, built a playground, taught Farsi at the local school, and even started a choir. I even took the kids to Iran once," George shares.
He breaks down his life in Armenia into three phases: student life, city living and moving to the village. He says it was village life that truly brought him happiness. It was there, planting trees around his house, that he felt like the master of Armenian land. The village brought him closer to his neighbors, something he never felt in the city. In Dvin, even his students call him Gevorg Ahper (Brother Gevorg) and often invite him to be the kavor (godfather) at their celebrations. Georges believes the real Armenia can only be understood through its villages and the people living there.
A Place Where We Belong
George is passionate about the idea that Armenians should return to their homeland. 'Belonging means everything to me. Sure, you can have material comforts abroad, but you’ll miss something deeper."
For many Iranian Armenians, the choice is between Armenia or the U.S. "I’ve convinced many to come here. My brother and sisters followed me moving from London. One of my other sisters repatriated even earlier in the 1960s, which later became an important source of motivation for me. Now, we’re all reunited and happy because we are family. Armenia brought us together from across the globe and reunited us. Even our mother joined us here."
For George, the message is clear: "If a wall falls down, rebuild it yourself. Don’t wait for someone else. Living here is hard but full of opportunity. If you don’t, your children might end up searching for themselves in foreign lands, among strangers – and might never find what they’re looking for."
Writer, Translator and Guide
George is deeply connected to both Armenia and Iran. After a trip to Iran with students from the International Relations Department of Yerevan State University, where George was a guest lecturer, many people asked him to organize tours to Iran. Today, hundreds – if not more – have traveled to Iran with him. He shares Iranian culture not only through these trips but also through his translations of the gems of Persian poetry.
Last year, the "Zangak" publishing house released a collection of Hafez's ghazals translated by George. The first edition sold out quickly, and the second was published shortly after. Currently, he is working on editing his translation of a collection of Rumi’s poems, and next up is a translation of Omar Khayyam’s work.

George has so many memories of Iran that his friends encouraged him to publish a book of his stories. He already has two poetry collections under his belt. On the day of the presentation at the Blue Mosque event hall, he unveiled his latest collection of stories, How Can You Be Without Me? The book takes readers on a journey through the lives of the author's parents and Iranian Armenians. George promised readers a second collection, where he will include a story about his own journey back home.

By Nare Bejanyan
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