MAKING DAWN PEACEFUL …

The class of folk instruments of Oshakan Music School was recently named after the hero Gor Abgaryan.

“Gor was one of the best students in our school. It is difficult to talk about an unspeakably difficult student in the past tense,” says Ashot Matosyan, the principal of the music school. “We are proud to have such patriotic boys.” We deserve to live on an even more sacred land at the cost of the lives of brave people like them.

“Gor was the pride of our school, we had high hopes for him at all events and festivals,” he said, “he lived by music,” says Ashot Amirbekyan, Gor’s first music teacher.

Nature generously endowed Gor, he was so soulful, he played sensual – shvi, tav shvi, duduk, blul … Even at a young age he was filmed in Albert Mkrtchyan’s feature film “Danw of the Sad Street”.

He appeared in the film very accidentally. Albert Mkrtchyan and Guzh Manukyan were walking in Oshakan and while looking for a suitable house for the film to be shot, they noticed a lively child playing in the yard. Five-year-old Gor’s directness attracts their attention, before that they had casting in Gyumri to choose a small actor for the film, but they had not found a suitable one. It was the character they were looking for, all that was left was the consent of the parents, and this is how Gor becomes a “movie boy”…

The film was about the Artsakh war of the 90s, where the period was reflected with its whole palette, with its endless contradictions. Life is hard in Gyumri, but in the difficult life of the city’s residents there is “endurance” and disappointment. People are struggling for existence, waiting for the return of their husbands and sons, many of whom are brought back dead … In the end, the trials are overcome, both men and losses, but return home victorious….

“Gor was very mature compared to his age, he played like a professional, even if the same action was repeated ten times, he never complained,” remembers one of the main actors of the film, Armen Sargsyan. “At the end of the first screening, all actors had to go on stage to introduce themselves to the audience. I hurried to the stage holding Gor’s hand, but for some reason our ascent to the stage was delayed for a while. I ordered the baby not to go anywhere until I returned. During the tense day I forgot what I had said, and when we were all on stage, we noticed that Gor was not there … He was standing in the same place, waiting for me …

Then our friendship with his family continued, and when Gorn was already studying at the Music College after Romanos Melikyan, we often met and talked about various topics. He was a talented young man, multi-talented. Before going to the army we agreed to return from service, he must definitely play in one of my performances, but …

In the film, Gor plays the role of a Turkish child and is killed by a Turkish bullet. He was killed by a Turkish bullet on the battlefield …

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“When my eldest son, Levon, was serving, the events of July happened,” says Gor’s mother, Mariam. “I could not find a place to worry, I had not heard from my son for three days.” My heart was pounding with anxiety, Gors was constantly reassuring me. One day, when I came back with some business, when I came back, he said that Levon had called, he said, tell my mother not to be upset, the connection was broken, that’s why I couldn’t call, in the evening, if possible, I will definitely call.

In the evening Levon called, I asked why he only called his brother and not me. He said in surprise. “Mom dear, the phones have been collected for a few days, they just gave them, and I call you first.”

Gor was listened intently to our telephone conversation and smiling.

By the time Gor had to go to the army, he had become somewhat self-contained, uncommunicative, almost lonely. I was upset that I was going to go to the army soon, at least stay at home for a while, he said, I gradually teach you to adapt easily, my absence will not seem hard … Maybe my heart had a premonition, one day he said, mom, to go I am in the army and a war starts …

He could easily take a deferment from college and not go to the army for a while, but he was determined to go, to serve soon, to come, to continue my studies, to achieve my goals. How many plans did he have …

During the war, both sons of the Abgaryans were at the forefront, one in “Yeghnikner” and the other in Mataghis. There was no call from Levon, Gor sometimes called and the first question was always about his older brother.

There was no news from Levon, but his mother said the opposite. They spared each other without presenting the reality. Gor always repeated the same about himself. “Do not worry, we are in a safe place, we are not in any danger.”

And no matter how much she tried to give a happy tone to the word, all the same, her mother’s heart felt the sad sounds of her voice, son, your voice does not come out. He was stopping, mom dear, everything is normal, and he turned it off soon …

He was so restrained, he did not want to cause trouble to anyone, he did not tell his feelings, what happened to his head, so as not to hurt the hearts of his relatives…

From the battlefield, in the midst of hot battles, he found time to call his grandfatherCongratulations. He liked to surprise while he was still at school, collecting money for the buffet and making small gifts to his relatives.

“Gor was very kind, sensitive, attentive, with what respect and reverence he approached the adults, he was big with the big ones, small with the little ones,” says Razmik, his childhood friend. “When there was a disagreement between friends, he worked.” He paved, reconciled everyone, kept the peace, and dedicated his life to the peace of the homeland …

The brave Armenian was killed on October 26, during the battles in the Shushi-Red Market section, with the cross firmly in his hand, which his elder brother had sent from the “Deer” before leaving for his army …

“Gor is in heaven, God bless Grandpa,” said Gor’s younger brother, four-and-a-half-year-old Abgar.

Abgar talks to his brother’s photo all day, tells the whole story of the day in detail, talks about dreams, decided to become a soldier, take revenge on the enemy…

And Gor’s older brother, Levon, is at work, guarding the homeland with his comrades-in-arms, so that the dawn of the remaining plot of land can be opened peacefully …

By ALIS ALAVERDYAN

Photos by AREG VARDANYAN and from the family archive