5 generations of genocide survivors: My (Victoria's) sister Mary Etian with her daughter Arda my mother Haigouhi Behesnilian, her mother, my grandmother, Paramtzem Markariam, her mother Agul Matosian my great grand-mother
The Turkish mayor of the city of Adana had advised my grandfather, “… you should gather your family and get out of the city.” It was 1915 and though Armenians represented a quarter of the population of the city of Adana, they were expecting the worst.
Grandfather, Ohannes Kavoukian came up with a plan to use his artistic skills. From a small photo, he sketched a black and white portrait of Jemal Pasha, the commanding officer of the Turkish Army. He wanted to present the drawing to Jemal hoping that he and his family would not be deported to Der-Zor. He wondered how the Pasha will react when he sees his drawing. His friends in the military admired it and somehow the news went to Jemal Pasha, who immediately summoned the artist with the portrait. The guard seeing him come with the drawing in hand told him, “Get in! The Pasha is expecting you.” He slowly moved forward and found himself in front of the desk of Jemal Pasha.
Nervously he turned the picture and showed it to him. Jamal looked at it and pondered. There was no expression on his face, he played with his mustache as Grandfather Ohannes’s heart pounded in his chest. To his great surprise, Jemal Pasha started talking in a pleasant tone. He asked, “Who made this portrait?”
“I did, sir,”
“Good, we need a drawing instructor in our schools in Jerusalem, now take your family and go there and start teaching.” he ordered.
Grandfather Kavoukian mustered his courage and asked for papers that would give him and his family, permission to travel. Jemal Pasha granted his wish. Within one night grandfather Kavoukian and my grandfather gathered their families - 30 people.
The group consisted of Kavoukians, Matossians, Markarians, and my father-Behesnilian.
The group walked at night and slept in barns during the day.
After many nights of travel and hardship, they finally arrived in the Armenian convent in Jerusalem. To make a living, my father bought a shop in the old city and sold jewelry. That is how our family survived the Genocide and I was born in Jerusalem.
For more information, see the book, The Girl From Jerusalem