Manning Avedikian Haladjian & Berjouhi Tirikian Koukoudian

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Welcome Medz Mama Manning Haladjian!

Granddaughter Berjouhi Tirikian Koukoudian is proud to pay homage to her maternal grandmother, Manning Avedikian Haladjian, as our featured Medz Mama!  As a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Berjouhi shares stories about her grandmother, Manning, with love and admiration.

This year, Berjouhi celebrated her 90th birthday.  She understands the impact and importance of this meaningful relationship on her life.  This episode offers an extended feature where Berjouhi shares her personal life journey.

Medz Mama Manning was born in Erzincan, historically known as Yerznka (Armenian: Երզնկա), which is the capital of Erzincan Province in eastern Turkey.  She lost her husband, Sahag, in 1915 during the *Armenian Genocide and then one of her two daughters at the age of twelve to pneumonia in Erzincan.  Her surviving daughter, Zabelle, was born in 1906.  Zabelle was a source of hope and comfort for her mother, a precious reminder of the love she shared with her late husband.

Escaping the perils of Genocide was no easy task.  Manning managed to leave the village with her daughter, Zabelle, her sister-in-law, and her brother-in-law.  The women disguised themselves with veils for their journey from the village of Erzincan to Istanbul.  They traveled from Istanbul to Marseille, France, to begin a new life.

Years ago, their neighborhood in Marseille was filled with Armenians and many small shops.  The Armenian Apostolic Church, Saint Kévork of Marseille, is a few doors from Berjouhi's childhood home.  Berjouhi's father, Kachayr, was a mason and built the community's Armenian church, which was consecrated in 1929.  

Medz Mama Manning had a special bench in their garden and spent hours looking for items the family could eat, putting food aside from the garden.  Even through the difficult times, their home was lively, as Berjouhi's father would come home after work and play the oud.  The neighbors noticed how happy they seemed with all nine children singing and dancing to their father's oud playing.

Eventually, granddaughter Berjouhi got married and came to America, settling in Michigan.  She shares stories about her loving relationships with her family, her past career as a seamstress, her joy for cooking, and her meaningful volunteer work sewing goods for unwed mothers.

*Turkey denies the 1915 - 1923 Armenian Genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire.  This crime against humanity must be acknowledged and remembered.  To date, to speak or write about the Armenian Genocide in Turkey is a punishable crime.

Created by: Anoush Bargamian @sweetangst_art @themedzmamas
Story by: Berjouhi Tirikian Koukoudian
Photography by:  Anoush Bargamian

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TheMedzMamas™ was established in late 2020 to celebrate and honor Armenian grandmothers' lives, stories, and perspectives.

TheMedzMamas™ aims to amplify the voices of Armenian women, with a focus on this particular generation of women.

While we specifically feature Armenian grandmothers worldwide, anyone can enjoy the collection of stories. We serve as a multi-generational experience that teaches the value of our unique Armenian grandmotherhood experience within the fabric of our collective humanity.