Perch Proshian

Perch Proshian (Template:Langx,Template:Efn born Hovhannes Ter-Arakelian; 15 June [O.S. 3 June] 1837 – 23 November 1907) was an Armenian writer and educator.

Biography

File:Perch Proshyan 2012 Armenian stamp.jpg

Perch Proshian on a 2012 Armenian stamp

Proshian was born in a tailor's family in Ashtarak. He received his primary education at his hometown's parish school, at the monastic school of Mughni (1849–52), and, briefly, at state schools in Erivan (Yerevan). In 1856, he graduated from the Nersisian School of Tiflis (Tbilisi), where, according to Sergey Sarinian, his patriotic-democratic views formed under the influence of educator Petros Shanshian. After studying for one year at Tiflis's state gymnasium, Proshian returned to Ashtarak in 1857 and was appointed inspector of the parish school. He also acted as the secretary of a local church official.

In 1859, Proshian went to Tiflis, where he taught a preparatory class at the Nersisian School. He actively participated in the founding of the Armenian professional theater and in the establishment of girls' schools in Tiflis, Shusha, Agulis, Astrakhan and elsewhere. He worked as a teacher in different parts of the South Caucasus and drafted school charters. In 1879, he was invited to Ejmiatsin and was appointed inspector of the Armenian parochial schools run by the Church dioceses of Yerevan and Kars. He held this position until 1881. He translated an Armenian gospel from Classical into vernacular Armenian, for which Catholicos Kevork IV awarded him with the title of Master of Theology. In 1887, he returned to Tiflis. He died in Baku and was buried in the Khojivank Armenian Cemetery.

Literary activities

Proshian's first literary work was published in 1859. His notable works include the play (1863), written on the theme of Khachatur Abovian's novel Wounds of Armenia; the patriotic historical novels (Apple of discord, 1878), (The beginning of birth pangs, 1892); the romance (proper names, 1860); and the realist social novels (The bread problem, 1880) and (Moths, 1889). He also translated foreign-language works into Armenian, including Charles Dickens's David Copperfield, Leo Tolstoy's Childhood and Boyhood, and Eliza Orzeszkowa's . His collected works were published in seven volumes in 1962–64.

Museum

The Perch Proshian House-Museum was founded in Ashtarak in 1948. The museum exhibits more than 2,000 objects. The museum underwent renovation in 2008.

See also

• Armenian literature
• Armenians in Tbilisi
• Nersisyan School

References

Template:Armenia-writer-stub