Katia Kermoyan-Khodanian’s Visit to YSU: Preserving the Memories of an Armenian Genocide Survivor for Future Generations

YEREVAN — On September 22, 2026, Katia Kermoyan-Khodanian, who had arrived in Armenia from the United States, was welcomed at Yerevan State University (YSU).

During her visit to Armenia, Katia brought with her a recorded interview with her paternal aunt, Areknaz Kedatarian, who had survived the 1915 Armenian Genocide. During the genocide, Areknaz lost her home, parents, and other family members. Orphaned by these tragic events, she also cared for her younger half-brother, Arsen Kermoyan. She adopted the Kermoyan surname to be able to keep Arsen when orphans were being separated and raised him as her own son. They lived in several countries in the Middle East and finally settled in Beirut, Lebanon where they lived together until the end of their lives.

Areknaz’s story is not only the history of one family but also a testament to the losses and human tragedies suffered by the Armenian people during the Armenian Genocide.

To preserve Areknaz’s memoirs, document them, and prepare them for future publication, Katia met with Ashot Hayruni, Doctor of Historical Sciences and Professor at YSU, and members of his team. They expressed their willingness to assist in editing the memoirs, with the aim of preserving the survivor’s firsthand testimony and passing it on to future generations.

Lilit Martirosyan, President of the Human Rights and Genocide Studies Center NGO, also emphasized the importance of the initiative, highlighting the need for the academic study of Armenian Genocide survivors’ personal stories and their transmission to younger generations. She considers such testimonies an important means of preserving historical memory, reminding future generations of the past and helping safeguard historical truth. Students enrolled in YSU’s Master’s Program in Genocide Studies will also participate in the initiative.

It is notable that Arsen Kermoyan also commemorated his family’s 1915 tragic journey in the ‘1915-1965 Hushamatean Mets Egherni’, a memorial book of the Armenian martyrdom that was published in Beirut, 1965, in the occasion of the Armenian Genocide’s 50^th anniversary.

Accompanied by Papin Muradyan, a correspondent for the Massis weekly newspaper, Katia also visited YSU’s library and museum, where she learned about the university’s history and the heritage preserved there. During the visit, she was presented with books, symbolizing the importance of preserving knowledge and written heritage.

The initiative to preserve Areknaz Kedatarian’s memoirs represents another step toward making the personal testimonies of Armenian Genocide survivors an integral part of collective historical memory and ensuring that their voices continue to reach future generations.

Katia Kermoyan was born on September 21, 1961, in Beirut, the capital of Lebanon, to Arsen and Antoinette Kermoyan. She attended Armenian schools in Beirut and later earned a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Computer Science from Haigazian University. She subsequently continued her studies in the United States at California State University of Los Angeles, where she earned a Master’s of Science degree in Information Systems.

Liana Navasardyan