Ovsanna was born in 1915, although the exact day and place of her birth is unknown. The only thing she remembers is that her family used to live in a village near Istanbul. 

Ovsanna’s mother died when she was still a baby, and her grandparents Mariam and Hakob raised her. Her father had later remarried and had a new family. Her grandparents left their village in the early 1920s, being afraid for their lives. Ovsanna doesn’t remember the escape too well, but says that at some point they crossed a border that looked like a railroad and arrived in Kurdish villages. The family stayed in the Alapinar village for three or four days and then left for Aleppo, Syria. They lived in Syria until 1965. Ovsanna got married and later came to Armenia with her husband. Now she lives in the Lenughi village in the Armavir Region with her five children, 15 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren.

Ovsanna Gevorgyan-Mirkhoyan, 100, at her home in Lenughi, Armavir Region, Armenia. 

A photo from the family archive: Ovsanna's daughter on her wedding day.

Ovsanna Gevorgyan-Mirkhoyan with her grandchildren. She has five children, 15 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren.

Ovsanna Gevorgyan-Mirkhoyan in her yard. Ovsanna has lived in this house since moving to Armenia.

Ovsanna Gevorgyan-Mirkhoyan stands with her outside her home in Armenia. She has lived in Armenia since 1965, when she came with her family from Syria.

Lenughi, a little village in the Armavir region of Armenia, where Ovsanna has lived since 1965.

Ovsanna Gevorgyan-Mirkhoyan stands at the entrance to her home, waiting to welcome visitors.

Ovsanna’s grandchildren’s shoes outside her home. 

Ovsanna Gevorgyan-Mirkhoyan doesn’t remember much about her childhood. She will turn 101 next year. 

Photography by Diana Markosian and Karen Mirzoyan