Vahan Teryan. “The Last Journey”

Vahan Teryan, a beloved Armenian poet who lived and created during the tumultuous times at the beginning of the 20th century, dreamed of a ‘spiritual’ Armenia, a cultural Armenia that would be part of the European family of nations and progressive, civilized mankind. The outstanding poet and public activist died in January 1920, at the age of only 35, of an illness aggravated by a difficult trip that was ironically undertaken on a “prompt” assignment from the Bolshevik leadership of Russia. Teryan’s young wife, Anahit Shahinjanyan, accompanied her husband on his last journey through Siberia. Her presence was the only bright spot for the poet during the time of his physical ailment and spiritual anguish.