Nazareth Aga Surenoglu { Surenian Ishkhan Nazareth } was the Ishkhan or Kojabashi of the Merkez Mahallesi [ Central Bazar District ] of Zeytun, also referred to as the Surenian Quarter or Merkez Tagh from 1871 to 1904. His princely clan lived in the historic Surenyan Qale fortress-mansion built in 1815 high atop a craggy hillock overlooking Zeytun. In 1904, the Yakoubian Prince’s clan killed most of the Surenian family members including Nazareth Surenian because they claimed Nazareth Agha, being on Osmanli Turkish authorities payroll as Zeytun’s “Muhtar” [head of village], was cooperating with the Turks as an informant. This photo of Nazaréth Agha Sourénian is from 1865, Istanbul. Nazaréth Agha Sourénian was born in Zeytoun in 1804, died in 1875. He was the baby in the Sourénian Qalé that survived the massacre of the other Sourénian family members by the Yaqoubian Khoy Hacob Ishkhan’s clan in 1804; his uncle Martyros Sourénian preceded him as Ishkhan of the Sourénian or Orta Mahallé taghamas of Zeytoun from 1804 to 1844. Nazaréth Agha Sourénian was involved with his fighters in the 1st Zeytoun Uprising of 1862 along with Hazor Agha Shorvoghlian and Yénidünya Astvadzadour Pasha and Movses Kahana Khatchougentz. He had one son, Qarabéth Agha Sourénian, who was one of the leaders of the 2nd Zeytoun Grand Uprising of 1895-1896 and was the Ihtiyor of the Sourénian Quarter of Zeytoun from 1877-1904. Babik Agha Vasilossian of the Sourénian clan was his successor, 1904-1915. The only surviving descendants of the Sourénian Ishkhan clan are the descendants of Akbash Sourénian who was one of the survivors of the 1804 massacre of the Sourénian family members in their fortress-mansion, and today they are members of the Akbachian or Aghbashian family.
Garo konyalian
the book on Zeytun published in Buenes Aires, state that in 1804 the Yacubian prince clans killed all the Surenyans except for 4, (3 people were absent and a baby). The conflict was about an internal dispute between the 2 princes over a marriage.
The act was forgiven by the remaining Surenyans not to give the Turks a reason to weaken the ties.
I am also searching for the geneology of Prince Surenyan, sons, daughters, brothers, sisters….
I know that prince Garabed was his successor as owner of the fortress; Dont know how are the two related…
Also if anyone has any information about that please email me, or if you know of Vartivar and Anazon (Surenyan ?) Arekhyan.
Vartan Arakhian
I am the Grand Son of Vartivar Arekhyan (Arakhian) he was born in Zaytun.
Garo Konyalian
It seems there were more than one Vartivar Arekhyans in Zeytoun before the genocide…
very interesting, What was the name of Vartivar’s wife, your grandmother’s name?
and the names of your parents?
After Zeytoun, were your family established in Jordan, and later migrated to USA in late 1960s?