WAR, IN HIS WORDS
Ann Marie Winters (Correspondent)
Citizens Voice
Dec 4 2009
Bombs, bullets and books were once routine features of a day’s work
for the Rev. Dr. John Markarian, 92, of West Pittston. As president
of the Haigazian College in Beirut, Lebanon, Markarian worked in the
middle of a war zone from 1975 until he retired in 1983. For seven
years, he and his wife, Inge, 75, lived with war on their doorstep,
and at times were caught in the crossfire of conflict.
Markarian recently spoke about his experience during a book signing at
the First Presbyterian Church in West Pittston, where he was promoting
his newly published memoir, "The Thirsty Enemy."
"There were times we couldn’t even leave our apartment," Markarian
said to an attentive crowd.
Between the readings of passages from his book, Markarian shared a
few memorable stories. He also offered a brief explanation regarding
the philosophy which inspired the title of his book.
He recalled situations during the war when a strategy of loving the
enemy by giving them food and drink instead of hostility was successful
in keeping the couple safe.
Markarian is an ordained Presbyterian minister with a doctor’s degree
in theology. He is of Armenian descent. In 1955, he became the founding
president of Haigazian College, an institute designed to replace six
Turkish colleges lost after the Armenian genocide of 1915.
After leaving the college for several years, he returned in 1971 and
remained until he retired.
His book chronicles the path of his passion which led him to Lebanon.
The book’s cover is a photograph of him standing amidst the bombed
ruins of his college office during the war. The cover provides a
visual glimpse of his life at that time.
In an interview at his home several days after the book signing,
Markarian discussed his beliefs and life.
"We have to have religion," he said. "What we really need is a religion
that is not barrier-building, but barrier-breaking."
Living in the Middle East, Markarian was exposed to different cultures
and religions. The goal of the college he helped create was to have
an open door policy for all who would attend, regardless of race
or religion.
Markarian credits his position at the college for leading him toward an
understanding of his own faith, enabling him to be a barrier-breaker.
"When you try to love your enemy, the line between enmity is blurred,"
he said.
Experiencing war first hand, he saw how viciousness and violence rips
the fabric of love. He said it requires strong willingness not to be
an enemy.
Markarian talked about the unexpected turns his life had taken over
the years. Several times during the conversation he smiled and said:
"It’s all in the book."
Markarian was born in Windham, N.Y., in 1917. He and his family moved
to West Pittston in 1919, and remained there until 1928, when they
moved to Scranton.
After graduating from Central High School in 1935, Markarian expected
to continue the family tradition of attending Lafayette College
in Easton. His father and two older brothers were graduates of the
college.
Instead of Easton, his parents sent him to Trucksville, where he lived
with the Bezdjian family and worked in their Oriental Rug Store in
Wilkes-Barre. He said he was designated to be heir to the business.
Markarian worked full-time and went to school part-time. While
staying with the Bezdjians, he studied at Bucknell Junior College,
now Wilkes University and received a diploma from the Wharton School
of the University of Pennsylvania through a local outreach program.
He returned home four years later and worked for the Scranton Electric
Co. After his father’s death, he enrolled in Lafayette College,
graduating with a major in philosophy and an AB degree. Two months
later, he married his first wife, Ruth. They have a daughter, Joanne.
Markarian continued his education at Princeton Seminary, where he
received a Bachelor of Divinity degree. He worked at Lafayette College
for a number of years teaching religion courses until he left for
the position in Beirut.
"It was an adventure in the real sense," he said about his founding
presidency which lasted until 1966.
Markarian talked about being in a strange place and among people who
were different. He said he wished he had learned about his grandfather,
who lived in Turkey.
In his book, Markarian credits the experience as one of the reasons
he decided to write his memoir. He wanted his grandson, Michael,
to have information about him.
Returning to the United States in 1966, Markarian took a position
at Central College in Pella, Iowa. It was in Iowa that his wife was
killed in an automobile accident in 1968, one day before their 25th
wedding anniversary.
After his wife’s death, Markarian went back to Beirut in 1969,
taking a position with the Near East School of Technology. In 1971,
he married his current wife, Inge, and resumed the presidency of
Haigazian College.
Upon his retirement, he and his wife settled in Los Angeles. They
moved to West Pittston in 1987, where they currently live.
When asked if there were things he would change about his life,
Markarian firmly replied: "No, I wouldn’t change anything."
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
